Beware of Cummins motors

[Bruno]

Just tell let folks know about Cummins Motors. We bought a used Freightliner truck a few month back from some great folks from Texas and the own took very good care of the truck and showed us all the repairs that was done to the truck. Well, after about 4 months of having the truck the nightmare began. It all started with the alternator going out in Richmond, Va. The drivers stopped at the TA in Richmond to get a new one put on. After 5 hrs at the TA the drivers got the belt the alternstor put on after they had to go wake up someone at home to put the belt on because they didn't know how to put the belt back on the truck. Then the drivers took off and got 10 miles down the road and all the lights started going crazy. So they droped their load and then went to Balitmore Frightliner ( which I will tell everyone DON'T Go there ) After 5 1/2 hrs and a bill for $540.00 from them doing nothing to the truck but charge us for looking at the truck and doing nothing to fix the problem. We ask the drivers to bring the truck back to Ohio to Fyda Frieghtliner in Youndstown, Ohio.

Fyda Found all the wiring to the batterys hooked up Wrong and burned.
they fixed the truck and got it back out on the road. 600 miles later the Truck started running really bad. So we had it towed in Frightliner of New Hampershire, so we put the driver's in an hotel and was told the next day that it would be a few weeks so we had the driver's get and renal car and paid for them to come home. The driver's had to quit because of this and we didn't blame them one bit. They had to because they was sick of all the problems with the truck and they had to make money to live on. So now we lost 2 very good drivers and the truck was down for over a month.

New Hampshire said the truck needed a new electric fuel pump and few injectors. Then they called back and said it needed a cam. So they fix the truck and I went and got the truck and put one of out top teams in this truck. So they ran a few great loads and got out to Ca and the Check engine light came back on. I was like here we go again.
So the Drivers was on a load from LA to Fairbanks, Alaska. Well they stoped at Frightliner in Seattle Washington and was told it was a cam censor and they replaced it. They was on their way again then the truck started acting up again when they got to Alaska. So I sent them to a Cummins dealer in Alaska and they said it was a cam censor again so they replaced the other cam censor which I thought was already replaced. So the drivers got in their way again and the truck started to knock a 100 miles from a Cummins dealer in Fort St John BC.

So I called The help desk at Freightliner and they told me that there was nothing they could do because the truck had a Cummins motor in it. After over 20 diferent calls to Cummins they said they would check into it. So today I get a call from a Guy from Cummins telling me that this was a claim with the folks from Freightliner of New Hampshire because they think the Cam wasn't put in right.

So here we sit waiting to see who is going to pick up the bill on this because the motor may be no good now.

Total cost so far that we have paid out for repairs in the last 60 days.

$12,093.00 in truck repairs
$1,575.00 in tow bills
$2336.00 in hotel and rental cars to get the drivers back home to Oh.
$400.00 in pay to have a driver pick the truck up in New Hampshire.

For A Total of $16,404.00 so far and counting and that does not show the lost money from down time on the truck.

I will keep everyone posted on the out come of what Frightliner and Cummins does on this matter.

I guess this is why we chose not to buy another Frightliner. Going to Pick up a Hino this week to see how we like it.

 

[silverdollar]

Sounds like you wasted a lot of money on TAs and Frightliner. I can`t imagine being in trucking any amount of time and still trying to get a truck fixed at either place.

 

[Dunbar87]

>Sounds like you wasted a lot of money on TAs and
>Frightliner. I can`t imagine being in trucking any amount of
>time and still trying to get a truck fixed at either place.


I was thinking the very same thing. Wouldnt you think an owner with that mans years of experience would have a better approach to road repairs ?? Taking your truck to a TA ?? I really feel for the poor teams that got drug thru all that kind of stuff. I'd be looking for new owners pronto.

