Mechanical Lorry help please

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bananas

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Hello

I have been lurking for a while but need a bit of advice now as I've just broken my lorry and amn't sure what to do next
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It hasn't been out for 10 days, its parked on hard standing and when I started it up today it wouldn't pull forward, I thought the breaks were maybe seized so pumped them a bit then tried to pull forward again and it stalled so turned engine off, pumped breaks again and when I tried to start it again I got an warning message saying - air pressure low - the dials all move to the starting position but when I turn the key nothing happens - Help - what have I done? It is an 03 plate Daf.

Any help appreciated - I have just had it a month so havn't yet got a mechanic
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Thank you

H

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Hi. I'm not in the least bit mechanical - but i did take my HGV theory test last week and the book says that if you get the air pressure warning light you must stop immediately and get it put right, and also you should not release your parking brake.
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So it looks like you might have to find a mechanic to come out to you.
Sorry if thats not much help! Good luck
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Mines an Iveco and if the airs low in the brakes then a warning light comes on and the wagon will not move. I have to rev the engine until the air pressure gauge gets to about 8 then it moves fine. Hopefully its just this as being stood does make the air pressure drop. Pumping my brakes makes the brakes release air and so lowers the pressure more. Im not a mechanic and havent got a clue about mechanics but try starting it and reving your engine for a few minutes until the pressure gauge goes up. Fingers crossed.
 
the air pressure needs time to build up by revving engine up dont pump the brakes as this causes loss of air pressure!!it wont move until the air has built up!the air will have gone with being stood for a week or so!hope this helps!!
 
May be a total numpty reply but all these things have happened to me as a first time wagon owner who is learning slowly
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My key is coded and if I put it in and turn it too quick then it doesnt give the computer?? time to read it. If you havent already, try putting your key in, turn it til the dash ights come on but no further, on mine all then go off bar about 3 of them, then turn your key to start it. If I turn mine too quick, it doesnt start.
Another tip is dont park in gear cos if you put your clutch in as you need to to put it in neutral to start, you can blow the pipe as it is air assisted too. You will know as your clutch will seem really hard.
Once the wagon is started the clutch will go normal in a couple of minutes. Brakes will be ready after revving to get air up if neccesary and off you go.
Fingers crossed your wagons ok.
 
Dont "rev" it just let it idle untill the warning goes of make a note of the air gauges and what they read when they stop rising then you know where they should be when your driving, the hand brake will not release untill the air is built up also the warning may come on if you pump the brakes as they work of the air tank
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OK have now confused myself as to wherther I left Handbrake on or off - its in the backward position - will try all of above at yard 1st thing tomorrow - fingers crossed!
 
Sorry to hijack this but just a quick question perfect11s please. I do rev mine to bring the pressure to arround 8, its never much below that even when stood but when I get going mine builds up to 11 or nearly 12 and Ive questioned this but been told they do run high on Ivecos? The air does release when it goes slightly higher as the mechanic tested it. Does this sound right??
 
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OK have now confused myself as to wherther I left Handbrake on or off - its in the backward position - will try all of above at yard 1st thing tomorrow - fingers crossed!

[/ QUOTE ] make sure that your ready incase the lorry moves... if the lever is in the off position when it builds up air the hand brake will release
forward or down is usealy the off position..
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I know how you feel, the day we got ours home, we couldnt move it as it just wouldnt budge. After my hubby cursing it we finally rang the builder up cos it was in the way and we had to move it. Thats when we learnt about the pressure in the air brakes, turned out we had an air leak so it had lost pressure really quickly. It was so embarrassing as we didnt know the pressure had to be right for it to move.
Pretty scary really that we (generalised) are allowed to get these wagons and just drive them with no prior training.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sorry to hijack this but just a quick question perfect11s please. I do rev mine to bring the pressure to arround 8, its never much below that even when stood but when I get going mine builds up to 11 or nearly 12 and Ive questioned this but been told they do run high on Ivecos? The air does release when it goes slightly higher as the mechanic tested it. Does this sound right??

[/ QUOTE ] yes sounds about right most lorrys run at about 10 bar + ..reving will build up the air quicker but isnt realy a good idea not good for a cold engine or fuel consumption..
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its ok to hold the revs at about 1000 if it seems to shake while it builds up air
 
Phew, thank you
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Shake??, not experienced that yet. I didnt realise the air would just build up on its own, see learnt something else
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Why dont they supply a manual with 2nd hand trucks
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Thanks again
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I would kill for a manual - mine has a lever beside the steering wheel that I don't even know what it is for - did figure out the cruise control though - might post a picture on here and see if anyone knows what this lever is for!

Night night evereone and thanks for all the help!
 
If your air pressure doesn't build up then it may well be due to a build up of moisture & other crap in the air lines/tanks. On each of the air tanks there is an air pressure release valve. It will have a key ring type thing attached to it. Give both of them a good pull. You will hear it hising loudly as air escapes but along with the air loads of moisture etc will also escape. Do this to both tanks, you don't have to have the engine running. Depending on the amount of moisture in the system you may need to do this a few times.

If it has worked you will find that when you start up the engine again the pressure guages will rise fairly quickly to working pressure. If the pressure doesn't increase quickly or only goes up to a small amount then pull the release valves again.

I had this happen to my DAF, brakes stayed on, couldn't use the clutch etc....once I'd done this it all rectified & pressure came up & away I went.
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This isn't new, many lorry drivers have to do this every few weeks to clear the system.
 
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I would kill for a manual - mine has a lever beside the steering wheel that I don't even know what it is for - did figure out the cruise control though - might post a picture on here and see if anyone knows what this lever is for!

Night night evereone and thanks for all the help!

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I think you must mean the exhaust brake control !!!! now this is slightly complecated
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but basicly what it should do is,
say you are going down a long hill and the lorry speeds up this gives you more engine braking when you lift your foot of the acccelerator it saves wear on the brakes and allows you to drive smoothly.. if you rev up the engine with it swiched on (down i think from memory) when you lift your foot off the engine will slow quickly and make wooshing sound if its working..remember try this with the lorry stopped
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they do however have a habit of seizing up so it may not do anything untill your mecanic has looked at it
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Thank you perfect 11
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I will work that out once I get it running again!

I tried starting it again this morning - key turns to a point where the dials all move, the two pressure dials go to thier normal position but still getting the low pressure warning, the clutch pedal is hard and they key won't turn any further - any more ideas anyone?

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Check that the stearing lock is not preventing the ignition key from completly turning by gently trying to turn the stearing wheel in either direction as you gently try to turn the key. Does the ignition key mechanism have a little rectangular metal switch on it?
 
Not steering lock
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a mechanic is coming to look at it over the weekend - from the description he thinks a wire may have got disconnected/eroded.
Thank goodness I kept my trailer!
 
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