Cummins N-14 Black Smoke

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Smellfunny, Dec 13, 2023.

  1. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    Have a customer that I put an injector in his truck on Monday. He just called me and said it started blowing out black smoke and the throttle is racing. I told him to check the turbo and he said that was ok. He pulled the valve cover and said everything looks ok. He had a spare ECM and tried it but it was a bad ECM and would not start up. I could understand a bad injector causing black smoke but not making the throttle run up. Or at least I have never seen one do that. I told him to smell the ECM that was on the truck and he said it smells burnt. Any thoughts folks?
     
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  3. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    If the injector is staying open or not fully closing it will let compression back into the fuel rail and make things get a little wonky. Seems to usually show as white smoke/fuel vapor though. I guess if one injector is just over fueling it would have some tendency to increase rpm. i had a customer ask me about a very similar situation about a year ago but it got fixed on the road and I don’t know what the solution was although I believe it was replaced the injector and one cylinder pack. As far as the ecm smelling hot idk but from personal experience a power supply failure can make them run pretty weird and show no codes.
     
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  4. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    He is getting an ECM from me today to try on it. Thanks. I will update.

     
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  5. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    He had another injector put in and it is running fine now. Never had a bad reman Cummins injector before. Glad that was all that he had wrong.
     
  6. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    The bad thing is that it was running so bad that he was afraid to drive it. I saw a video and I understand why. He had a 1400.00 tow bill plus the guy charged him 250.00 to replace the injector. AND 5 days down. Freightliner sent me another injector that he took to the shop and had put in (which I will have to pay overnight freight on) and then send in for warranty. Freightliner said they will not cover any labor. So my question for everyone now is how would you handle this as a shop? Or what would you expect as a owner/operator?
    He wants me to remove his exhaust manifold and replace some broken studs and the guy that put the injector in suggested replacing the wiring harness to the injectors. I told him I would work something out with him on his troubles. I am thinking I will charge him for the harness and the exhaust parts and do the labor for free on both.
    Too much? Not enough? Sound ok?
     
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  7. JB7

    JB7 Heavy Load Member

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    It's not like you did anything wrong. As in installing the wrong part or made a mistake causing his troubles. Sometimes sheet happens. Legally or ethically you are not required to do anything. On the one hand his "He wants me to..." rubs me the wrong way as he wants you to help take care of his misfortune. Your in business to earn a living just like he is. On the other I can see you wanting to help him out (this alone) and possibly earn some goodwill or referrals. Depends on how many total labor hours it takes you. Helping him out for several hundred dollars, say 3 or 4 hundred I would do, but nothing near 1k. You can also try @Goodysnap or @Catmando.
     
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  8. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    Oh he just wants me to do more work to his truck. He wasn't trying to push that on me or anything. He wants me to continue to work on his truck I was just saying when I do that job it would give me the opportunity to help him out a little. Don't let it "rub" you. : )

    Thanks for the feedback.

     
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  9. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    I personally don’t think you owe the guy anything….it’s not your fault Cummins injectors for n14 seems to be prone to problems these days. as far as helping him out a little, if he’s a good customer what are you really out to put on the injector harness? 1-2 hours tops. Might be worth it.
    I definitely wouldn’t in any way shape or form offer that on the exhaust manifold just because that could turn into a big project.
     
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  10. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    Really depends on the customer. My reputation was worth more than a few parts. I did get to the point I wouldn't buy OEM Cummins parts. N14 Injectors and ISX water pumps always failed.

    For a good customer, yes, I would cover it. The loss is tax deductible, so that helps
     
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  11. Smellfunny

    Smellfunny Road Train Member

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    Well I did his exhaust manifold (two broken studs) and installed his wiring harness. I charged him just a little over what I paid for parts (like 5% or less on everything) and only charged him 3 hours later total. He told me when I gave him the bill that it wasn't my fault that the injector went bad and I did not have to do that but I told him that I would help him out. He was happy. While doing the harness I noticed his steer axle wheel seal was starting to leak so he had me do that. I did not discount that.
     
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