Bus won't stay running

NJT 5573 · April 03, 2007, 09:26:30 PM

Ross, your theory about the oil sounds possible to me, especially with mine shutting down at 2 quarts low. The only way I have been able to have any faith in my DDEC 2 was to have the shop kill the auto shutdown. You could probably pay for a service call from DD. Tell them to bring the adapter for DDEC 2, have them read and print your current and history codes, clear them all from memory and have them KILL THE AUTO SHUTDOWN. That will get you running. I just round tripped SEA/LA with DDEC 2 with no problems. I don't think I would have even gone with the auto shutdown turned on, it was such a pain in the @$#!

Tin Lizzy · April 03, 2007, 09:40:29 PM

Ross
Why not plug in your block heater for a few hours and try it again
If no block heater I used a stainless pan and BBQ briquets under oil pan. Mine fired up in minus 20
Harry

Kristinsgrandpa · April 04, 2007, 06:12:31 PM

My coach, 6V-92 TA, DDEC-II, Alison HT 748 ATEC, starts and runs regularly with the batteries at 75%. It cranks slow but starts and runs. I know I need new batteries but only start the thing about every 6 mo. to turn it around.

Ed

Ace · April 04, 2007, 07:01:03 PM

Ed do this. Try starting the bus when the batteries are so low the lights in the bays don't come on. Give it a quick charge to where it will JUST start and come back and tell us what you get. Not talking about an over night charge. I'm talking maybe 15 minutes per battery. Just to where the bay lights will glow dimly. The bus WILL start but I can almost guarantee you that it will shut down from LOW voltage somewhere in the sensor department if not all the sensors. 75% is not what I would consider dead batteries!

Prevost advised me after I explained my usage or NON usage to do exactly what the high end converters do and that is to install a marine type on board battery charger that is tied into the house batteries IF they are tied to some sort of on board charger like in the inverter, which mine is! I have been told that a 3 amp charger is all that is needed to keep the batteries maintained but you can use a larger one if needed. Frankly, if the batteries are always being maintained via the house batteries then I see no reason to need a larger one but then it would depend on your actual usage and needs!

Bottom line is the DDEC, ATEC, and anything else in the coach that depends on the START batteries and is equipped with a memory of some type will need batteries with juice. More juice than what I was trying to run with which was close to none! If you let your coach sit for ANY length of time without starting it, chances are, the batteries will need to be charged MORE than what just getting it started will do. It appears that the batteries, even though they are charged from the alternator, cannot be charged enough in the short time the bus is run before the sensors shut it down.

Ace

alltech · April 05, 2007, 06:54:45 AM

Thanks to everyone for your help.

My batteries are good, i can't seem to flash a code, I think my only option is to get a DDEC service man to come and look at the program. Maybe since this was ha fleet bus at one time some of the functions were set so drivers couldn't do anything. And the bus shutdown to protect it from being driven when it could do harm to the engine.

Thx Ross

Lee Bradley · April 05, 2007, 10:20:20 AM

I know next to nothing about DDEC of any favor. I think the 8v92 in my Neoplan has a DDEC II but could be a III. When I went to look at the bus the first time, it had been sitting on the lot for months and the starter would bearly roll the engine over. I wouldn't call it cranking. The salesman hooked up a jump cart and started it from the driver's seat, engaged the fast idle, walked back and disconnected the jump cart and the engine never hiccuped. I find it hard to believe that they would build an engine management system that would shut down the engine because of low batteries while the alternator is putting out good voltage but I have been wrong before and will be wrong again.

DrivingMissLazy · April 05, 2007, 10:23:03 AM

Lee, I agree with you. In my opinion, it is technically impossible to detect a low battery while the engine is running and the alternator is charging.
Richard

Lee Bradley · April 06, 2007, 09:09:15 AM

Somewhat different than a low battery but thanks for letting us know the outcome.

FloridaCliff · April 06, 2007, 10:01:49 AM

Ace,

Curious, which two batteries were dead?

Was it the ones on the right in your drawing?

Cliff

Ace · April 06, 2007, 10:22:39 AM

Cliff it was the two batteries that are at the top of the page. The top being the edge torn from the rings of the binder!

The other two are good as new and I double checked the wiring that you questioned with a friend who has the same bus and his is identical to mine!

Ace

FloridaCliff · April 06, 2007, 10:38:59 AM

Ace,

Good deal!

I am still curious why they hooked them up that way though....

Prevost guys just wanna be different....LOL......

Cliff

niles500 · April 06, 2007, 10:44:29 AM

Cliff - mine are the same - 4 group 31's - 2 have the POS on the north and 2 on the south - No idea why - HTH

FloridaCliff · April 06, 2007, 10:58:32 AM

Niles,

When I saw Ace's drawing over at NCBobs' yesterday, I was sure that something was drawn wrong.

But, now I have an independent confirmation....

OK Ace, "your drawing was right"

Cliff

Ace · April 06, 2007, 11:23:11 AM

Man the things a guy has to go thru to gain a little faith! LOL
Niles, send me a number so I can call you about another issue. Those so called friends of yours at CDB say the unpaid tab I ran up under your name is too high to release that information. Please pay the tab so I can get back in or just send me your number!

Ace

Tin Lizzy · April 07, 2007, 09:21:56 AM

Isn't it possible that due to cold weather and cold oil the sensors are not reading the oil?
by pre heating the engine with the block heater or other means that it would warm it up enough to stay running?
Or am I crazy?
Harry