New in CO / Help

[Bdavis-SMB]

Just picked up a 2005 E350 Diesel 6.0 Sportsmobile after years of daydreaming.

It's super clean and obviously well cared for. However the widow I purchased it from knew very little about how anything worked and I know even less.

Had a fun learning experience in her driveway when we got the power top up but could not get it down. After about an hour of head scratching I ran jumper cables from engine battery to the big marine battery and that worked.

Regardless I am facing a dash of switches and buttons and controls that I have no idea what they are. Or finding the things I can't find. 12v cut off switch anyone?

Looking for any insight on figuring this stuff out and helping to fix the little things that need some love.


I've added some photos.
Any ideas on toggle under the dash?

Green light and correlating switch?

The seller called the device on dash a "Chili Dog" and said it regulates temperature but I have no clue. Could this by why my AC won't work

Also looking for insight on how top read the voltage meeter. It seems a little all over the place.

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

And thank you!

Thanks in advance
B

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

Welcome.

Toggle switch could be a valet switch for the alarm.

If I recall correctly, the Chili Dog will run the vehicle AC (engine running?) based on the vehicle temperature. Great for pets left in the vehicle.

The voltage gauge should be displaying the house battery voltage, and the available current from the solar panel(s).

The rocker switches on the dash panel look like SMB installed switches for auxiliary lighting (typically bumper or roof mounted).

Good luck on your investigation.


Herb

 

[ShuttlePilot]

Welcome!

From one 6.0 owner to another have in your mind that any device that can idle the engine when parked (Running the A/C, charging controllers, or anti freeze controllers) can cause major problems specific to the 6.0. Vans that have these type of controllers will be more likely to have idled more. I don't mean to scare you but on a van that has one of these I would look at the list of 6.0L improvement mods that have been done and maybe pull the EGR valve (not a small job but no big deal if you've done one before) to get an idea of what soot is in there and if it's been idled a lot. One way folks limit the issues with idling a 6.0 is a High Idle switch which raises the rpm up and limits coking of the intake and turbo. Could one of the dash switches be a high idle switch? To test you will need to set parking brake, foot off the brake peddle, obviously be in park with motor running and flip each switch give it a minute for idle rpm to increase.

Just some thoughts.

-Eric

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

Thank you,
Yes I think on the right side I have a high idle installed by Sportsmoibile.

Any insight on 12v cutoff switch? No idea where this is. looking through manual it shows pictures of something I just don't have mounted in cab.

 

[BrianW.]

Diesel experts will no doubt jump in...

Photo #3 looks like a solar panel charge controller (I assume you have panels on the roof?)

Photo 4 or 1 could be a "jump start" switch that allows your house batteries to temporarily connect with the starting battery to start the van if needed (dead van battery). Usually this will be a momentary switch (i.e., you have to hold it on). It's kind of the opposite of a cutoff switch.

Did you get any SMB literature with it? Often there will be a schematic provided, which can at least get you started.

The "Chilly Dog" is an A/C control that will automatically start up the van and run the A/C if the inside temp gets too hot, and then shut it off again. Like an automatic remote start system. They install these a lot in police K9 vehicles. It should have an interface box that wires into your van's wiring harness somewhere. If you don't need it I bet you could pull it and sell it on Ebay pretty easily.

 

[Twoxentrix]

One of the toggles could be for the Air compressor - if you have one. Green light on mine illuminates when the transfer case is engaged.

 

[saline]

Congrats on your new rig!!

Are you on the front range or western slope?

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

In Mountains Vail

Congrats on your new rig!!

Are you on the front range or western slope?

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

So while idling the truck for about 30 minutes with the high idle switch my truck died and now main battery won't start? Could I have fried the alternator? head scratching

any ideas on starting truck again?

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

But, lights 12v stuff working. Ha. So confused

 

[EmMay]

Get the numbers for the SMB Build and contact them for any info that is still available; find out if there are historical records that indicate exactly what was done.

Make sure to check back with the former owner, she may eventually find any manuals; and, not just for those, but because it's a human thing to do, to let her know how excited you are and thankful that she has been the mechanism to send you off into this new world...

Have fun, pay attention on here there is a super computers worth of knowledge and experience on board.

:d8:

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

will plugging into shore power charge all batteries?

 

[BVerhulst]

Green light on mine illuminates when the transfer case is engaged.

Correct about the green light.

As for the switches, we all assume you've flipped them and listened and looked for what changed?

 

[BVerhulst]

The toggle switch could be, considering that this is a early 2000's vehicle, a solenoid running power to the winch connections. I wired my pickup truck through a solenoid back in ~2008 because it supplies the necessary power for winching through long cable runs and it enables me to cut off power to the plugs (front and rear, with a winch in a receiver mounted tray) if I'm going to go into deep water.

 

[saline]

Not sure why it won't start off of the main batteries now.
But a good rule of thumb with a 6.0L is don't idle it. Especially with the stock EGR setup. I could go into the reasons why you shouldn't idle a 6.0L but trust me, just don't.

 

[daveb-SMB]

It could be a number of things causing the starting issue. I doubt your alternator is bad. I'd check the batteries and the separator. There are a few ways to test the battery systems. You can search or I can send you some links.

Do you know what kind of build it was... standard? For instance mine is a 50 model.

The A/C not working... do you have a Starcool aftermarket system on your van? Sorry you're having problems. A little more info will help.

 

[WhitH]

Let it cool off and sit overnight. If it starts then the next day I’d guess you’ve got a problem with your high pressure oil system. Could be a stand pipe or dummy plug given that you’ve got an ‘05. That’s assuming you’ve confirmed your starter battery voltage is ok.

 

[Bdavis-SMB]

So after I charged the battery overnight it started fine. It had showed a code related to the alternator and batter light was on, however when driving around a little battery gauge stayed in the middle.

I forgot to mention my battery light had been coming on and off at random times. I picked the van up in California last Saturday night and drove almost straight through to Colorado with no real issues. We did get an "under boost" coming through our fist mountains.

But, if my alternator is going could that be part of my AC problem?

Regardless... I'm having trouble understanding / locating the separator for the batteries. I'm thinking it's this switch under passenger bench? Best way to test? If I hook a meter to the big marine battery and run van and flip switch?

 

[saline]

The separator should be located on the passenger side under the bench seat.

It's not likely that the A/C is not working due to the alternator. It most likely needs to be checked for leaks and recharged.

Check all the battery connections, a loose connection can result in the symptoms you describe. Especially with it being intermittent. This actually happened to me yesterday. My frame mounted battery positive connection was loose causing intermittent no start.