Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: pthurman48 on March 05, 2020, 02:23:35 pm

Title: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 05, 2020, 02:23:35 pm
While working on other things and just looking around,
  I found this plug not connected, it has 2 wires Red and Blue.  It is on the passenger side of engine.
  I don't know where it connects.
  All my gauges work.

Any U-225/U-240 Cat 3116 owners have any ideas??
 
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 05, 2020, 02:27:45 pm
Just another pic showing where the wire comes from.

Pat
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 05, 2020, 02:28:46 pm
From how clean it is (unless you just cleaned it) you should be able to find the corresponding connection.

BTW, the U240 is the only Foretravel with the Caterpillar 3116.  The U225 came with the Cummins 5.9 liter B engine.

Sorry, I don't have an electrical schematic for the engine.

Might contact Mustang Cat there in Lufkin or Caterpillar Corp if unable to get an answer anywhere else.  877 777-3126.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: fkjohns6083 on March 05, 2020, 06:37:34 pm
Could it be for an ether start canister? Those seem to get disabled one way or another.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 05, 2020, 07:28:14 pm
NO, the 3116 has an intake manifold heater, as do the majority of modern diesels.  So ether-- not so much!
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Caflashbob on March 05, 2020, 09:44:08 pm
M11's have  a port on the engine for ether start and Foretravel installed a ether start system new. 

No  reason to remove it.  I does not work over 50 degrees F.  Metered shot
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on March 05, 2020, 10:00:04 pm
Sorry, I don't have an electrical schematic for the engine.

Was there one in your files? I'd be glad to make a copy/screen shot if they exist in the 3-rings.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 05, 2020, 11:12:52 pm
To my knowledge, neither Caterpillar nor Foretravel provided electrical schematics on the engine itself.  Caterpillar did offer an engine operation and maintenance manual, but no schematics.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 06, 2020, 07:57:36 am
Thanks for the responses,

  My '94 Cat 3116 in my '95 U-240 has a 110 VAC block heater.  I don't think I have any other cold start options.  No problems  as long as the block heater is on for at least 2 hrs.  I don't have electrical stuff on the Cat engine.  I do know that my old engine is totally mechanical.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 06, 2020, 09:26:30 am
Yes, yours, like our 1993 U240,  is a mechanical engine.

But, unless removed, suspect you DO have an intake manifold heater.

Again, Mustang Caterpillar there in Lufkin (assume that is where you are) can confirm that as well as very likely identify that plug.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 06, 2020, 09:43:55 am
Good Morning Brett,
  Yes I agree.  I did not know that they came with heaters, but the wire/connector is on the side that has the air compressor, throttle, blowby pipe.  The other side of the engine has the turbo, intake/exhaust stuff.  The wire is only about 8" long, it cannot reach the other side of the engine.

Pat,
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 06, 2020, 09:54:46 am
The wiring and solenoid for the intake heater are on top of the intake manifold on the driver's side of the valve cover.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 06, 2020, 02:22:54 pm
Hi Brett,
  I checked and I do have a intake air heater(12VDC).  Your right the solenoid and wiring is on the drivers side.  What makes the solenoid turn on?  I have never known the heater work, but I don't know what I am suppose to do to make it work.  I always use the block heater(110VAC)

Pat,
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 06, 2020, 02:43:43 pm
Pat,

Use a voltmeter between the large lug of the connection going into the intake (positive) and good chassis ground.  Have someone turn the key to the first position (the position BEFORE start).  You should have chassis battery voltage to the heater.

If not, check at the solenoid.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on March 06, 2020, 04:30:16 pm
Maybe I missed something (common for a old timer), but I'm not at the coach, is there a marked rocker switch on the left array, and is it used in conjunction with the block heater?  ???
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 06, 2020, 05:00:31 pm
No, block heater switch is the red one at the base of the bed. The switch puts power at the protected 120 VAC outlet on the driver's side front of the engine room, up high.  The block heater is plugged into it.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: pthurman48 on March 07, 2020, 12:18:50 pm
Hi Brett,

  I know the solenoid is not energized.  I just don't know why?  I think the solenoid is good.  I think it is not getting the signal to energize.  Where does the signal come form?  Something must turn it off also.

Pat,
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 07, 2020, 12:31:04 pm
I do not know if the 1993 and 1995 are exactly the same, but the fuse for the intake manifold heater is shared with the cruise control (left side of dash fuse box) on the 1993.

The ignition switch in on and start position should trigger the solenoid and is temperature dependent (will be on longer at lower ambient temperatures).
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on March 07, 2020, 12:43:34 pm
I do not know if the 1993 and 1995 are exactly the same, but the fuse for the intake manifold heater is shared with the cruise control (left side of dash fuse box) on the 1993.

The ignition switch in on and start position should trigger the solenoid and is temperature dependent (will be on longer at lower ambient temperatures).

I don't know if mine/yours even works: we were up in Flagstaff and it was cold, but not cold enough to hit the block heater and she did smoke white upon start-up. Should the manifold heater take care of the 'white-out' or not?  :-\
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: wolfe10 on March 07, 2020, 12:56:53 pm
The intake manifold heater on any diesel will help with cold starting and reduction of white smoke (unburned fuel) on start up.

No, I don't think all white smoke will be eliminated by the heater.
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Mike Leary (RIP) on March 07, 2020, 01:04:13 pm
The intake manifold heater on any diesel will help with cold starting and reduction of white smoke (unburned fuel) on start up.

No, I don't think all white smoke will be eliminated by the heater.
I agree; she did 'puff white', but quit after first starting.  ^.^d
Title: Re: Extra Plug on CAT '95 3116
Post by: Dave Larsen on March 07, 2020, 02:40:32 pm
I just looked on mine for a plug like you show and I don't see anything like it.  How long is the wire? 

As for the grid heater, when the key is turned on, a red "WARM UP DELAY" light comes on just to the left of the brake button.  The length of time it stays on depends upon how cold the engine is.  When warm, it may not come on at all.  I had a Cat Challenger tractor with the same engine.  It's grid heater was controlled manually. 

A side note, if you have a working grid/preheater or glow plugs, you never use ether.