Diesel won't start with low air. Entegra MH

[azdryheat]

Never seen this before. Brand new Entegra Insignia, with keyless ignition and Spartan chassis, disables the engine start sequence if the air pressure is low.

We were trying unsuccessfully today to get the rig going so we could take it back to our store after a four day RV show. The ring around the Push to Start button is usually green and the Cummins starts right up. Today it was a yellow ring with a low air pressure warning on the dash readout. None of us drivers are familiar with this keyless system as our store doesn't stock Entegra pushers.

Our mechanic came to the scene and was also baffled. After searching the owners manual he found there is an override switch located beneath the dash to the left of the steering column. Pushing the switch allows the engine to start with low air pressure.

We all thought what a ridiculous idea this was to inhibit starting due to low air. We don't know if this is an Entegra or Spartan idea.

So, if you find yourself with low air pressure and the engine won't start, push the override switch.

[mbopp]

When a truck engine blew & we had to tow it home sans air we'd rig an air hose between the towing truck & the towed one.

[drsteve]

wa8yxm wrote:

romore wrote:
How else would you build air? That seems a strange way of doing things.

Ah that is a good question.... So here is a story

A trucking company had a serious issue with theft from one of their terminals. So at night they backed the trucks up to the terminal doors blocking them and drained the air tanks.. The Trucks were AIR START. which is to say the starters run on compressed air. NOT on electricity. And it locked the brakes as well.

Well in the AM they brought out the air hose and aired 'em back up from an external compressor.

Eliminated the theft since the doors were blocked.

All well and good if you're parked at a truck terminal next to a handy air compressor. But for a motor home that's going to be sitting in a campground somewhere, maybe not so good...

[janstey58]

My MH starts with low air, but it also has a warning buzzer that goes off until there is enough air in the brake systems. At least mine starts, LOL!

[romore]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A cradled ten thousand horsepower Enterprise engine for the barge tugs my dad supervised for Bethlehem steel in the eighties had a 220 horsepower Ingersoll Rand air starter the size of a home side-by-side refrigerator. A warning buzzer went off a few seconds before the air starter was engaged. Memorable.

I complained again and again just how stupid things were getting in the RV world. When Quicksilver air pressure is bled to below 60 PSI the brakes engage tight. They don't release until the alarm stops at around 70PSI. To move the rig sans air pressure means to cage all eight diaphragms.

Salesmen and parts catalogs are like pairing plutonium and TNT.

That is how the spring brakes (Maxi's) on otr trucks work,air drops they lock up. I was sent to town to pick up at the local lumber yard. Knew nothing about air brakes, they worked so I disconnected the buzzer and ignored the flag. At the second stop sign the pedal went to the floor and I rolled right on through. When I got stopped and quit shaking I discovered the tank drain was only partially closed, a piece of ice had blown out.

[Sam_Spade]

gbopp wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
We all thought what a ridiculous idea this was to inhibit starting due to low air.

Especially since they added an override switch. I'm sure an engineer has a rational reason for the design.

Assuming that the air pressure in question is a part of the brake system, it might not be a good idea to let the engine run if there is a good chance that the brakes won't work. :E

[wa8yxm]

romore wrote:
How else would you build air? That seems a strange way of doing things.

Ah that is a good question.... So here is a story

A trucking company had a serious issue with theft from one of their terminals. So at night they backed the trucks up to the terminal doors blocking them and drained the air tanks.. The Trucks were AIR START. which is to say the starters run on compressed air. NOT on electricity. And it locked the brakes as well.

Well in the AM they brought out the air hose and aired 'em back up from an external compressor.

Eliminated the theft since the doors were blocked.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A SALESMAN insisted on the moronic low-air brake lock

AN ENGINEER got their 2 cents in with the over-ride.

[w4phj]

Now I like my older technology better:B

[gbopp]

azdryheat wrote:
We all thought what a ridiculous idea this was to inhibit starting due to low air.

Especially since they added an override switch. I'm sure an engineer has a rational reason for the design.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

A cradled ten thousand horsepower Enterprise engine for the barge tugs my dad supervised for Bethlehem steel in the eighties had a 220 horsepower Ingersoll Rand air starter the size of a home side-by-side refrigerator. A warning buzzer went off a few seconds before the air starter was engaged. Memorable.

I complained again and again just how stupid things were getting in the RV world. When Quicksilver air pressure is bled to below 60 PSI the brakes engage tight. They don't release until the alarm stops at around 70PSI. To move the rig sans air pressure means to cage all eight diaphragms.

Salesmen and parts catalogs are like pairing plutonium and TNT.

[RedRollingRoadb]

rwgeiser wrote:
Does it have an air starter?

I hope not. But they were fun to scare to **** out of the unexpected passer by!

[rwgeiser]

Does it have an air starter?

[Acampingwewillg]

Does seem a tad odd....as noted, you can't build air unless the engine starts unless it has some Aux compressor for such purposes??

[romore]

How else would you build air? That seems a strange way of doing things.