I was driving my work truck ('95 Pete with a Cat), it is 28 degrees here today and we were still fertilizing wheat fields today! and I unload onto the spray rig, hit the road to get my next load and the truck falls flat on its face and rolls thick white smoke! and it has to happen just as I pull out onto the busy 4 lane! So I pull over and first thing I assume is must be a fuel issue or a head issue. Radio in to the boss, tells me its proably gelled or the filter is clogged. He was sending me help. So I sit there idling and decide to try and pull up to an side road to get out of the way. I can't even get it to idle up to move and then it dies! Won't restart, then it hits me....to look at my amps...discharging! so after finally getting help and limping back to the shop they get me a new alternator and I will be back in my good old truck in the morning. It's sad when a guy gets excited over driving a diesel with 915,000 miles on it! My back up truck is a rough Freightliner with a Cummins, like the engine but hate the ride! Just had to share my day with someone that understands diesels.

 

I am jealous. I want a ride!

 

I'm with you on the spare truck thing - our spare truck is a '90 International with a DT360. That's quite a let-down from an '01 Sterling with air ride everything and a 300 HP Cat.

 

My freight shaker is a dog even with a cummins in it with maybe 500 cases of beer your having to dig for the basement to get up any hills at 45 wonder if i could get away with turning it up with out the mechanic knowing

 

you do know 'STERLING' is a 'FERD' DON'T YOU...

Back in the late 70's when I first came up to NE I used to plow with a 'REAL' 'CHAIN DRIVE STERLING' ...what a SWEET,SWEET ride !

 

Actually this Sterling is a Freightliner with a Ford cab dropped on it. We've got a '99 and an '00, there are a lot of parts on them that still say "Ford". The '01 I drive is a different story. Lots of parts say "Freightliner", and it has the crappy Freightliner wiring (all wires are tan with a white stripe ).

I love the '90's Ford medium duty trucks, they were way nicer than the competition. Get in a '90's Cornbinder and then get in a '90's Ford. It's a world of difference.

 

Did a diode(s) in the alternator short and pull the voltage down? Is that all it took to make it run right again? About 30 yrs ago I was driving my 63 Chevy in a h@ll of of storm with heater, wipers, and lights and it just suddenly died on the highway. It was a diode and I had to find something to rip the batt. wire apart and let the rain put out the fire! Craig

 

Not sure what the problem was, we were too busy trying to keep spray trucks supplied with product, one of the older drivers went to an auto part store and got a bigger alternator and had it up and running just at quiting time on Friday. Now the volt meter stays at a strong 14 verus the old one that had a hard time keeping it anywhere in the green! At least I didn't have to drive the last resort truck...a GMC auto, it is a different ride altogether!

 

Moaggie, as a Cat industrial technician, I can't tell you HOW MANY times I've found dead batteries, bad alternators, missing alternator belt, tripped breaker, battery disconnect switch turned off...etc..
Customers usually having a whole host of symptoms, misfiring, "ghost" codes, smoke, low power, speed burping...etc...
The electronic engines of today are a different breed from the old 342's, 353's and 2 stroke Detroits!!.. hahaha...

 

Yeah, cats are supposed to be good for blowing alternators.

I like the spare truck I got on one trip... no proper ventilation - figured that out just as I got out of the city on a 6 hr drive- when it was 35C (~95F). edit knew it too. Actually, that happened a couple times... I don't work for that company anymore.

 

I was just wondering, what model Cat does the truck have?

 

[QUOTE=belgianmagic;1447717]you do know 'STERLING' is a 'FERD' DON'T YOU...QUOTE]


Yea and No... Its a freightliner "truck" with a ford cab. But ya gotta remember who owns Freightliner, DiamlerChrysler...


I have a sterling. I call it the "MUTT" truck. Its all kinds of makes put together..

 

I liked the old LN 9000 w/ the D-troit ...as long as you didn't let it idle for long...touch the go pedel and look out WHITE SMOKE and runaway motor for 20 seconds or so