paccar Smart air APU repair

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by markk, Feb 20, 2022.

  1. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    Anyone know of shops that can actually work on this thing?
    Pete is supposed to but they don't know how and when you mention apu they just say they don't work on them.
    I have called a few dealers and APU repair shops. No one has any kniwlehe of how ho fix one. The service manual from paccar is not real great. Wiring diagrams are vague. Not much help.
    Can't idle my truck because dpf clogging up and apu stopped getting power to the display control
     
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  3. Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    Don’t mention APU. Even though some consider it an APU the terminology is too confusing. Any Pete dealer should work on Smart air. When they say no, ask them why they don’t work a system that was installled on the truck from the factory? You have a copy of the factory service manual?
     
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  4. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    Yes I have one. They are very vague on wiring diagrams. I been told several times there is just not enough info available to work on it.
    Wichita kenworth told me it would be far too much trouble to try and chase down a wiring issue on one. They send them to thermoking.
    I called TK. They said no. Dealer sends them for refrigerant issues. Because kenworth is scared to even fill one up cuz they don't want to damage anything.
    I think I'm just going to take it to a car electrical shop. Give them the manual and let them try. Problem is no parts really available.
    That control board on SC compressor under bunk appears to be very touchy. There is a warning about unscrewing power wires from lugs. I saw a board for sale used at almost 1800 bucks. Probably why dealer don't want to touch it.
    I think maybe BMS went bad. It used to blink the light but after un connecting it to check batteries it stopped doing that. The light blinking shows it is powered up. I'm trying to find one for sale.

    But now have worse problem to worry about. I am going to post it in s minute.
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2022
    Reason for edit: keyboard keeps adding words and auto correcting
  5. FLHT

    FLHT Road Train Member

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    KW and Peterbilt will not work on unit here
    There's got to be somebody who has them figured out ????
    HELP !!!
     
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  6. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    When I first got mine the display was dead. Turned out to be bad batteries. Might check them first. AGM batteries can only lose about 1 volt and they are junk. Buy deep cell from interstate. Much cheaper.
    Download the service manual. It has step by step guide to fish. However the writing diagrams lack a lot. Makes it hard. Might have to unravel the wires to chase down where they go. This is why Pete won't touch it.
    I'm going to try an automotive electrical shop I think.
     
  7. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    I just check my smart air. After I had removed batteries the BMS stopped blinking light that shows it has power.
    It has power from truck but the auxiliary wire is dead.
    So I check voltage at the battery separator. 12 volts on start battery line. 24 volts on apu line .
    But wire supplying voltage from that lug is still 12 volts? This is using ground to volt meter from apu battery. But it was 12 volts I think before.
    This tells me that battery sroerstor may have shorted out and is connecting start battery and apu battery in series. ( the seperator turns on and off charging, depending on if start or apu batteries are low)
    So, I will attempt to buy both units. ( after I check the main controller which is the board on ac compressor under bunk)
     
  8. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    Here is what I discovered today, just in case it helps.
    On control panel, the red wire for fuse F1 actually goes up and splits offtiwarfs front of truck driver side . Where?
    The yellow wire turns into that large yellow wire on fuse panel under bunk
    Odd thing, I have no answer for, is that it is connected together. Continuity test shows this. How ever if you put 12 volts to that large wire it turns on bunk blower but does not power the yellow wire at control panel.
     
  9. markk

    markk Medium Load Member

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    Something else I found out. If you have to idle all night, turn on cruise and bump up once. I discovered that it puts out less exaust and I don't have to get up after a couple hours and regen. My filter is fairly clogged up. At normal idle it only takes s few hours to need a regen
     
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