We're at FOT now with 6 or so moderate level problems and while here the engine lift pump, the 120 v protector, and the electric bay cooling fan all failed.
So here's a few words to help people notice the symptoms:
Lift pump: no symptom other than dripping fuel - still starts and runs normally. FOT techs tell me its not too unusual on a Cummins ISL for the pump to loosen up but most of the time, they just tighten it and the leak stops. On mine, they need to replace the pump because they tell me the gasket is shot. There have been other posts about leaking pumps. Just a good thing to watch for.
120 voltage protector: it's a yellow box that is mounted somewhere in the electric bay where I couldn't see it - I think behind the panel at the back of the bay. I hope I'm calling it the right thing. I was told it protects over and under voltages on my year coach (2004). We were parked at Camp Foretravel and I noticed that the shore power coming in was high - about 127v but I have seen this before without any issue. It seems the protector just failed after 9 years. The symptoms were that when I unplugged and started the engine, the Xantrax showed a fault that there was high voltage coming from the alternator. The chassis batteries were not being charged but the house batteries showed 17 volts as tested at the dash outlet. I only kept the engine on long enough to get it into a service bay. The techs plugged it into shore power and the Xantrax fault did not reoccur but the protector turned off all A/C power coming into the coach.
Electric bay colling fan: on my coach there is a small 120v fan that blows hot air out the bottom of the bay and is turned on by a heat sensor. While looking in the bay to check out other work that fixed air leaks, I accidentally touched the fan housing and it was hot! The motor has seized up and although there was no hum, it was trying to run. So no really obvious symptom because there isn't any easy way of knowing when the fan should be running. If you have this type of fan, its worth checking to see its turning normally by reaching in the fan shroud and spinning it. I remember seeing other posts about this fan motor asking what to do if it is seized up. You should be able to clean it and get it running after spraying lubricant but mine won't budge.
"Lift pump: no symptom other than dripping fuel - still starts and runs normally. FOT techs tell me its not too unusual on a Cummins ISL for the pump to loosen up but most of the time, they just tighten it and the leak stops. On mine, they need to replace the pump because they tell me the gasket is shot. There have been other posts about leaking pumps. Just a good think to watch for."
I had similar problem same symptoms small amount of dripping fuel under engine, and needed a new lift pump. In addition mechanic replace all fuel lines which were badly needed on my '99 coach.
I believe the fuel pump cost for ISC was ~ 2 Coach Bucks ($2000).
Tony
Wow!!2k for a fuel pump??
GULP!!!!!!
Lift pump for our ISC was ~$350. Somewhat of a pain to install, but not that bad.
We bought one from Cummins here in SoCal for $300... I haven't installed it yet, but I know I will have to limber up to do it! ::)
I bought the oem gasket for my lift pump before Cummins stopped selling them seperately. It is the new material that stands up to the ULS Diesel. I hope I never have to so it as I do not see how I can get into that area easily (lousy back/spine).
John H
All this talk about the price and difficulty of installing the lift pump makes me glad that FOT is doing mine - and - that I have a service contract.
Parallel topic. After FOT tried to tighten the pump without success, they originally told me that I needed to go to a Cummins shop to have it replaced because they are not Cummins certified. After some discussion, it turns out that since the pump is external to the engine, they can do it.
The issue is that if they coudn't, I would have had to travel with the leak. The Cummins shop in Houston (Cummins Southern Plains) told me its OK to travel as long as the leak isn't onto something hot or electrical. Maybe the area around the hydraulic fluid tank and away from the exhaust meets that criteria but the lift pump is on the upper side of the engine and while the leak drips straight down when the coach is parked it is sure to spray all over hot areas when on the road. I did not fancy making any kind of drive beyond a few miles.
Fuel Pump issues have been discussed before, but not sure there was any definitive bottom line to the discussion.
Question then: Can the mechanical lift pumps on our engines (any and all) be replaced with electric pumps/ pulling or pushing? Any info from FOT or Cummins? Has anyone asked them?
I guess if a mechanical lift pump fails, changing it out will do fine for another decade, but making replacing a pump in the future 'easier' should be a 'good thing'..... no?
Larry, You are there now. Would you mind asking?
Thanks, ron
The propensity to fail or for that matter, the very existence of the lift pump was news to me. (I don't have the big rig background a lot of folks on the forum seem to have.)
I'd be glad to ask FOT while I'm here but I tend to think that its a question for Cummins.
Do the new engines have electric pumps?
The lift pump, or fuel transfer pump (in Cummins nomenclature), in our 99' ISC electronic engine is an electric pump, not a mechanical.
So Sorry all I just checked my invoice it was not an engine lift pump... listed is an injection pump RB as having been replaced. My Bad...
:-[
Tony
That sounds like a good price for an injector pump. Glad the lift pump wasn't 2K.
Chuck