Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Woody & Sitka on April 27, 2020, 12:54:02 pm

Title: Retarder intermittent
Post by: Woody & Sitka on April 27, 2020, 12:54:02 pm
My retarder continues to quit intermittently.  Will sometimes work for a few applications and then die...no lights, no fault codes, just inop.  After sitting overnight, it'll start working again for a while.  Can't do much troubleshooting now since I'm in rv park mode.

Initially thought it was water contamination of the connectors on the trans...I've removed all the connectors I can find on the joystick, on-off switch (tested), trans and accumulator bodies and cleaned and lubed them with same effect on last couple of drives...it quit again after a few applications.

Question for the masses...has anyone had the same symptoms and what did you do?  Could a failing accumulator solenoid cause the intermittent symptoms I'm seeing?  Shouldn't it and other system component failures throw a fault code?

If the solenoid might be the culprit, anyone have any idea what the differences are in the OEM solenoids I found on ebay and the chinee aftermarket models sold by Allison.  29547934, 29544455 and 29557354.  The first two look identical to Allison OEM but with a different solenoid number, and the 3rd is the chinee one.  The prices are $250 plus and won't pull the trigger on one until I know it'll most likely fix my issue.

Thanks in advance...Woody.
Title: Re: Retarder intermittent
Post by: Caflashbob on April 27, 2020, 12:58:36 pm
Does the trans show fault codes?  No idea if they store them or even have them.  Just a thought
Title: Re: Retarder intermittent
Post by: Pamela & Mike on April 27, 2020, 03:14:23 pm
1. Question for the masses...has anyone had the same symptoms and what did you do?
2.  Could a failing accumulator solenoid cause the intermittent symptoms I'm seeing? 
3. Shouldn't it  throw a fault code?

1. Yes
2. Not likely as it is like rover when dead he is dead all over. BUT you could have trash in the valve its self.  If you have the style that can be taken apart you may just find a dirt/mud dauber nest inside causing the valve to stick.
3. No

Mike
Title: Re: Retarder intermittent
Post by: gracerace on April 27, 2020, 03:47:21 pm
My retarder continues to quit intermittently.  Will sometimes work for a few applications and then die...no lights, no fault codes, just inop.  After sitting overnight, it'll start working again for a while.  Can't do much troubleshooting now since I'm in rv park mode.

Initially thought it was water contamination of the connectors on the trans...I've removed all the connectors I can find on the joystick, on-off switch (tested), trans and accumulator bodies and cleaned and lubed them with same effect on last couple of drives...it quit again after a few applications.

Question for the masses...has anyone had the same symptoms and what did you do?  Could a failing accumulator solenoid cause the intermittent symptoms I'm seeing?  Shouldn't it and other system component failures throw a fault code?

If the solenoid might be the culprit, anyone have any idea what the differences are in the OEM solenoids I found on ebay and the chinee aftermarket models sold by Allison.  29547934, 29544455 and 29557354.  The first two look identical to Allison OEM but with a different solenoid number, and the 3rd is the chinee one.  The prices are $250 plus and won't pull the trigger on one until I know it'll most likely fix my issue.

Thanks in advance...Woody.

Have you checked the simple thing? The relay in the front right of dash? Bosh relays go bad, but not often.

Ours did the opposite. Trans over temp bell in dash would go off intermittently. Mostly when cold. Turned out being the retarder sender. No code on Silverleaf.

I have the big dollar Allison trouble shooting book, it has all the part numbers. Let me look at it.

I searched, and they wanted $550.00 for sender unit, but the book showed just the sender. Simple repair, Allison part was $100.00.

I would stay away from import junk. I have bought Cat Chinese parts, ended up throwing away as junk. Sure the same goes for Allison stuff.

Chris