Help tracking down air leak

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Hanadarko, Aug 13, 2010.

  1. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    Ok. Well it works fine.. but MAYBE leaking. I'm not 100% sure here. Thats my issue...
     
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  3. bender

    bender Road Train Member

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    They commonly develop leaks. It should show foamy bubbles if you soap it and watch awhile.
     
  4. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    I think its leaking on the inner side I cant see. Thats a guess right now.

    But riddle me this...Why does it ONLY leak when the tractor brakes are released??
     
  5. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

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    Does truck have daytime running lights?
     
  6. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    No...but that one black 'switch' in the photo is a cruise control pressure switch. It is unique to Detroit Diesel.

    That could be the cause of my leak AND the reason my cruise doesnt work SOME of the time...(I can set it and it doesn't hold).

    :biggrin_25513:

    Each of these are about $13. Not bad at least...
     
  7. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    I had a Detroit cruise brake switch go bad, and the cruise would set sometimes, and others not. You could also be driving down the road and it cut out for no reason. I jumped across the switch and drove it to be sure. Just remember the only way to cut out the cruise with the switch jumped is with the clutch switch or cut off switch.
     
    Hanadarko Thanks this.
  8. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    Thats the symptom I have had. Wont set at times or kicks out at times.
    (Thats in another separate thread...) - Sometimes when it would kick out, we would hear a blast of air. (NOT the turbo winding down either).
    The dealer told me I was nutz and that nothing cruise related runs on air. Hmm.....

    Today I stopped at KW. Picked up 4 sensors. Both LOW PSI, brake switch and cruise switch. $72 I think was the total charge. I am going to replace all of them while I am in there. Maybe a waste of money but still cheaper than paying someone to work on it (before I loose my mind).

    Since my air leak is not 'always' but 'most of the time' I am thinking it is one of these sensors. I would expect a hose that has a bad fitting to leak basically all the time.
    I am changing the electrical connections on the cruise sensor to eyelets that will hold under the screw, instead of those "open hook electrical connector" things. Those sometimes spread out when you tighten down the fittings. :biggrin_25521:- using eyelets will stop that.

    Now, if something STILL leaks after all of this - then I dont know what else to do. The manifolds and hole-plugs are all tight.
     
  9. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    I still have money on the foot valve.
     
  10. Hanadarko

    Hanadarko Independent Owner/Operator

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    Well if it is, it has passed all soapy water tests...even running my hand around the bottom of it..no air was to be felt and the sound is not coming from that valve (top or bottom is 100% quiet)....im sure its still possible, but I dont see how at this point.....

    :biggrin_25513:
     
  11. stranger

    stranger Road Train Member

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    Have you checked your hand valve? I just remembered I had a truck that did the same thing. It truned out to be the hand valve bypassing air. The exhaust port was under the dash, making the sound come from a different place than the valve. I took the hand valve apart, cleaned and greased everything up, and all was well. What oil and grease that was in the valve had gotten hard, and dirt had found it's way there also.

    Pull down on the valve, slowly release, and listen to find where the exhaust port is. That just may be the leak you hear. Mine would only lose air on one tank also.
     
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