Over the last 5-6 years I have experienced a problem with my Allison Shift Pad when the weather turns cold. The shift pad buttons refuse to work properly and engage the transmission to go either forward or reverse. At that point, nothings happens and you could be stranded until the temperature in the area of the shift pad rises from either interior heating or the sun shines on the driver side of the motorhome.
In the last case, it doesn't work for me as I park with my windshield facing East so that my solar panels get the best sun. The shift pad doesn't get any sun.
The problem kept getting worse starting at about 25-30 degrees and each year the problem starting about 5 degrees warmer. This year I experienced push button failure at about 54 degrees one morning when I wanted to move to dump and fill. Nothing. Nada. Had to heat up the area and it started working again.
I had been ignoring the problem for quite some time but, felt that NOW, I better do something about it.
I researched the subject as best I could and found that a replacement shift pad was WAY out of my budget range. I heard prices for a new unit above and beyond $2200 so more research was needed.
I finally found a place in Minnesota that would repair the shift pad, for $400 or so I was told. I shipped the shift pad to them and was told that the actual shift buttons were in such bad shape that they could not fix them and they would have to order a repair kit for them. Three days later I got the shift pad back and it looked better than new. I installed it and and then field tested it and everything worked great going down the road. We will see how it does in the cold, which is coming to Michigan quicker than normal. I plan to leave in a week. Jultech gives a six month warranty on their repairs.
The company I used is:
JULTECH INC.
618 3rd Street SW
Chisholm, MN 55719
218-274-4406
I hope nobody else experiences my type of shift pad failure but, if you do, this is a reasonable solution.
I had the same "hard feeling" of the pad buttons in the first FT we had and bought a new silicone pad from the local Allison Dealership. I did not put it on actually as what I did sorted it out and decided to keep it as a future spare. I kept my hand on the shift pad as much as possible (not really that hard or awkward) and my body heat stopped the problem. I still have the pad in its package and can get PT # in morning if needed from the coach. Taking it apart and cleaning may have helped too as those "carbon" contacts may get dirty or?
JohnH
When my shift pad failed just like Jon's but with no temperature involved a local Allison Service center replaced it with the same pad they use in garbage trucks. The used pad had been cleaned up and works perfectly except that hard pressure is required to shift. The pad is hard surfaced and according to Allison nearly bomb proof. On the old pad when they took it apart the contact surfaces for the buttons were worn nearly thru. They only charged me 100 bucks for the refurb pad and 1 hours labor, this was 6 years ago.
Gary B
That kit I mentioned is PT# 29524131 and is Genuine Allison
John H
I had EXACTLY the same problem. It's the CPU unit. Nada at the control panel but when I put a blow dryer on the CPU.....bada bing, bada boom. A guy in Texas replaces the power supply, cleans up both the pad and the CPU and sends it back for 600 bucks. Not a failure since. At least, in MY case, that was the case.
Is this the Allison guru you used in Texas: 866 439 9779 John Kopalek. www.transmissioninstruments.com (http://www.transmissioninstruments.com)
John has been doing this for a number of years.
yep
I very much doubt any of our pads look like those in Photo's.
I took mine apart and cleaned contacts and that was all it needed and did not put the new pad in it for testing. It worked good now and thought I would just hold on to the pad 'just in case I did need to replace it" Never any more issues. Previously I had to press really hard and a few times to get it to shift to what I wanted. I realise that not all repairs are that easy.
JohnH
Hello All,
Thank you for posting your experiences with your Allison shift pad issues. I have a 1994 U-280 and I had a problem with it not shifting into drive. I took the unit out, took it apart and cleaned it up with electrical contact cleaner and reassembled it. This all of 30 minutes. I put it back in and everything was lovely. I then shifted better and with less pressure than ever before. I was quite happy. The coach sat in the garage for a couple of months and when I went to shift it today (45 degrees) it would only go into reverse. I took it out again, and cleaned it and again everything is lovely. We will see what happens next. I will mention that it does appear that my problem in outside air temp related. I never had an issue when using the coach in the summer months. I do not understand some of the posts above were you were told by the shop that the contact were worn almost clear through. My pad appears to make contact with the circuit board with a rubber/silicone type button. I cannot see any evidence of wear what so ever.
Vincent,
When you start having problems with the Allison shift pad, you are going down a path known very well to this Forum. In the replies above (from 5 years ago) the members found some benefit from cleaning the shift pad mechanism. This may work in your situation. Or, it may only postpone the inevitable time when you will be stuck somewhere and unable to move the coach. You might want to read the rather long thread linked below. It describes my experience with the Allison shift pad problem, and the permanent solution that worked for me (and has also worked for others).
No start, with Allison "snake eyes" (Problem Solved) (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=25783)
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