 

[wallytrucker1]

Off subject, but disagree. I have had great service at iowa 80 Ta and my friend just had a great expierence at ta Knoxville after being screwed so badly at Knoxville freightliner he's still seeing red. I won't buy so much as a candy bar from them, much less refer someone to their shop or to buy a trk there. I know some swear by the place but apparently there is a weekend shop crew there and the name of the game is " BEND OVER ". TRUCKERS BEWARE

 

[Dunbar87]

>Off subject, but disagree. I have had great service at iowa
>80 Ta and my friend just had a great expierence at ta
>Knoxville after being screwed so badly at Knoxville
>freightliner he's still seeing red. I won't buy so much as
>a candy bar from them, much less refer someone to their shop
>or to buy a trk there. I know some swear by the place but
>apparently there is a weekend shop crew there and the name
>of the game is " BEND OVER ". TRUCKERS BEWARE



Absolutly agree . If you're knowledgeable about a particcular TA, then the risk factor is somewhat eliminated. But to blindly walk into an unknown TA for service is a proven foolish mistake. That fact is understood throughout our industry. You were so correct in stating " BEND OVER - TRUCKERS BEWARE". Since we all know the risk involved, you'd certainly expect an owner to have a clue in regards to emergency repairs. A simple phone call to a big truck towing service will yield plenty of info about who locally repairs. Better yet, have on hand a copy of NTTS Breakdown Directory. Thats just one we have and there are plenty of other ones. To have a fleet of teams running around the country without a proper repair plan is totally irresponible.

 

[x06col]

Unfortuneately, seems to be a quality of repairs issue here, rather than brand. I'm convinced, without being told, that your drivers departed the truck and into their comfy motel room, and never darkened the door of the shop to supervise or ask questions about the repair. Because, they didn't care. And you were being fed BS from 1000 miles away. When I spend that kind of money for repairs, you can bet that someone is looking over their shoulder.

From what I have gleaned about equipment, and your new choice, your learning process may just be beginning.

 

[FAMILYEXPDT]

The problem is that Freightliner no longer uses Cummins engines in their trucks. Them and Cummins had a major falling out. Knowing this I would never take my trucks with a cummins motor to freightliner to have any engine issues addressed. I understand the concept of Freightliner started the repairs so they shoud be held accountable. That is an ungodly amount of money to pay for repairs tho, I probably would have put the truck out of service and asked the drivers to drive it to a place that you have do your repars regularly. It would have saved you lots in the longrun, and possibly saved you drivers as well. hindsight is 20/20 tho.


-charlotte

 

[premy]

>Just tell let folks know about Cummins Motors. We bought a
>used Freightliner truck a few month back from some great
>folks from Texas and the own took very good care of the
>truck and showed us all the repairs that was done to the
>truck. Well, after about 4 months of having the truck the
>nightmare began. It all started with the alternator going
>out in Richmond, Va. The drivers stopped at the TA in
>Richmond to get a new one put on. After 5 hrs at the TA the
>drivers got the belt the alternstor put on after they had to
>go wake up someone at home to put the belt on because they
>didn't know how to put the belt back on the truck. Then the
>drivers took off and got 10 miles down the road and all the
>lights started going crazy. So they droped their load and
>then went to Balitmore Frightliner ( which I will tell
>everyone DON'T Go there ) After 5 1/2 hrs and a bill for
>$540.00 from them doing nothing to the truck but charge us
>for looking at the truck and doing nothing to fix the
>problem. We ask the drivers to bring the truck back to Ohio
>to Fyda Frieghtliner in Youndstown, Ohio.
>
>Fyda Found all the wiring to the batterys hooked up Wrong
>and burned.
>they fixed the truck and got it back out on the road. 600
>miles later the Truck started running really bad. So we had
>it towed in Frightliner of New Hampershire, so we put the
>driver's in an hotel and was told the next day that it would
>be a few weeks so we had the driver's get and renal car and
>paid for them to come home. The driver's had to quit because
>of this and we didn't blame them one bit. They had to
>because they was sick of all the problems with the truck and
>they had to make money to live on. So now we lost 2 very
>good drivers and the truck was down for over a month.
>
>New Hampshire said the truck needed a new electric fuel pump
>and few injectors. Then they called back and said it needed
>a cam. So they fix the truck and I went and got the truck
>and put one of out top teams in this truck. So they ran a
>few great loads and got out to Ca and the Check engine light
>came back on. I was like here we go again.
>So the Drivers was on a load from LA to Fairbanks, Alaska.
>Well they stoped at Frightliner in Seattle Washington and
>was told it was a cam censor and they replaced it. They was
>on their way again then the truck started acting up again
>when they got to Alaska. So I sent them to a Cummins dealer
>in Alaska and they said it was a cam censor again so they
>replaced the other cam censor which I thought was already
>replaced. So the drivers got in their way again and the
>truck started to knock a 100 miles from a Cummins dealer in
>Fort St John BC.
>
>So I called The help desk at Freightliner and they told me
>that there was nothing they could do because the truck had a
>Cummins motor in it. After over 20 diferent calls to Cummins
>they said they would check into it. So today I get a call
>from a Guy from Cummins telling me that this was a claim
>with the folks from Freightliner of New Hampshire because
>they think the Cam wasn't put in right.
>
>So here we sit waiting to see who is going to pick up the
>bill on this because the motor may be no good now.
>
>Total cost so far that we have paid out for repairs in the
>last 60 days.
>
>$12,093.00 in truck repairs
>$1,575.00 in tow bills
>$2336.00 in hotel and rental cars to get the drivers back
>home to Oh.
>$400.00 in pay to have a driver pick the truck up in New
>Hampshire.
>
>For A Total of $16,404.00 so far and counting and that does
>not show the lost money from down time on the truck.
>
>I will keep everyone posted on the out come of what
>Frightliner and Cummins does on this matter.
>
>I guess this is why we chose not to buy another Frightliner.
>Going to Pick up a Hino this week to see how we like it.

