3406E missing

I do check the wiring when I do a top end set. Some guys do, and some guys don't, just depends on the guy. Too many guys here are quick to throw out book times for operations. Book times are always the minimum time it should take for a repair or operation. You won't get too many "extras" in those cases. Inspecting the wire harnesses aren't included in quoted repairs like a top end set. Also there are a lot of guys that complain about "Stealerships" and how you get charged too much! To keep the prices as low as possible the repair shop is going to get in there and out as quickly as possible. 5 or 10 mins to inspect your wiring is all it takes to look for bad spots. As for the bend location I was talking about, I am referring to where the harness connector is on the outside of the rocker cover pass-through. The connector basically faces straight out from the side the rocker cover and then the wiring has to make a 90 degree turn as it is tied along the side of the engine. I have seen many times where other wiring such as the main alternator cables and a/c lines are also tied to this engine harness and putting weight on it so the wires are all being pulled on and stressed all the time. They just start to get weak and break inside the wire. I have actually never replaced any Cat engine harness, I have always been able to just make the repair. We have the proper kits that include the terminals to help in repairs. This isn't the same as fixing trailer lights, I would recommend an actual CAT dealer when you are messing around with your engine wiring.

 

Sometimes they deserve that moniker. For example, I called the pete dealer today to see how much they'd charge to pop in a replacement dash air valve assembly. You know, 4 screws and push-lock connectors. 30 minutes if I did it... they quoted me 2 HOURS. HA! When I asked him how he justified that estimate he stuttered and stammered unable to produce a legitimate reason. Total thievery. /offtopic.

 

No dealer I know of has anything that can test injectors to that degree. That is more of a specialty tool/equipment for a fuel injection shop. A big Cat dealer might have that. I remember seeing an injector test and calibration machine years ago in school and there was a lot to it. It was big, sophisticated and no doubt very expensive. We have a local fuel injection shop that we can send out a set of injectors for a customer. They will rebuild them, but I don't think they get any kind of calibration tweeking done. Good question, I guess you'll have to ask around.

 

I was thinking you have a broken rocker arm

 

Thievery? No repair shop I know of is there for charity. I guess that is why you call and find out first. I always have a little chuckle when you guys insist on calling the shop for these "quick and easy" repairs. If it is so easy and you can do it yourself, why waste your time calling? If you're offered more money for a run, don't you take it? Isn't that then also "thievery"?

 

Replacing an air valve on the dash isn't rocket science. Yes, that's why you call and ask. Unfortunately, some folks don't know that such a job wouldn't take 2 hours, and they'd pay that kind of fee. No, the shop isn't there for charity, but you'd think a shred of ethics would exist. I was at the truck wash and was wondering if they could knock it out for me and bill a quarter or half hour. I went home, R&R'd the part in about half an hour. That time also included a cold beer and the phone interrupting me. I guess it's a matter of perspective. I wouldn't charge someone for 2 hours on that job. You would. Or you might charge 4 hours, right?

 

I can't speak for someone else. I have no explanation as to why they gave you that time. Some dealers are honest, and some aren't. Some back yard mechanics are just as crooked as a conman. People get ripped off every day, not just by repair shops. Everyone has some responsibility to check out where they go and how much they pay. Honestly, if you go to a store to buy a new tv and spend $1500 only to find everyone else's price is $999, who's fault is that? If you call a shop and they give you a quote that you think is ridiculous, call someone else. I have lots of customer stories too. Some dash valves are a complete pain to change because there is more to than just 4 screws. OEMs are famous for not giving too much extra air line. You ever see the end of one of those quick connect air lines? See the little ring groove worn into the line about 1/4" from the end? That will never seal properly in the new valve. You have to trim the end of line to get a clean end. Some trucks don't give you anything to work with. Not to mention some models require several dash panels to removed which include other switches/wiring/air lines and sometimes HVAC duct work. It isn't a 20 min job on every truck. Every truck is different. If your particular model only needs 20 mins of labor to r&r the valve maybe the guy you spoke to doesn't know that. Maybe he thought of something else. Maybe they were too busy and were trying to blow you off, whatever. At my shop it is what ever time it takes, unless previously negotiated. For the most part, yes, dash valves are an easy one and even two hours should be more than plenty. Any amount that you feel is excessive should be easily explainable on behalf of the shop, and if they can't justify the time, you should get the bill reduced. Simple. P.S. I'm not going to waste anymore of the reader's time here with this subject. This post has to do with a miss on a 3406, not this squabble.

 

you can do an engine cutout test to isolate what cylinder is missing. if this miss is under load conditions then do a dyno run to bring the problem out. if you had the over head done did they set the travel for the injectors correctly? a broken roker would cause a miss but you would have a whole lot of other noises also, it wouldnt sound pretty!

 

CAT's specs are a joke when it comes to injectors.