Idlesmart “safety conditions” preventing the system from working.
Posted by PomeloResponsible122@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 17 comments
My company uses Idlesmart. I’ve been in 3 different trucks now and it’s never worked right. Had the shop look at all 3 trucks and it always just results with it not working in a different way. At this point I’m wondering if there is anything I can do to make it work. Basically all of our mechanics are just parts changers and are not trained (or encouraged) to do any sort of diagnostic work. My current issue is that my Idlesmart will not start the truck due to 3 (false) reasons. “Vehicle is in motion”, “hood is open”, or “parking brake is not set”. I’m stuck trying to sleep in miserable conditions and just want it to work. Im pretty much locked out of the system, but curious to know how it receives these signals and what sensors are giving the “Idlesmart” incorrect/ false values. I promise my hood is closed, my parking brake is set, and the vehicle is not in motion lmao.
Efficient_Ostrich_54@reddit
Did you try a reset on the dash electronics?
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
How do I do that?
Efficient_Ostrich_54@reddit
I dont know what youre running but most vehicles have an "ecm" jumper. You pull it, wait a few, put it back and the dash electronics reset. In the old days I used it to reset tempermental ELDs, and occasionally to postpone a regen cycle. Its like switching off your laptop or phone and flipping it back on. See if that helps.
GhostlyCannibal94@reddit
I had this system once. Under the hood was a sensor of sorts that got moved around too much and thought the hood was always open. Ended up just taping it in the correct orientation and never had the issue again.
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
You know where the sensor is located?
GhostlyCannibal94@reddit
Mine was near the driver side headlight on the inside of the hood.
Independent-Fun8926@reddit
I always had problems with Crete’s Opti Idle on their trucks. Sometimes it would bug out and not cycle the ac. I woke up tot my eyes burning from sweat and being completely soaked. Never found any work around, they literally configured their truck to idle shutdown even with the brakes released and the transmission in gear.
Complained to breakdown and got told I’m doing it wrong.
My opinion is that if they can’t get you a truck without problems, then you should move on to a better company if you can. I don’t tolerate being treated subhuman by my employer. If they don’t think they have to provide you with working comfort features, then they can keep the fucking truck and shove it up their ass.
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
Yep. My company is the same. I’ve had my truck shut off while sitting in traffic with my foot on the brake and my truck in gear…
Exact-Leadership-521@reddit
That's at low rpm tho, do these things stay running at 750-1000rpm? You'd think after 1 minute of 450rpm they'd kick up to 750 for 3 minutes and then shut off if they actually cared about the motor
xenodine@reddit
You can have your foot to the floor, it'll still shut off. Had a truck a couple years ago like that. Shut down every 30 seconds in traffic.
PomeloResponsible122@reddit (OP)
Yup, I even tried leaving heavy stuff on the throttle to raise rpms and it still shuts off lol.
Tricky_Big_8774@reddit
A lot of people complain about the system but it's all on the company and how they set it for the most part. My truck doesn't turn off until it's been idling for 30 minutes, and I generally turn the Comfort mode off on the Opti idle at night in the summer because the damn thing turns the truck on so often it's worse than sleeping next to a reefer.
Imasluttycat@reddit
The thing that pisses me off about this sort of equipment is that while it's intended purpose is to provide driver comfort while saving fuel, there's typically no backup plan if it stops working. No way to override idle, if the shit breaks well then you're just gonna have to be hot / cold until you can get the truck to a shop. The shit breaks too much for there to be no way to work around it
TruckerBiscuit@reddit
Kinda the same shit with an APU though. If my APU craps out I'm fucked unless the temperature is above 82°F or below 32°F.
Getting idle regulation turned off is going to be #1 on my list of mods I want once I hold my note in November.
Substantial-Jello214@reddit
The idle smart in my company truck always says the hood is open when it's closed frustrating ASF.
csimonson@reddit
Second picture shoes it's working as it should. Best thing to do if you see ANY errors with idle smart is to turn it off and on again.
I have it on my own truck and I kinda wish I would've just bought an electric ac and dual lifepo battery setup
Financial-Prize9691@reddit
I have had a truck not do a forced Regen for brakes not set. I had to put something underneath the brake pedal to push it up, because the weight of the brake pedal and a tiny amount of play was tripping the sensor.
I have had weak batteries and/or lose battery cables cause phantom errors that include messing with the Idlesmart.