Int'l Gets a Bad Rap...Why?

I own a 2015 Prostar with ISX Cummins 10 Shifter and prefer nothing else. Lots of room for myself and the little mess of a Beagle I call Pilot. Just hit 200k 3 days ago and has had absolutely no needed work other than an Alignment last night. It's a Beast of a truck and stays with any Pete or KW with a full load through the Smokies.

There's only 1 thing I can think of that I would want them to change and that's to get rid of the pos cheap ### FM/CB/AM BS. It's confused more people into thinking the truck has bad ground issues yet when I've tested mine and others using a really high dollar Electrical Meter everything is perfectly grounded. International like others these days think they're helping drivers with the whole setup, minus CB Radio, but by mixing the Stereo and CB onto a single system is just horrible especially since you can only use 1 type of antenna for this setup causing drivers to waste money on antennas and more expensive antennas later thinking its going to get past a 1/2 mile range. I'm getting +/-10 to 30 miles putting my own system in the truck without using a single ground strap which also proves the truck is Perfectly WELL Grounded.

That to me however is not enough to give less than 5 out of 5 stars! The Truck is all about hauling for a paycheck and for that it is a gd good truck!

 

The MAXXFORCE is pure crap. That has got the worst motor known to mankind. I've been told it's the same as a Detroit but not sure on that. I drove one for 1 day and that's all it took. Tested it with a 20k pound load and I would've ran passed it in this 2015 with Cummins ISX pulling a full limit of 80k pounds up a mountain.

 

I drive a 2016 Prostar 10 speed with Cummins. Can't say much about the mechanical side of it as I haven't been driving it long and it hasn't had any issues yet. It's got a few design issues I don't like, but it pulls fine and has plenty of room and storage inside. I hate the stupid air horn button on the steering wheel--can't ever find it when I need it. I love the built-in inverter mine's got with no-idle ac and heat. I've driven two of these trucks and they both shook when driving at 65+ mph, and I've met several drivers who said the same thing about their prostars--could be the truck or the Goodyears we got on it. Don't know.

I've got no complaints about mine, but for whatever reason I don't like it near as much as the Cascadias or T680s I've driven.

 

It's sorts both. The two drive axles will eventually get out of alignment like anything driving on the road and naturally with any vehicle the tires wear more on specific areas due to losing its alignment.

I've just finished proving this to a few other truckers I meet up with at times as well as a few great Diesel Mechanics I've become great friends with. I first had the two worst drive tires replaced about a month ago and it took all vibration away. As soon as I started to feel anything again I would take it in for an alignment. Well, it started to two days ago so I got an alignment last night. It was way off more than I've ever seen on the screen. Just hit 200k miles and I bet it had never been in for an alignment until now.

It shouldn't shake anymore again for around 90k miles at least which is normal timing. Don't expect mechanics to tell you this because they're making tons off people claiming it could be any number of things so they get you to pay starting at the bottom going up the list. Most however really don't know because they're in a garage not on the road to tell what it is but trust me that's it.

Can't expect any vehicle to last forever without any maintenance. This is no different than getting a PM every 30k-50k miles.

 

I own a 2008 ProStar with a factory 600hp ISX (CM-871), 18 spd. The motor has been in framed, she made it to 800,000 miles. Head was bad, which is common in these ISX motors, CM-871 and newer. Figure you will be replacing at roughly that same mileage, between 700,000 and 800,000 miles. You cannot reman these heads either, only replace with a new OEM crate head, they are disposable. Plenty of real world info out there on that subject, so don't argue with me.

The CM-2250 and CM-2350 ISX motors have an even worse reputation. Many are failing at 300,000 to 400,000 due to fuel pump issues. And when I say fail, I am talking take the entire motor to the scrap yard, as there is rarely anything left to salvage, including the block. Do your homework on all of these new EPA mandated motors, none are reliable unless you know what you are getting into and have the ability to diagnose and fix yourself. This ain't grandpa's truck. The days of lube, oil and filter are long gone.

Back to my ProStar, the mandate was taken care of prior to the in frame, which exposed the head issue caused from a high heat issue prior to me purchasing. Once all of that was taken care of the truck is now reliable, at least under the hood, KNOCK ON WOOD. The rest of the truck, not so much, but we are getting there. The truck is paid for, if I would have had a payment on this thing, I would be out of business. The amount of monies I have poured into this thing, I could have three very nice Pete's, fully restored, sitting in my driveway with clear titles. You want to own one of these newer trucks, buy tools, and learn how to wrench. The dealership will bankrupt you in short order.

She has her gremlins, the AC for one. after several years of ownership and no AC I finally have it working. You have to dig out the ambient air temp sensor from under the radiator and move it up into the fresh air. That solved my AC issues that no one could ever solve. I discovered that when chasing another electrical issue using the Navistar Bodybuilder schematics. Did I say she has electrical issues?

The sleeper windows leak, PIA to get to, but once the window is removed some simple and inexpensive 1/4 Butyl Window gasket is all that is needed to fix. No need to purchase a new window like the dealer tells you.

The roof cap leaks, as do the sun visor attachments at the roof line. If not sealed with silicone caulk, you will discover water in your cab. The water likes to make its way down the driver side A pillar to the kick panel, where your Body Controller ECM resides. Fix the leaks.

The fuse panel located in the dash on the passenger side. Fuses and breakers need to be swapped out regularly. Perfectly good fuses will not work after a certain age in the truck. The resistance of the system is such that fuses have to be swapped out on a regular basis.

The AC Blower Fan, passenger side footwell. There is a harness that likes to melt, as does the 30 amp fuse/breaker in the fuse block, known fire hazard according the NHTSA. There is a new harness pigtail with an in-line resistor that soaks up the extra amperage that tends to melt the wiring and burn out the blower motors on a regular basis. Install this harness and the blower motor issues should go away. Mine now works, but do not put the blower on the highest setting, as it only works to a certain point. The genius of Navistar engineers.

That is just off of the top of my head in regards to the actual REALLY ANNOYING stuff in the cab, the International part anyways, all of the leaks and electrical issues. The rest of the truck, once the mandate is removed, is pretty much general maintenance.

One thing I will say, if in need of parts really shop around, pit dealership against dealership to get the best price, or hunt eBay for deals on genuine International parts. The heater core, $745 from the dealer. I bought the same one from a Peterbilt dealer for $200 total with overnight shipping. Compass Module, tells you which direction you are headed and controls your ABS system and engine brake, $345 from the dealer, eBay, $20 with free shipping. Steering shaft from firewall to gear box, dealer $500, eBay, $125 nib. Plenty more examples, they just rip us off on these parts. I guess it is to recoup the monies from their failed MaxxFart motor and other EPA government mandates.

Your biggest hurdle with any of these newer trucks will be the emission systems. They will bankrupt you right out of the gate if you do not know what you are doing or how to properly rid yourself of the issues they cause. if you are going to purchase one of these trucks and expect to depend upon a dealership to keep it running under warranty, you are a fool that will soon be out of business. Save yourself the headache, and just take your cash out back and burn it if that is the case.

 

I love my 07 9400i..its defiantly a workhorse and bullet proof.. never a problem with electrical sensors or anything.

 

there is a reason why it is that price because its a money pit

 

as much as I hate maxxforce if you take off the emissions it's a good motor.