This seems like a great site. This is my 1st post here.

I have a brand new '06 Freightliner Columbia with a 470 CAT motor. It is fully loaded and very comfortable.

My only issue is with the, factory set, engine idle shutoff timer. Does anyone know how to disable this setting without going to a dealer?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The dealer can plug in their computer into your truck's ECM & set the shutdown time or disable the feature.

Also, if you just bump your cruise control up a little bit while idling, it will not automatically shut down.

Setting the cruise has no effect...nor does chocking the wheels and leaving the brakes off.

It shuts the engine off after 10 minutes if:

1) No load on the engine
2) clutch not depressed
3) out of gear

Pretty much no matter what.

I did temporarily disable it, until next time an idle occasion occurs, by a system of "speed control off" and "set cruise button" presses along with following the "check engine" flashes.

I just need a more permanent fix!

Thanks

there is only 1 fix - you need CAT ET (or proprietary software) to turn it off.

you have a '06 truck... surely the dealer that sold it to you will turn that off

What the hell, what if you're standing in line at customs for 10 minutes or something? That bugger will turn off? I didn't know that was legal!

Is this your truck or a company truck and is it a daycab or sleeper? I could maybe see a truck being programed to shut off after 10 minutes if it was a daycab company truck but other than that it'd be nice to have heat!! But yeah, a trip to the dealer is the only remedy unless you have the incredibly expensive equipment and software to change it yourself

the clutch (DDS) switch re-sets the timer, the IVS (on the electronic pedal) re-sets the timer, and i think the service brake switch stops the timer from starting. so......... basically, as long as you move a foot from time to time... you're ok...............

additionally... key off for a few seconds and then it will re-start.


legal?!?!? the engine manufacturers are allowed to save your (their) engine from damage when you lose an engine oil pressure signal in 8 lanes of traffic...

...even though the ecm knows it is an electrical fault as opposed to actually losing pressure...

THAT is unsafe.

... especially for the tech or tow truck driver sent to rescue it ;0)

To turn off the auto shut down before the truck is fix to turn off because of the timer the Check engine light will flash for bout 30 seconds before it turns off all u do is press the clutch one time now the timer is turn off and truck will stay running until u switch it off