2009 Cummins ISX CM871 communication error? or not?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by TheLoadOut, Sep 23, 2023.

  1. TheLoadOut

    TheLoadOut Road Train Member

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    2009 Kenworth W900L, 3 weeks ago just cruising down the road the truck stumbled, a quick intermittent power (electric?) loss, got to the shoulder and she just shut right off. Would crank but not fire up right after that. Fortunately only 40 miles from home so I towed it. Installed Cummins ReMan ECM, lost communication on first test drive, stalled out but fired back up. Got it back to the shop (experienced hands not a fly by night) and we then replaced both ECM wiring harnesses and the ignition switch. On Wednesday I took the truck on a 30 mile drive and had no issues. Today I wanted to take it on another test drive before I had planned on going back to work this week. I drove 27 miles, no issues, I get back, truck sits for 2 hours, go to start it up to put it away and it will crank but not fire. The ABS does it check but the lift pump made no noise. The only code that showed up on the dash was J1939?? At one point my ELD which always come on when the key is turned on did not come on which was a first. So after disconnecting the batteries for 5 minutes I turn the key, now the I hear the pump, she started, ran rough for a few minutes then smoothed out. I got her parked and continued to shut her down/start her up several times, no issues.
    Once she started it would say No Faults Found. Batteries are 1 year old and all the connections were cleaned Thursday.

    So what the heck can be causing something like this after changing what we changed?
    Engine Fault.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2023
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  3. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Sorry for the delay. It's been a busy couple few weeks. I had some time off.

    The engine is losing battery or ignition power I would say. If there was a 1939 problem, the engine would run no problem. I would load test the powers and grounds and the ignition feed. What I do is, disconnect the main power feed connector, the 4 pin. Pins 1 and 2 are ground, 3 and 4 are battery positive. I will install a jumper wire from one of the power pins of that connector, go to a test headlight bulb, and then ground the headlight bulb to a ground pin from that same connector. So you are basically using the ECM power to light the test headlight. If the wiring is good, the headlight will be night and bright. Wiggle the wires all the way back to the batteries. If there is a bad spot or bad connector somewhere, wiggling the wiring should cause the headlight to dim or flicker or even go out. Then repair the wiring if you find a bad spot. Do this for each power and ground wire. Then remove the OEM connector at the ECM (left side connector), locate pin 39. This is your 12 volts in when you turn the key on. Do the same thing again, key on, connect power to the headlight and ground it and wiggle again.

    I know this post is late. Hope this helps or you fixed it by now.
     
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  4. TheLoadOut

    TheLoadOut Road Train Member

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    @Heavyd no worries for the delay, thanks. It was my ECM, but the replacement Cummins Reman was also bad, so when we replaced that ECM it's been all good since. Also did both harnesses as well just to upgrade everything.
     
    Heavyd Thanks this.
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