Truck vs the garage

[Malaki86]

I think I've done worn my truck out. For the 1st 12 months, it was a great truck - no problems with it whatsoever. Well, that's changed. In the past, hmmm, 2-3 months, I've had this happen:

• EGR Cooler blew apart - downtime 12hrs
• Starter - downtime 8hrs (lucky enough to be sitting at one of our shops when it died)
• Electric fuel pump (secondary pump, I think) - downtime 18hrs
• A/C - 1st time - downtime 2.5 days - front half of the a/c system completely rebuilt
• A/C - 2nd time (5 days after the 1st time) - downtime 2.5 days - Entire system had to be rebuilt, all new sensors & compressor. They didn't flush it out the 1st time around
• Turbo - downtime 18hrs and counting. One week ago Cummins said there was nothing wrong with a turbo making a sound comparable to a cat being slowly lowered into a running blender.

When I put the truck in the shop yesterday for the turbo, scheduled PM, a set of wiper blades and a tire replacement, the shop asked if there was any other issues. Well, ya, there's a few, but I won't let them do the repairs because I need to drive, damnit - I've done enough sitting around in the garages lately:

• Door mirrors shake like they're going to fall off. I have short bungies wrapped around the top braces to keep them somewhat stable.
• Right CB antenna brackets inside the mirror "fell off" - antenna is just laying in the mirror. No worries - I use my own setup.
• Massive water leak coming through the windshield in heavy rain. Duct tape is a Godsend.
• Hood still needs replaced from when I was backed into over a year ago. It's intact, but has a massive gash in the front-left corner.
• FM antenna snapped off. This happened when I touched it with a squeegee while cleaning the windshield.
• Cab airbag leaks occasionally (but never when I'm sitting at a shop).
• Front bumper paint is about 50% missing. When I got the truck 200k miles ago, it was missing about 5%.

What's bad is that we're getting a lot of 2012 Prostars in, and that truck assignments said that if I wanted a new truck, get routed into Indy. The last time I was in Indy (just over a week ago), the shop was full of the new trucks that are absolute garbage. They're having major problems with the A/C systems, the dog-box style auxillary A/C's, and the engines (the new MaxForce). The Greensboro shop said that they've heard of 3 or 4 of the new trucks that have had the engines destroy themselves already.

Can't win, can ya?

[Orangetxguy]

I think I've done worn my truck out. For the 1st 12 months, it was a great truck - no problems with it whatsoever. Well, that's changed. In the past, hmmm, 2-3 months, I've had this happen:

• EGR Cooler blew apart - downtime 12hrs
• Starter - downtime 8hrs (lucky enough to be sitting at one of our shops when it died)
• Electric fuel pump (secondary pump, I think) - downtime 18hrs
• A/C - 1st time - downtime 2.5 days - front half of the a/c system completely rebuilt
• A/C - 2nd time (5 days after the 1st time) - downtime 2.5 days - Entire system had to be rebuilt, all new sensors & compressor. They didn't flush it out the 1st time around
• Turbo - downtime 18hrs and counting. One week ago Cummins said there was nothing wrong with a turbo making a sound comparable to a cat being slowly lowered into a running blender.

When I put the truck in the shop yesterday for the turbo, scheduled PM, a set of wiper blades and a tire replacement, the shop asked if there was any other issues. Well, ya, there's a few, but I won't let them do the repairs because I need to drive, damnit - I've done enough sitting around in the garages lately:

• Door mirrors shake like they're going to fall off. I have short bungies wrapped around the top braces to keep them somewhat stable.
• Right CB antenna brackets inside the mirror "fell off" - antenna is just laying in the mirror. No worries - I use my own setup.
• Massive water leak coming through the windshield in heavy rain. Duct tape is a Godsend.
• Hood still needs replaced from when I was backed into over a year ago. It's intact, but has a massive gash in the front-left corner.
• FM antenna snapped off. This happened when I touched it with a squeegee while cleaning the windshield.
• Cab airbag leaks occasionally (but never when I'm sitting at a shop).
• Front bumper paint is about 50% missing. When I got the truck 200k miles ago, it was missing about 5%.

What's bad is that we're getting a lot of 2012 Prostars in, and that truck assignments said that if I wanted a new truck, get routed into Indy. The last time I was in Indy (just over a week ago), the shop was full of the new trucks that are absolute garbage. They're having major problems with the A/C systems, the dog-box style auxillary A/C's, and the engines (the new MaxForce). The Greensboro shop said that they've heard of 3 or 4 of the new trucks that have had the engines destroy themselves already.

Can't win, can ya?

Quit. Just Quit........Yer bit*chun!!!

[Malaki86]

I'm a trucker, damnit. If I wasn't bit*chun, I'd explode!!!

Turbo was actually just the turbo gasket. I guess none of the mechanics prior to last night's could see the huge black section on the red engine.

[Orangetxguy]

I'm a trucker, damnit. If I wasn't bit*chun, I'd explode!!!

Turbo was actually just the turbo gasket. I guess none of the mechanics prior to last night's could see the huge black section on the red engine.

Thatz cuz it was dark....and they was thinkun that Cummins makes red engines wit black spotz.

[repete]

I'm a trucker, damnit. If I wasn't bit*chun, I'd explode!!!

