08 Freightliner M/B engine will not start

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Roger A, Jan 8, 2011.

  1. Roger A

    Roger A Bobtail Member

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    Jan 8, 2011
    Graham nc
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    I am new to this board and have a Columbia series Freightliner that has been at Triad Freightliner in Greensboro NC for over a month. It will not start. They are throwing parts at it will no solution yet. Lucky I have not needed the truck so I have been patient. They have burned up the starter and now want to put some 7000.00 pump on it, not knowing if it that will even fix the problem. They want me to accept liability for payment if the warranty will not cover it. Has anyone else had this problem with a truck not starting. If you need more info. let me know. Roger A
     
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  3. Jolsen

    Jolsen Heavy Load Member

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    Those trucks are crap. not trying to be mean I love my century. But I have heard about lots of issues with the columbias with the mb engine. The problem is they used fiber optics in those trucks. but had them built in mexico. if you know anything about fiber optics it requires about a month of specialized training to terminate the ends of one of those cables and one little fray and the whole thing is worthless. And I highly doubt they have someone in mexico in the plant doing the job right.
     
  4. Jonny1

    Jonny1 Medium Load Member

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    Roger,

    If you go to Google and put "Freightliner with Mercedes engine not starting" you will find pages of help. Aparently there are some issues with this engine as Jolsen pointed out. Good Luck.....some look like very simple fixes.
     
  5. JohnP3

    JohnP3 Road Train Member

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    There are no 7000.00 dollar pumps on a Mercedes, and they are relatively easy to repair, if taken to a shop that has use of a program and can fix a lawnmower.
     
  6. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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  7. Rollover the Original

    Rollover the Original Road Train Member

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    I heard that the MB engines were great in their cars but they had n idea how to build a truck engine! LOL

    That's from some of the guys I knew who got stuck with the company trucks they ordered with them in them, but the good news was they won't order another MB engine due to many problems!

    I would ask if their "guy" went to the Mercedes-Benz school! It's a different ball game than a yellow, blue or red engine!
     
  8. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    I drove a MB engine for 3 years. Good low end torque for the size. Good fuel mileage. Hard to get parts for, and expensive to repair. I'm glad it was a local company truck that I didn't own.
     
  9. Roger A

    Roger A Bobtail Member

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    Jan 8, 2011
    Graham nc
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    I thank you guys for trying to help, but to the ones who only had negative things to say about the engine, DID YOU READ THE POST. I asked for potential solutions, not YOUR opinion on the truck.
     
  10. Kittyfoot

    Kittyfoot Crusty Ancient

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    Roger, the first thing is you need to give a little better info when you ask for help.
    "It won't start" is pretty broad. Is that why it was at the dealer or is this something they did?

    Judging solely by what you've said so far I'd be talking to a lawyer 'cause the dealer sounds pretty shady.
     
  11. Rerun8963

    Rerun8963 Road Train Member

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    unfortunately, you will always get to hear things you don't want to hear, it is after all, an open board.

    now, what i had found over the years is that the simple things are over looked all because a vehicle has electronics. right away, some mechanics assume its a high dollar item, but never checked the low dollar items FIRST...

    for instance, if one of the batteries is weak, you will NOT have full voltage to operate the computer, which in turn, operates the entire truck. one must have near perfect batteries for testing, THEN when the batteries (and charging system) is checked out, a process of point to point testing needs to be done. i feel right now, a step was over looked (the batteries)...

    now, did anyone think to check the fuel system for gelling, clogged filters, perhaps a ripped or torn fuel line, that ALLOWS air to be sucked in and NO FUEL delivery...???

    are all the wires that lead up the the control box (black box, ECM) are they all tightly fitted into their respective plugs...?? sometimes, a plug comes ?un-done" and this allows rain, dirt, etc to enter and then form a barrier that the electrical current cannot flow through.

    as a former mechanic myself, (cars, pick up trucks, not big rigs) i would have done the first step (the batteries) then trace as many electrical lines as i could.....oh by the way, did anyone think to check the connections to the starter...?? that starter is susceptible to all kinds of road debris (dirt, water, grime) that will coat, then work its way into the cable connections on the starter, and provide yet another barrier where NOT enough current will flow, PLUS, there should be an electrical line from the starter to the control box as well, to run other items while cranking........at least, in cars, pick ups, they do.........

    and one other item. did ANYONE THINK, to check the fuel shut off valves at the tanks....??? did anyone THINK that maybe someone played a practical joke and shut them off.....?????

    finally, i too had a freightshaker...when the refrigerator ran down the battery a bit, there is a cut off switch that stops the refrigerator from running the battery dead, so that there would be enough "juice" to start the truck.........THAT switch, could be the problem, as I HAD to have one replaced, then my baby started right up.....again...simple things, FIRST........

    this all sounds to me, they DO NOT KNOW what they are doing, and most certainly skipped some of the simple stuff first, if only to go for the big high dollar items...
     
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