dealership said the truck needs a $4K unavailable in cab harness

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by gemtrucker, Mar 6, 2026.

  1. gemtrucker

    gemtrucker Bobtail Member

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    Apr 9, 2015
    abbeville, la
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    hey, people you are the best of the best. 2005 379 C13, Truck was presenting as a fuel delivery issue. Unburned fuel, white smoke no acceleration. Brought the truck to an independent mechanic, to put it on his computer. All soft fuel lines and tank cross over was replaced. Fuel filter nearest fire wall wasn't filling with fuel. changed engine wiring harness, ECM, injector harnesses, and injectors. Mechanic said needs in cab wiring harness, Had it 3 months, will not exceed 1200 RPMS. Harness deemed obsolete at dealership. Towed to Peterbilt. Changed fuel pump, replaced the aftermarket injectors that weren't working, went with DELPHI, got injectors to work. No longer puking out white smoke. Still no acceleration. Service manager said when he lifts the wiring harness coming out of the cab, the truck runs smooth with acceleration. He said it too was the in cab harness. I told them Peterbilt didn't carry it, it was obsolete. He said who told you that, I responded your parts guys did. He wants to just to locate the broken wires and splice them. ANY IDEA WHICH WIRE?WIRES control acceleration? I got $25k into the repair at both shops. Thanks
     
    cke and blairandgretchen Thank this.
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  3. LOTSO

    LOTSO Heavy Load Member

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    :scratch:...I don't know...Good Luck???:dontknow:
     
  4. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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  5. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Maybe a Cat dealer would be the best place to take it.
     
    Opendeckin Thanks this.
  6. JB7

    JB7 Road Train Member

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    Dealers just want to replace a harness when there is an issue. Someone else on this forum a few years ago the dealer wanted about 10k to replace 2 harnesses on a Pete. Recommended he go to an electrical shop that specialized in electrical and wiring. They fixed the harnesses for about 1k. In your case if the harness were available the part was 4k and labor when electrical shop could have done for a fraction of that.
    You can find places online that will fabricate a harness.
    I would take it to an electrical shop. It would be best to have the harness removed and they can go through it. After the 2 shops you are at the tail end of this.
    If you don't want to do that I would start at the pedal. Check the sensor/sensors. You should be able to see the wiring coloring/coding and trace from there.
     
    Feedman and Oxbow Thank this.
  7. gemtrucker

    gemtrucker Bobtail Member

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    Apr 9, 2015
    abbeville, la
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  8. gemtrucker

    gemtrucker Bobtail Member

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    Apr 9, 2015
    abbeville, la
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    Thank you
     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  9. gemtrucker

    gemtrucker Bobtail Member

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    Apr 9, 2015
    abbeville, la
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    I guess I could call them and see if they carry that harness. I know in the past, for most questions dealing with parts for the actual chassis, they refer me to Peterbilt
     
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If its the harness from the chassis to the engine the Cat dealer usually won't be much help. That's typically the responsibility of the truck manufacturer.
     
    cke, Feedman, Oxbow and 2 others Thank this.
  11. bad-luck

    bad-luck Road Train Member

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    Have they checked the throttle position sensor under the pedal.
     
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