Turbo was actually just the turbo gasket. I guess none of the mechanics prior to last night's could see the huge black section on the red engine.

Thats the old Cummins Dalmation model, it can be a real dog but better hang onto that one it's a lot better than the new ones!

[Malaki86]

LOL - didn't know I was driving an endangered species.

[MichiganDriver]

You might have gotten a lemon (or I was just lucky).

I had an A/C failure and the starter failed.

Of course for every single one of my 322,700 miles the truck pulled to the right and now my left shoulder is not good. BTW, if it makes you feel better, my new truck pulls to the right too. lol

[Malaki86]

That's what's bad - my truck wasn't a lemon until just a couple of months ago. Before that, the only reason it saw the shop was for it's scheduled pm's. I think I had a couple of very minor issues that were taken care of during those, but nothing mechanical/electrical.

Maybe that's why Celadon seems to pull the trucks off the road @ 350k miles - that's when the ProStars are worn out (guessing).

[geeshock]

if it makes you feel any better, my odometer quit, now my truck is ungoverned

[repete]

if it makes you feel any better, my odometer quit, now my truck is ungoverned

CAREFUL just cause the odometer isn't working dosn't mean the ECM dosn't know about your overspeed! Care to guess how I know?

[geeshock]

CAREFUL just cause the odometer isn't working dosn't mean the ECM dosn't know about your overspeed! Care to guess how I know?

hrm, maybe someone from safety had a talk with ya? I already mentioned somethng to them and they said they fixed it, well, guess what...

If I'm governed, it's not at 65

[Malaki86]

Holy F... Parked at the T/A in Florence, KY a couple of hrs ago. Idled for about 2hrs, shut the truck off and went in for a shower. Came back out and saw something I definitely didn't want to see - fuel flowing from under the hood. Opened it up, and sure enough, there's a massive fuel leak on the fuel rail above the fuel filter. Called in and have to have someone else pick up this load since they can't get me into a garage until tomorrow (Cummins or International).

I can't go a week without something happening now...

[geeshock]

umh, cradle to grave? I think it's time to bury that thing. Time for a new truck

[Malaki86]

From the stories I'm hearing about the new trucks, don't think I want one of those POS's either. Fun, right?

This ld is scheduled to deliver at 6am tomorrow and they still haven't assigned a truck to come get the load. So, I'm not only stuck sitting here with no A/C, even though they said they'd pay for a motel for the night, but the load will probably also be late.

I just wonder if they'll have it towed or not. Yes, it still runs, but it's pumping fuel out pretty good onto the drivers side of the engine - I'm guessing in the range of 1/2-3/4 gallon per hour at idle. I'm sure when it's running on the road it's pumping quite a bit more.

[Orangetxguy]

From the stories I'm hearing about the new trucks, don't think I want one of those POS's either. Fun, right?

This ld is scheduled to deliver at 6am tomorrow and they still haven't assigned a truck to come get the load. So, I'm not only stuck sitting here with no A/C, even though they said they'd pay for a motel for the night, but the load will probably also be late.

I just wonder if they'll have it towed or not. Yes, it still runs, but it's pumping fuel out pretty good onto the drivers side of the engine - I'm guessing in the range of 1/2-3/4 gallon per hour at idle. I'm sure when it's running on the road it's pumping quite a bit more.

They understand that the leak is an "OOS" item.....right?? You do as well? Yes?

[Malaki86]

I do, yes.

BTW - still no relay setup and the load is due at the consignee in 8 minutes. Idiots... Wait - that was my other whining thread ;-)

[Malaki86]

Well, got some crap rolling (finally). I called in @ 6:05 and asked where my relay was since the load was already late. They instantly put another truck on the load. He was sitting about 30 miles away and has been since 2pm yesterday. Makes sense, right? Also, called breakdown back and waiting on the tow truck now.

Nights/weekends = DUH!!!

[Malaki86]

Sitting at an International dealer just north of Cincinnati now. They 'may' be able to take a quick look at it sometime today, but more than likely won't be able to do anything to it until tomorrow. Called my regular dispatch and she's pissed, especially when I said that I'm just about done with this crap. She's getting management involved to try to get me into another truck ASAP.

At least they're going to put me into a room so I don't have to roast in the truck all day today like I did yesterday.

[Orangetxguy]

Sitting at an International dealer just north of Cincinnati now. They 'may' be able to take a quick look at it sometime today, but more than likely won't be able to do anything to it until tomorrow. Called my regular dispatch and she's pissed, especially when I said that I'm just about done with this crap. She's getting management involved to try to get me into another truck ASAP.

At least they're going to put me into a room so I don't have to roast in the truck all day today like I did yesterday.

Mal.....Let us know just how long you're able to hold your breath please. Advise if you passed out before posting that time period.

[Malaki86]

The sad part is that even if they put me into another truck ASAP, this truck will then be sold/leased to an unsuspecting O/O. I just hope they have better luck with it than I have lately. Of course, you never know, maybe all of the major stuff has already went out/fixed. Well, except for the list of crap I still have that I won't let the shop fix because I've sat in the shops too much lately to get the items fixed, like the major water leak in the windshield, mirrors that you can't see out of from the vibration, etc.