 

[RichM]

Your problem appears to be poor service not Cummins. You said you got 4 months before any problems,just curious,what year and what was the mileage when you bought the truck. Alternators go out on every brand of truck and engine. As someone pointed out bouncing between dealers may not have been the best choice.

 

[Bruno]

Rich it's a 2000 Fl 80 that had 590,000 miles on an 8.3 Cummins that had just had the top end rebuilt.

Dunbar87 I see you didn't understand what I was saying. TA Shops handle small repair's on trucks very good for the most part. Lights, oil change's, battery's, alternators, When it's 1 am and nobody is open but a TA that can handle things like this. What can you do.

To say that we are bad owners because we had a truck stop a TA to get a small repair is Foolish on your part. The TA in Richmond, Va has done small repairs on some of our trucks over the years and ever sent us a check back for the money we paid to them to fix the truck.
TA's are service points for all Freightliner Dealers across the USA and Canada.

I could see you saying that the drivers should look for a new owner if we didn't put them in hotels and made them sit in the truck. But no we put them in a hotel and paid for there meals and even paid them for money they lost on a load they losts because of the truck. Not every owner will put a driver in a hotel and pay their driver $600.00 each because they lost a load that they didn't even pick up.

Things happen, trucks do sometimes break down. It's part of the business. Even our brand new truck has broke down and had to be towed to a Freightliner dealer.

This is a workmanship claim I got the pictures and sent them to a master teck on the 8.3 Cummins and he told me the key that goes to the cam was pressed on wrong and caused this problem, which made the truck go out of time and cause the valves to mushroom on the pistons because it was out of time.

 

[davekc]

When doing engine repairs that are specific to an engine make, it is better to take it to the engine dealer. In this case, I would have taken it to a Cummins engine dealer. Forget about TA's and freightliner dealers for this type of work. We run CAT's and in just about every case, we take it to a CAT dealer.
Can't blame you on the alternator. You would think a TA could have done that? I have done them myself, and it usually is pretty easy if you have the tools.
With regards to Freightliner of Knoxville, we have had good service there, but it wasn't on a weekend. That might make a signficant different as they likely have more techs on during the week.

I had to come back to this. One thing to really take notice in this thread is how expensive a repair can be. Even if it was half the cost, it is a realization of what can happen. Make sure your pennies are saved.
This kind of stuff usually happens at the worst times.










Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Mudflap]

The problem sounds two fold, in that poor repair shops were used and the used truck at hand was not inspected carefully before buying. True Freightliner no longer uses Cummins engines in their trucks, but that was not due to a fallout. Daimler Chrysler purchased Detroit Diesel from Penske and wants to promote MBE and Detroit engines in the Freightliner lines.

