05 Coumbia w/C15 electrical gremlins

Need some advice fellas.

The other night I'm coming into Harrisburg PA. I'm pulling a load of flooring from Ky to Kenilworth NJ. I pull off to the shoulder of an off ramp so I can load up google maps to look at the satellite view of where I am delivering so I can see where I can park because I'm coming in early and dont want to be hassled by the local police.

After about 4 - 5 mins idling my check engine light comes on and the engine begins to miss pretty badly. So bad that I immediately assume its mechanical and shut it off.

I break out my flood light, pop the hood and can find anything. I check my battery box as I had an issue with the ECM ground wire before. I cant see anything wrong with any of the wires. No corrosion etc. I let the motor cool down in hopes that it magically fixes itself enough to limp it somewhere. I restart it and nope,.. very erratic idle and black smoke coming out of the stacks.

I have it towed in to Harrisburg Freightliner. Initial diagnosis is ECM failure with 4 injectors throwing failure codes as well.

After 24 hours they are still diagnosing. I called this morning and I'm getting impatient. I call back today at 2:30 to get an update and they tell me the truck is magically fixed. They took it on an 80 mi test drive and the mechanic can not reproduce the results under which the truck was towed in. I ok'd 4 more hours of labor to find the problem. But I cant keep paying to have the truck towed in just for them to find nothing.

I had the ECM and #2 injector replaced last June after a break down. Had been seeing sporadic check engine lights all summer. Each time I had it checked out they all told me there was nothing wrong and nothing to worry about.

It was raining when I pulled over. I can only think that something got wet that didnt like being wet. Now that its dry,.. well. With winter coming and a wet cold winter expected,.. I cant have this problem out in the middle of no where during a freezing night.

Anyone experience something like this? Any advice or suggestions?

Truck is an 05 Columbia, C15 ACERT. Despite its high mileage, the truck is well maintained and in very good mechanical condition. Never had any mechanical issues. Just electrical BS like this that has me pulling my hair out.

Thanks in advance.

Hurst

 

First chance to check that I will. Thank you very much!

The truck has almost 1.2 million mi on it now. I knew I would have things like this crop up and I am not disappointed with the truck over all. Mechanically its been flawless and this is only the second time I've had it in with Freightliner for a break down in the 2 years I've been driving the truck. I bought it last March from the carrier I lease on with. I knew what I was getting into buying it.

Fuel lines, wiring, hoses, potentially the turbos, injectors etc,.. these are things I expected would cause me problems.

I'll keep running this motor till she starts blowing smoke and most likely I will opt for a platinum rebuild through CAT. The truck is a money maker and offers no resale or trade in value. So other than buying another truck with its own problems, at least with this truck if I replace/repair it, I'll know where I stand.

My biggest problem is that I am simply not experienced mechanically with all of the workings with it. I'm trying to learn as much as I can, but difficult while trying to earn a living at the same time.

I'm still at the hotel, I'm picking up the truck in the morning an praying it gets me to my delivery in NJ. I should be there by tomorrow night. I'll have all day Sunday to play with it. Hopefully I can find a place to park where I wont be hassled.


Thanks again,.. I will definitely look into the wiring and yank on a few things to see if I can replicate the issue. I try to keep it as clean as I can under the hood. I have the truck washed at least once a week and always have them spray the engine compartment. I cant stand getting grease and grime on me while I still need to drive. I'm not a clean freak,.. but I like to at least appear professional.


Hurst

 

YES!!! I noticed that the closer I get to my oil change, the rougher the idle gets and the less power I have!! Nothing dramatic,.. but we know our trucks and notice small things like this. I have a very good ear for engines. I can detect ping/knock in my race car on the dyno at up to 8500 rpm just by ear. I do my own tuning and rent dyno time from a friends shop.

I do my oil changes every 15k. Think I should I drop it to 10k mi?

They had the valve covers off at Freightliner yesterday while diagnosing, trying to search for the problem and did not see anything. At least thats what was told to me. I just came off home time and really dont want to head back to Florida to go over this engine if I dont have to. I need to raise more money as I have plans to buy another truck and trailer next spring and dont want to finance any more then I have to. This truck is important to me, as I have no plans to retire it. Man this business is going to be the death of me. Stressing over every little thing. I need this truck to be right.

Thank you for your input brother. I will do what I can tomorrow. Might put it back in a shop on Monday instead of booking a load. I cant afford to upset another broker by going down while under a load. I got luck with this one as they werent in any real rush.

Hurst

 

Yeah I saw that on Satellite view. I'm parked at the Flying J in Myerstown. About 2 hours away. I'll just leave a little early Monday morning.

Hurst