Many people think of semi-trucks as pretty standard and straightforward. If a check engine light comes on, it should be taken to the dealer. However, newer trucks have many computers in them and like all computers, there are bugs. Like the check engine light, warning lights may come on in these newer trucks, but there is not anything that needs to be fixed.
While newer trucks and systems are great in many ways this aspect can be more than a little frustrating because you may not know when there is an issue that needs to be addressed. However, if you drive a Kenworth T680, you can reassure yourself by resetting the truck. Read on to find out how to reset your Kenworth T680.
How Do I Do a Quick Key Reset on My Kenworth T680?
If you have checked to make sure that nothing is amiss with your Kenworth, everything seems to be running as it should and there are no leaks, then the next step is to do a reset. You can perform either a quick key reset or use an OTR reset tool.
First, let’s explore how to do a quick key reset.
Quick Key Reset
Before you do anything, make sure you are parked in a safe place, and if possible that there is some room around you.
Leave the truck on, and take the following steps:
- Turn the key to the off position. The ignition will be labeled so you will be able to tell how far you need to turn your key to turn it off.
- Once, the key is in the off position, remove it from the ignition. Once the key has been removed, open the driver’s side door and then close it again.
- Watch the headlights. Pay attention to the dashboard and make sure that all the lights shut off before proceeding to the next step.
- Put the key back in the ignition. Turn it to “on”, wait one moment, then turn it back to the off position. Do this a total of six times.
- The last time you move the key to the on position wait a moment longer, then start the truck.
If the lights on the dashboard are no longer there, then this reset was successful, and you can carry on with your drive.
OTR Reset
Another way to reset your T680 is to buy an OTR (over the road) reset tool. Having an OTR reset tool can save you a lot of time and money and give you some peace of mind as you will know for sure if it is necessary to take your truck in to be looked at.
As with a quick key reset, make sure you are parked in a safe location and take the following steps:
- Start a timer for 3 minutes. It should not take longer than this, and it will help you stay on track and do everything you need to do within the correct amount of time.
- If the engine is on, first turn it off but keep the key in the ignition. Keep it off for one minute.
- After a minute, turn the key to the accessory position. This is the position where the truck is technically on, but the engine is not running. Keep the key in the accessory position for one minute.
- Finally, connect the reset tool to the diagnostic port. This port is located down and to the left of the steering wheel. Leave the tool connected for one minute, then disconnect it.
At this point, the false codes that have popped up on the dashboard should be cleared, and you can continue on your way.
Conclusion
If you drive a Kenworth, especially a newer one, sometimes ghost lights will come on. The most common one is the check engine light. However, just because there is a check engine light does not mean there is anything wrong with the truck, and you may just need to do a reset because of a computer bug.
This is a fairly simple process. You can either do a quick key reset or an OTR reset.
To do a key reset turn the engine off, take the key out of the ignition, and open and close the driver’s side door. Put the key back into the ignition and turn it to the on position, then to the off position, and repeat six times before starting the truck.
To do an OTR reset, turn the key to the off position for a minute, then to the on position for a minute. Lastly, plug in the reset tool to the diagnostic port for a minute to clear the lights.