Tri-PAC APU hot soak shut-down issues

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by MNdriver, Jun 27, 2012.

  1. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    So I have a Tri-pac APU on my truck. Twice now I have had issues this week with a hot-soak shut down restart issue. (Hot soak is where you shut it down for a short period of time and try to restart it.)

    In both cases it's been over 90 degrees outside too.

    The first time, never knew it shut down as I went in to shower and eat and when I came back out, there was an "ENG" system fault. Tonight I was still in the truck. And when it's 93 degrees out and you want AC, you figure this stuff out.

    I went searching for the Tri-PAC maintenance manual some months ago and found one. I'd upload it, but it's 6.5 MEG, so unless the site is willing to host it, Google is your friend.


    You first need to turn your APU off.

    Start your truck and let it idle for about 5-10 minutes.

    Reset the APU "Engine Reset Switch" It's on the control unit. Who knows where they installed it on your specific truck.

    Shut down the truck.

    Turn your APU on.

    Enjoy your AC.


    near as I can tell, the Coolant gets too hot in the APU engine and sets an overheat condition. I need to talk to our mechanic, to me, that sounds like there's a waterpump problem on the APU. It should flow the coolant when it restarts to clear it. I do know running the truck engine for 5-10 minutes seems to cool it off and then it will run no problems the rest of the night.
     
    aiwiron Thanks this.
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  3. country29

    country29 Medium Load Member

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    need to have mechanic check the water pump belt, water pump and cooling fan on the side of the apu, also if it is equipped with the arctic option need to check the 2 arctic switches. any of these malfunctioning could cause it to shutdown with an eng code. has the trucks coolant system been drained recently? if it has there could be an air pocket that would cause this also.
     
  4. TonyUFN

    TonyUFN Bobtail Member

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    boom192 and MNdriver Thank this.
  5. da1

    da1 Road Train Member

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    good info im going to have to try this ive been having apu issues this wk
     
  6. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Short term, mechanic and i agreed on hot weeks like this to open the access panel to let out extra heat.
     
  7. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Got back today with an update on the APU.

    Turns out a coolant switch was bad, the fan wasn't running and a blown fuse in the control box.
     
  8. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    [h=1]Not Found[/h]The requested URL /tripac/TriPac_Diagnostic_Manual.pdf was not found on this server.
     
  9. silenteagle

    silenteagle Road Train Member

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    My APU quit working this week. Wouldn't start, but sounded like it was a low battery start situation. ThermoKing shop told me a ground wire between the starter and alternator always breaks. They replaced the wire and put a curly q on the wire for vibration damping, which should keep it from breaking again. Now it runs good.
     
  10. MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Had a similar problem a couple of weeks back. Terminal at the alternator.
     
  11. TonyUFN

    TonyUFN Bobtail Member

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    Fixed... sorry about that.
     
    MNdriver Thanks this.
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