Should I put my foot down?

I know it sucks, but there are a few things you can do short of being that blunt.

I don't stay out overnight often anymore but I never run the heat when I do, never did before either. Cold I can always deal with, even deep into the negative numbers, summer heat is an entirely different story. I sleep in a sleeping bag, bring sweats with me to sleep in, and set my alarm early so I can start the truck and let it warm up.... that being said....

I'd make it a point to ask for an APU or temporarily disable the idle shut off... on a regular basis.

 

most, and i do mean most, not all, idle cutoffs can be "got around". i had one truck that you had to watch the dash until the "shutdown" light came on and hit the gas one more time and it would stay on. others will idle up and stay running if you hit the cruise control while you're sitting and idling. just play around with it. or ask other werner drivers how they get around the cutoff on their trucks.

personally, i couldn't sleep well with the engine running, so i had a bunch of blankets and comforters, and some slippers to keep my feet warm. i was good down to about 25 degrees (i also ran 11 western) then just get up in the morning, start that sucker up and jump back under the covers until it warmed up.

also look into a bunk warmer, it's a 12V electric blanket that warms the lower part of your bunk. i had one that worked real well until i had some battery problems and didn't trust it anymore.

 

Have you tried setting the cruise control? There has to be a way to run the engine, I had a truck that I had to wait 3 minutes until the check engine light flashed, then tap any peddle to override the shutdown. If setting the cruise control doesn't work just ask them to reset the paramiters the next time you're at a shop. Your company mechanics should be able to plug into the ECM and re-program to allow running the engine for heat and A/C, forget the blankets and fartsacks, you need to have heat and A/C!

 

Agent, what have they got you in?

 

I figured I'd ask, as my hubby was driving for them last winter. He was in a T600 though. Looks like there are some good suggestions to try above though.

The cornbinder my hubby drives now just has to have the fuel pedal hit once it gets to the shut down warning, then it stays running.

You definitely need to keep warm now that winter has hit, or cool if you're down south.

 

Should be able to do it by setting the cruise with the tach at about 600 or 700. That's how my hubby kept his T600 idling. Just wanted to share that, as I am on the phone with him right now.

 

I got a volvo with an idle cut off as well. To get around this one I just put the range selector in high and put it in the front of top gear so the truck thinks its in gear and wont shut off. Now I have to put a strap around the shifter to the passenger seat to keep it from rattling out, works good and the truck wont shut off keeping me nice an toasty in the winter and nice an cool in the summer.