I have not owned a Cummins engine but I have not heard of many truckers having absurdly major issues with Cummins engines, in fact I hear a lot of praises towards them. I guess there is the lemon in every bunch and it will fall upon someone eventually.
Mudflap

 

[simon says]

As someone just said, it helps a lot to mention which year motor one has. The old Cummins CAPS fuel pump were notoriously failure prone. Since 2003, these motors have Bosch pumps, which are common rail type pumps. I have had no probs with my late 04 (-05) model. Although the 2000 I had never failed, I never trusted it, or the six speed automated and moved into another truck when feasible...

 

[ATeam]

Bruno's story validates two decisions we made.

1. We chose to not be fleet owners but live instead the simpler life of a one-truck owner-operator team.

2. We bought a truck that has the same brand on the truck and the engine: Volvo. If something goes wrong Volvo has only itself to point fingers at.

Regarding TA, let me share a quote from a TA service manager. I'll not name the location to keep him from getting in trouble with any TA officials that read this. This TA service manager told me, "The only people who buy batteries and alternators from us are people who don't know any better." Having been in and out of a number of repair shops in fleet owner trucks, including TAs, I tend to agree.

 

[davekc]

2. We bought a truck that has the same brand on the truck and the engine: Volvo. If something goes wrong Volvo has only itself to point fingers at.

My only concern with that is availability of dealers. If using Volvo for example, there is nothing around me except Jacksonville or Orlando. If that dealer is busy or poor performing, you are screwed.
If you have a Cummins, Cat, or Detroit/Mercedes, there are five times as many options.






Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[RichM]

Also International is everywhere and many diesel schools teach apprentice mechanics on the DT 466.I have to agree with Dave that putting all of your eggs in one basket can really affect you down the line. Example in the south there is Cummins SE which has repair centers in most of the larger cities as in addition to trucks they do a lot of RV work so the mechanics work on Cummins engines just about 100%. They also have a PowerMasters club which gets you a 10% discount on their invoices. Caterpillar has similar facilities around the country. If your Volvo engine failed in parts of Montana or Wyoming it might be a long and expensive wait to have it operational again.

 

[greg334]

Well sorry to hear about this, makes me nervious about my truck because of the belt issue.

I think that it is a service issue more than anything else. I have had a lot of cummins (mainly 6bt but a few 4bt(e) ISBs) and had little problems. I am pushing the limit with my ISB by not fixing the killer dowel pin. The ISC is the big brother to the ISB and I feel comfortable with servicing it myself (even an overhead).

as for service, I have been to 20, maybe 22 sevice centers looking for aservice center I can trust(Cummins, Freightliner, T/A, etc) and I have been very disappointed with some of the visits. One FL dealer told me that they would do an oil change but would not use any synthetic oil. One cummins dealer inflated his prices because his mechanic didn't want to work that day. I had my oil changed at T/A (yes I watched them and yes they did not have the right filters). After all was done I wasn't happy with the service. The mechanic was making fun of my truck and didn't know I was behind him.

As for Cummins vs. Cat Vs. Volvo Vs international. I have to agree that Volvo service maybe harder to get in comparison to the others.

 

[LDB]

There are almost 300 additional Volvo service points now with the Mack merger according to what the Volvo dealer told me. That's not the several thousand some others have but a definite plus none the less.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[davekc]

It would have to help. But, still the same problem with Mack. No one around me except Jacksonville or Orlando. Same problem exists in many other areas verses other available options.
The other issue is price. When a place knows they are the only game in town, guess where there prices are?







Davekc
owner
22 years
PantherII
EO moderator

 

[Bruno]

After looking at the pictures of what went wrong it was not Cummins fault at all. What was found was the Freightliner dealer didn't put the cam gear on the right way causing the Key way to the cam to get loose and then caused the truck to get out of time, which caused the Valves to tap on the piston. Which caused the valves to mushroom on the pistons.

The dealer did not bake the whole cam gear up to 400' they just heated up around the key way which caused the cam gear to fail. This was a workmanship problem. Will keep you up dated on this matter. My wife wants to get a Lawyer and take them to court over this. I have told her to wait and see what the out come is 1st from Freightliner.