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Thermo-King Tri-Pac Programming

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by STexan, Jan 3, 2014.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Jan 3, 2014 #1
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
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    I have a 2 year old truck and TriPac unit. Last time in the shop, somebody did something to alter the way the TriPac operates. Now, it will start and run continuous (all night) within a minute of shutting off the engine. Not too cool IMO when refueling or at a guard shack. Now, recycling the truck engine on/off always defaults the APU to be "On" (in the sleeper).

    Used to, the APU on/off state would retain the last setting when the engine was started. So this behavior could be stopped if you chose to.

    Used to, the APU would not start until the battery voltage dropped beyond a certain threshold. And would run only for maybe 30-45 minutes.

    Is there a winter/summer mode these things operate in? (i.e. if the outside temp is below a certain threshold, the APU will want to run any time the engine is off)

    Can any re-programming be done from the sleeper module? If so, how?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    STexan, Jan 3, 2014
    STexan, Jan 3, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jan 4, 2014 #2
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    What is the control panel set at in the bunk? Is it set on heat or AC? Sometimes mechanics will set it at a very low temp on AC to get the unit to run continously, to test or check it out.

    If it is set on heat, you may have a broken wire or bad alternator on the unit, and it may not be charging enough. If there is any way you can check the voltage while it is on and running, and it is only around 12 volts, it is not charging the system, just running off your batteries.

    Otherwise it may be a programming issue, which I think only a dealer can connect to the brain to check.
     
    Hardlyevr, Jan 4, 2014
    Hardlyevr, Jan 4, 2014
    #2
    CondoCruiser Thanks this.
  4. Jan 4, 2014 #3
    CondoCruiser

    CondoCruiser The Legend

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    I would double check your battery connections, off voltage and running voltages. It's possible you can have battery issues or the truck alternator is weak.

    The APU shouldn't run continuous except in the AC mode.

    Last time in the shop what were they working on?
     
    CondoCruiser, Jan 4, 2014
    CondoCruiser, Jan 4, 2014
    #3
  5. Jan 4, 2014 #4
    mtoo

    mtoo Road Train Member

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    Retired on bended knee
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    If it has the artic package, the Tri Pac start as soon as you shut the truck off, if it is below 35 deg F. outside.
     
    mtoo, Jan 4, 2014
    mtoo, Jan 4, 2014
    #4
  7. Jan 4, 2014 #5
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
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    It has been cold since I've gotten it out of the shop last time and noticed this. However, In Joplin today I stopped for fuel and it was 45 and it came on almost immediately. They have had some issues with drivers failing to engage the APU mode and ended up with inadequate power to start next morning, so maybe they decoded they'd "err on the side of caution" and reprogram the entire fleet as they came in.

    Last time it was in, they replaced the alternator on the Tripac, and the batteries on the truck because the APU was shutting down with a alternator fault code after a few minutes running. Lately I only run the Webasto heater (heat mode) but the heat on or not has no affect on the APU running all the time like it now does. The truck alternator and batteries seem fine and plenty of cranking amps now with the new batteries and registering 14 volts virtually all the time.

    I guess I'll call the shop foreman but those calls are usually not very fruitful in situations like this. He talks like he knows what the shop did, but in reality he's doesn't know and just operates on hunches and guesses.
     
    STexan, Jan 4, 2014
    STexan, Jan 4, 2014
    #5
  8. Jan 5, 2014 #6
    bjytech

    bjytech Light Load Member

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    Nov 9, 2013
    Ohio
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    It sounds to me like either the arctic switch is bad and stuck closed or they put a jumper in place of it to make it run so they could diagnose the apu and forgot to remove it
     
    bjytech, Jan 5, 2014
    bjytech, Jan 5, 2014
    #6
  9. Feb 2, 2016 #7
    Cory Cross

    Cory Cross Bobtail Member

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    Jan 3, 2016
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    Mine does the same thing. Company told me it was normal but no other trucks in yard are doing this out of 1500 trucks. I will hear them run and shut off and mine just runs and runs. I always have to add oil. I just turn it off unless sitting or leaving truck for a long time. And watch my voltage myself on power inverter. My truck batteries are new. I also run it if its cold out under 32. My unit has 20,996 hours truck is 2010 volvo with 506,000 miles on it.
     
    Cory Cross, Feb 2, 2016
    Cory Cross, Feb 2, 2016
    #7
  10. Feb 2, 2016 #8
    bomoto

    bomoto Light Load Member

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    May 25, 2014
    Chattanooga Tn
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    Someone changed the battery charge setting. They raised the parameters from 12.2 to 12.6 which will cause it to cycle on and off frequently when truck is shut off. You need a pass code to get into those settings. Try calling or Google it
     
    bomoto, Feb 2, 2016
    bomoto, Feb 2, 2016
    #8
    Cory Cross Thanks this.
  11. Feb 2, 2016 #9
    slavcha

    slavcha Light Load Member

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    Oct 17, 2011
    Utica NY
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    You have voltage sensing wire going from APU control box to a battery, if it got disconnected or got blown fuse you apu will start. I installed switch on mine to force start apu if i need to use microwave or need to preheat motor without using AC setting and battery voltage above set point
     
    slavcha, Feb 2, 2016
    slavcha, Feb 2, 2016
    #9
    shatteredsquare and Cory Cross Thank this.
  12. Feb 2, 2016 #10
    bavarian

    bavarian Heavy Load Member

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    Feb 13, 2014
    Winnipeg
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    I did some work once and forgot to open the shutdown valves in the coolant lines. It was cold, about 0F and as soon as I shut down the truck engine, the APU came on since it didn't get coolant circulated and the sensor still thought it'd too cold and started the unit.
     
    bavarian, Feb 2, 2016
    bavarian, Feb 2, 2016
    #10
    Cory Cross Thanks this.
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