Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Cat 3208 wount shut down (Read 1765 times) previous topic - next topic

Cat 3208 wount shut down

 Cat 2308 Wont shut off :(

Not a fortravel but maybe you guys can help me out anyway?

So the new 1986 Beaver is teaching me ALOT about how to work on Rvs. My Issue is that the Rv doesn't like to shut off from the dash.

It can be started from the front and from the back in the engine compartment. In the back it also has a big "kill the battery" switch.

I have to turn that kill the battery switch to off to get the engine to shut down.

About 90% of the time unless that switch is turned off.  I have a parking brake light on the dash and the light for the transmission gear selector on. That's with the keys out of the ignition. That has me thinking its not a fuel cut off switch but I am not sure.

If those two lights are off it seems to shut off from the dash.  That's only happened a hand full of times since I have owned it over the last month.


I went out to fuel the other day and could not get it to restart at the pump. I ended up wiggling a starter wire and she fired up.
When I got it home, I went to clean up the wires and ended up breaking off the negative bolt on the starter. So now she has a new starter that has clean wires and new wire ends. I also thought maybe there was a problem with the starter solenoid that mounts in the rear engine bay so it got replaced and got all new wire ends also.

Still wont shut off from the dash and the two lights are still on. Also it seems like these lights being on kills my battery in short order.

Any ideas??  I am hoping to take it on a short trip this weekend
Tony And MamaLove ~ Foretravel wannabees in a 1986 Beaver diesel pusher ;/ until we reach the promise foretraveland

Re: Cat 3208 wount shut down

Reply #1 –
The only way to shut down a diesel is to cut off the fuel or cut off the air.  If turning the ignition off does not shut it down you still have a fuel shut off solenoid that is not responding.  Sounds like a back feed of some kind.  Check for voltage at the fuel solenoid with the key off, should not be any.  Get out the mfg supplied wiring diagram with all the circuits numbered and identified and trace them out til you find the source of the voltage that will not let the solenoid close.  If a FT you would find this on the passenger side behind the panel.  On SOB who knows ?

Re: Cat 3208 wount shut down

Reply #2 –
3208 engines use one of two types shutdowns
Both use a solenoid mounted vertical on top of the little v8 injection pump, using a DC volt meter, check to see if there is 12 VDC while running, normaly stop is by removing the 12 VDC.

The other type is where they use 12 vdc to stop engine, then after about 20 seconds, the oil pressure decays and releases the stop solenoid, back to normal. This type setup is where the engine will start as soon as it is rotated.

I would bet your setup is the first, so check to see if you have the voltage on the solenoid, if not, you have a stuck solenoid.
What makes this crazy is it stops when you disconnect the battery. so it is back to control wiring issue.

If your setup is different than the above, it is after my time at Cat.

Re: Cat 3208 wount shut down

Reply #3 –
And if you need mechanical help, lots of school buses out there were powered by the 3208 - Just find a friendly school bus mechanic.
1994 U225
build #4514
 

Re: Cat 3208 wount shut down

Reply #4 –
We have a Cummins C8.3 and the ONLY thing that shuts down our engine is the fuel shut-off electric solenoid, which we recently replaced. Your Cat may have a very similar item.

If solenoid does not fully open, engine power will be low. If solenoid does not fully close, engine will not shut-off.