Help! Powerpac APU problem

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by kittydrvr, Jan 26, 2010.

  1. kittydrvr

    kittydrvr Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Aug 24, 2009
    Moline, IL
    0
    We have a Powertech Powerpac APU with only 1300 hrs on it......it won't start and shows "communication failure" on the control panel in the truck. We can't seem to get any answers from the company without providing them with the serial number to the unit first, which for some reason seems to be missing. Has anyone else experienced this same problem where you could maybe shed a little light on this for us?
     
    kickin chicken Thanks this.
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  3. FYDA FREIGHTLINER CINCY

    FYDA FREIGHTLINER CINCY Light Load Member

    270
    131
    Apr 28, 2009
    Cincinnati, ohio
    0
    have u checked the telephone cord going between the electrical box and controller
     
    tiresONtar, kickin chicken and 123456 Thank this.
  4. black_dog106

    black_dog106 Road Train Member

    1,786
    1,666
    Mar 29, 2009
    MA
    0
    As always, excellent help and advice from the man from Cinci Freightliner...:biggrin_25514:
     
  5. kittydrvr

    kittydrvr Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Aug 24, 2009
    Moline, IL
    0
    We haven't checked to see if the cord is bad but we have removed it from the control panel in the truck and then reattached it to see if it would reset anything.
     
  6. tiresONtar

    tiresONtar Light Load Member

    93
    58
    Sep 14, 2009
    Wisconsin
    0
    Just going off your profile location, but here are IL listed dealers/service centers. Try giving them a call for 'over the phone' help.

    Peterbilt Northern Illinois – Wadsworth
    Ph: (800) 813-5661
    Local Phone: (847) 395-7222

    Peterbilt Illinois – Rockford
    Ph: (877) 222-0013
    Local Phone: (815) 874-3433

    Peterbilt Central Illinois – Bloomington
    Phone: (800) 813-5668
    Local Phone: (309) 662-1331


    Also did a quick search for the online manual.

    It mentions "The Fault State is entered if an input reaches an out-of-bounds limit. The generator is immediately stopped. A Power Cycle/Reset is required to exit the Fault state. The LED blinks the Fault Code(s)."

    Did it shut down or are you just unable to start?


     
  7. kittydrvr

    kittydrvr Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Aug 24, 2009
    Moline, IL
    0
    Thank you, we might just do that. We've gone all throught the manual and checked every possiblity. It won't even start to give a fault code, it might actually be easier if it did. Thanks for your help.
     
  8. jafo52747

    jafo52747 Bobtail Member

    1
    0
    Aug 5, 2010
    0

    We have 3 of these units and when I have had it say communication failure, just unhook the battery cables at the battery so it resets the ecm for the apu and should take care of the problem, ours was caused by a bad battery the unit was hooked to
     
  9. Regul8r

    Regul8r Bobtail Member

    38
    25
    Jan 9, 2011
    Kansas
    0
    Just wondering did you get this fixed? What turned out to be the issue? I've got one doing the same thing. It will start sometimes.. run for a while.. then shut down with a communication error and its done for a while.
     
  10. Regul8r

    Regul8r Bobtail Member

    38
    25
    Jan 9, 2011
    Kansas
    0
    I have the same issue with mine. I contacted Powertech and they told me to try unpluging the plugs on the controller inside the unit and repluging them.. No joy.. then they suggested taking the plugs off and replacing them with female spades...no joy.. finally I ended up buying a new controller and installing it.. still no joy.. Now I have been told I will have to replace the old style controller with the new updated one. I will of course get full credit for my purchased controller. Just haven't gotten to the shop to get it done yet. So if something else fixes this problem for you I would love to know what it was. :) I miss my APU
     
    woody71 Thanks this.
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