You're right, those connectors must not have been put there to find and use. I'm having the same problem with my Winny coach on a Freightliner XC chassis. My dash instruments have gone completely dead for a day or two at a time 4-5 times in the last 3 years and FL has had me looking for this connector to see if the Trip Tek is hooked into it and possibly causing the problem. A FL shop spent 1/2 day looking for the problem and undoubtedly didn't know about the connector either. The one back at the engine sticks out in plane site, why in the world would they hide the one under the dash so well?
Wagonmaster2

quote:

Originally posted by wagonmaster2:
You're right, those connectors must not have been put there to find and use. I'm having the same problem with my Winny coach on a Freightliner XC chassis. My dash instruments have gone completely dead for a day or two at a time 4-5 times in the last 3 years and FL has had me looking for this connector to see if the Trip Tek is hooked into it and possibly causing the problem. A FL shop spent 1/2 day looking for the problem and undoubtedly didn't know about the connector either. The one back at the engine sticks out in plane site, why in the world would they hide the one under the dash so well?
Wagonmaster2

My XC and all others I have looked at have a metal bracket attached to left side of steering column just below the bracket that bolts column to dash. It contains both the plug and a rocker switch to run the diagnostics and settings.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ecker,

On my Vectra there is a sloped footrest on the left side of the steering column. The 6 pin plug is located about 10" behind it mounted to the floor.

Thanks, Bill. I checked behind mine as best as I could. Being behind that plate doesn't seem very handy.

Wonder if that plate comes off? Or moves out of the way? I'll have to look into mine.

Leo....thanks for the picture. And feel fortunate yours on the steering column. You and the service people can get to it easily. If mine is in the spot that Bill suggests, you'd have to be a contortionist to use the thing.

Jim, the angled footrest that is on the floor left of the steering column does come out rather easily. It's held in place by 5 or 6 screws that are hidden in the carpet. I saw mine removed and the 5 or 6 screws laying with it. the idagnostic switch referred to is in a wiring bundle under there too.

This whole thing started because I wanted to get rid of that cable that runs the length of the coach. It's been that way for 4 years. You'd think I'd be used to it.

The reality for me came last week. I checked the ends of the Road Relay 4 and it doesn't use the 6pin or 9pin duetsch connector. So I'd have to get an adapter. However, I also have a QUICKCHECK III which uses a Palm device and has 6pin and 9pin cables. (I really like Cummins, but sometimes I wonder what they were thinking.)

So I'm going to sell the QUICKCHECK III and stick with the Road Relay 4. And the cable. It's made it this far.......

If any one uses a Palm M series or a T series and would like a QUICKCHECK III, let me know. It does a lot of what a Road Relay does, but 1/5th the cost.

We leave for Florida on Friday. Will probably put off looking for the connector till we get down to where its warmer. Will let you all know if it's in the footplate.

Well, the saga is over, the quest secure. I found the under dash ECM connector this evening. It is indeed behind the foot rest panel...WAY behind the foot rest panel.

I couldn't get my arm around the panel or the steering column and reach the plug, but I could see it with a troubleshooting mirror I have.

So if you're ever energetic enough and flexible enough, you can take that panel off and see the plug for yourself. I don't know how anyone could use it, but you can see it.

It took me 6 months of Yoga instructions just to get limber enough to get the cap off to see how many pins were in mine.

Jim, Did you see my post, above, about removing that angled foot rest? It's not that hard to take out. Just screws.

KIX, I did see your post and started pulling the carpet away from the footrest but stopped as I wasn't prepared to do anything with the plug.

By the same token though, the plug is close to the sidewall of the cabin and the cables I have don't extend that far. You still have to wrap yourself around the chair and under the steering column to use the plug.

I'm going to explore it's arrangement next week and see if there is enough cable length to get the plug up to at least the height of the bottom of the dash.