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Cold Start Problem with C13

Yahoo Message Number: 22618
This morning when I started the engine (2005 C13) with the coolant temp at 73 degrees it bucked, spewed black smoke, and acted like it was running on 3 cylinders. After a couple of seconds (seemed like an hour) the engine stop light came on. I stopped the engine, restarted it, it still spewed smoke and bucked but not as bad and when I stepped on the throttle is smoothed out. It ran fine all the way from Santa Fe to Taos. This is the second time this has happened out of the last three cold starts. The first time was at 16024 miles and 73 degrees coolant temp. The second start I had turned on the engine pre-heat (Hydro-Hot) since it was chilly, the coolant was at 103 degrees and it started an ran fine. The mileage today was 16368.
No engine diagnostic codes were recorded by the Silverleaf.

I called the CAT RV Hotline, they checked for firmware updates of which there are none. I'm planning to call Wagner Equipment in Albuquerque tomorrow to make an appointment for next week.
Any thoughts? Others have said that Wagner seems to be ok as a dealer.

I posted this on the CAT Owner's forum also.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Cold Start Problem with C13

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 22619
Bob,

I had the same thing happen in Gallop and Mesa Verde last summer.
Don't know the temp's involved but exactly same symptoms. In fact I didn't realize it would start and waited a day for the tow. Was going to tow to Albuquerque (to Wagners) but drove instead. Changed fuel filters, checked firmware, no cause found. On same trip it did not do it in Flagstaff. Also, have started here in Phoenix with temp pegged cold at 40 degrees outside with no problems.

I was thinking it was maybe altitude and temp.

Haven't seen it again, but now you have me worried.

Ron

C13 Intrigue 11849

Re: Cold Start Problem with C13

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24552
BOb,

Did you ever get this problem fixed on your coach?

I've had it happen 3-4 times last summer (2005) and Wagner couldn't find anything wrong.
Ron

2004 Intrigue 11849

Quote from: Bob Stephens
>

This morning when I started the engine (2005 C13) with the coolant > temp at 73 degrees it bucked, spewed black smoke, and acted like it > was running on 3 cylinders. After a couple of seconds (seemed

like

Quote
an hour) the engine stop light came on. I stopped the engine, > restarted it, it still spewed smoke and bucked but not as bad and

when

Quote
I stepped on the throttle is smoothed out. It ran fine all the

way

Quote
from Santa Fe to Taos. This is the second time this has happened

out

Quote
of the last three cold starts. The first time was at 16024 miles

and

Quote
73 degrees coolant temp. The second start I had turned on the

engine

Quote
pre-heat (Hydro-Hot) since it was chilly, the coolant was at 103 > degrees and it started an ran fine. The mileage today was

16368.

Quote
No engine diagnostic codes were recorded by the Silverleaf.

I called the CAT RV Hotline, they checked for firmware updates of > which there are none. I'm planning to call Wagner Equipment in > Albuquerque tomorrow to make an appointment for next week.

Any thoughts? Others have said that Wagner seems to be ok as a

dealer.

Re: Cold Start Problem with C13

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24555
No I did not get it "fixed" as, like you, CAT could not find a problem. However, I did determine that running the Hydro-Hot engine preheat and getting the coolant temp over 100 degrees avoids the issue. I used to drive diesel pickups - Dodge Cummins and Ford Powerstroke. These engines had a "Wait to Start" that was either an air intake heater on the Cummins and glo-plugs on teh Powerstroke. If I didn't wait for the "Wait to Start" light to extinquish the engines would act similar to the CAT in cold weather. The CAT has neither facility so I have found that by running the preheat I don't have the problem. BTW, I only seem to have the problem in cool weather at high altitude and since you mentioned Wagner, I assume you were in the Rockies.
Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Quote from: ron930cab

Re: Cold Start Problem with C13

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24564
Bob,

I was in Gallop and went to Wagner in Albequrque. Happened again in Mesa Verde, Co.

My coach is currently out of service in Phoenix due to continuing engine power cutting in and out at speed and in traffic. 3 occurances and 3 tow's since August 2005 and no solution yet.

I have no more confindence in taking trips or patience in waiting for tow's or a solution.
Ron

2004 Intrigue 11849

Quote from: Bob Stephens
>

No I did not get it "fixed" as, like you, CAT could not find a > problem. However, I did determine that running the Hydro-Hot

engine

Quote
preheat and getting the coolant temp over 100 degrees avoids the > issue. I used to drive diesel pickups - Dodge Cummins and Ford > Powerstroke. These engines had a "Wait to Start" that was either

an

Quote
air intake heater on the Cummins and glo-plugs on teh
Powerstroke. If

Quote
I didn't wait for the "Wait to Start" light to extinquish the

engines

Quote
would act similar to the CAT in cold weather. The CAT has neither > facility so I have found that by running the preheat I don't have

the

Quote
problem. BTW, I only seem to have the problem in cool weather at

high

Quote
altitude and since you mentioned Wagner, I assume you were in the > Rockies.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

[quote author=ron930cab"

>

> BOb,
>

> Did you ever get this problem fixed on your coach? > >

> I've had it happen 3-4 times last summer (2005) and Wagner

couldn't

Quote
find anything wrong.
>
> Ron
>

> 2004 Intrigue 11849
>
>

[quote author=Bob Stephens"
>]
> >

> > This morning when I started the engine (2005 C13) with the

coolant

Quote
> temp at 73 degrees it bucked, spewed black smoke, and acted

like it

Quote
> was running on 3 cylinders. After a couple of seconds

(seemed

Quote
like

> > an hour) the engine stop light came on. I stopped the engine, > > > restarted it, it still spewed smoke and bucked but not as bad

and

Quote
when

> > I stepped on the throttle is smoothed out. It ran fine all

the

Quote
way

> > from Santa Fe to Taos. This is the second time this has

happened

Quote
out

> > of the last three cold starts. The first time was at 16024

miles

Quote
and

> > 73 degrees coolant temp. The second start I had turned on the > > engine

> > pre-heat (Hydro-Hot) since it was chilly, the coolant was at

103

Quote
> degrees and it started an ran fine. The mileage today was > > 16368.

> > No engine diagnostic codes were recorded by the Silverleaf.
> >

> > I called the CAT RV Hotline, they checked for firmware updates

of

Quote
> which there are none. I'm planning to call Wagner Equipment

in

Quote
> Albuquerque tomorrow to make an appointment for next week.
> >

> > Any thoughts? Others have said that Wagner seems to be ok as

a
 

Re: Cold Start Problem with C13

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 24570
We had the problem in Silver City, NM; Taos, NM; and Sante Fe, NM.
All where nights in the low 50's. Hope they find your other problem.
Wagner was where we took our coach for the problem. They could find no codes and agreed that it sounded like a cold start issue. The mechanic even checked to see if the optional intake heater was installed and it isn't. That's why we don't get a "Wait to Start" light.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Quote from: ron930cab