2009 KENWORTH T800 Electrical System Problems

A TRACTOR UPDATE PROGRAM WAS INITIATED BY KENWORTH EARLY IN 2009 THAT INVOLVED THE 2008 T-800 TRACTORS. THE UPDATE REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF A 150 A "MEGAFUSE" INTO THE MAIN POSITIVE CONDUCTOR SUPPLYING ALL TRACTOR ELECTRICAL POWER (NOT TO THE STARTER MOTOR SOLENOID). SINCE THE "MEGAFUSE" WAS INSTALLED INLINE, OPENING OF THE FUSE EFFECTIVELY DE-ENERGIZED ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE TRACTOR INCLUDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RESULTING IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. FURTHER, ALL SIGNAL, WARNING, VISIBILITY AND HEAD LIGHTS CEASED OPERATION. MORE IMPORTANTLY (AND THE REASON FOR THIS REPORT), WITH IMMEDIATE SHUTDOWN OF THE DIESEL ENGINE, ALL POWER ASSISTED STEERING CAPABILITIES ARE ELIMINATED. WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, A TRACTOR BECOMES DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. WE INVESTIGATED JUST SUCH AN OCCURRENCE FOR ONE OF OUR CLIENTS. HISTORICALLY, OUR TRUCKING COMPANY CLIENT HAS NOW RECORDED TWO SUCH ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH ONE RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE...