greetings,
A year ago I paid cash for a 2008 prostar, cummins 435 ISX motor. 500k miles automated shifter. paid 30K after the trade in. (traded in a 2005 century with a series sixty and ten speed. Iv paid around 25K in the past year for repairs. a lot of stuff has been replaced, listed below
fan clutch, batteries, altenator, starter,water pump, ECM, dpf filter, main seal at the clutch bell housing, a couple of injectors, dozer, airline governor, brake drums and shoes, and probably a few other things Iv forgotten. At this point with all the repairs and down time, I think I should have kept the 2005 freightliner and $30K. The warning engine light has been on for probably 6 of the past 12 months. Iv put maybe 75K miles the prostar. Every time I get something fixed 3000 miles later something else breaks. I don't see how anyone can work like this. Anual cost of repairs is about 3.5 times what it was with the freightliner for around 2/3rds the miles driven, and with the down time In a year I made about what I made driving a company truck, maybe a little less. MY questions is;
1. is this normal for this type truck?
2. Have I replaced enough componets yet?
3. Or are the breakdowns going to continue at the same rate indefinately?
4. would I be better off tradeing in the protsar for a 2005 or older truck.
5. If Im going to pay 25K every year for repairs , should I be spending that 25K on a 2005 or older freightliner truck.?
6. If I spend 25K in repairs on an older truck, will I have to spend that much every year?
7. Is there anything I can do to reduce the repair costs on the prostar?
Best Regards
2008 prostar
Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by 543876, Mar 1, 2015.
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The majority of those repairs such as batteries, alt, w/p are all routine and should be expected with a used truck. The main issue you are having is going from an EGR only truck to a full aftertreatment truck that is also at the end of its useful life. DPF emission trucks are all pretty much wooped after 7 years. The emission components, wiring and sensor are all simply worn out. They do not last forever. When buying any used truck with DPF emissions you need to see service records of the main aftertreatment components such as DPF, DOC and doser injector have been properly serviced. The DPF may need replacement after time as it won't come perfectly clean after being removed and cleaned. The DOC will simply wear out along with the doser. If you are looking at a used DPF emission truck and nothing has been done then you can expect expensive repairs in the near future.
K.S. Brar and QUALITYTRUCK Thank this. -
Thanks,
In your opinion, should I try to trade in the newer prostar for a 2005 or older truck?
Best Regards -
If you're going to go older. I would go with a Pre-EGR motor, 2002 and earlier, you won't have any Emission Issues, but like any used vehicle, you may have other issues that need to be addressed.
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Batteries-Yes I run an inverter and watch tv with truck turned off
Doser-I don't know what color it was I had a tech do the work
Brakes- I had the truck six months when The brakes needed to be replaced.
A couple of things its doing now are, sometimes when its cold te shifter gets confused and it cant find a gear, it gets stuck. another thing is sometimes the oil pressure gets low. both these things can be corrected if I turn off the engine for a couple of minuts and when the light on the dash where the milage
is goes out, I turn the truck back on. last time I did this the shifter found its gear and I drove on. Last time I noticed the oil pressure getting low I had been driving all day. I stoped turned off truck and waited till dash board light went out, then turned it back on and the oil pressure was riseing like it should. Oil pressure drops when truck has been rolling all day. stop for an hour and its ok again. also sometimes truck wont start and I user starter fluid. I havnt tried leaving truck off for a few minuts to correct this problem because I only recently determind that that could correct problems. -
Not familiar with auto shifts. Re: oil pressure, pull codes... I have a feeling you'll see some for "Engine Oil Rifle Pressure Sensor 1 - Data Invalid, Intermittent, or Incorrect" (or something to that effect). Worst case scenario, it's a harness - most likely, it's the sensor itself, and that's a very easy fix... Small screwdriver to slide the harness locking clip out, ratchet and extension, and a 1-1/8" deep well socket.
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Could you elaborate? I don't know how to check sensor or where it is. Unfortunately I don't know much about truck or working n trucks. But I will learn. I don't think I can pull any codes because I don't have the tools.
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Yeah.... tonight, when I'm off and I can upload a photo.
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