Out for a week. All been ok but hour ago at a fuel stop the allison touch console startes intermittingly visually going in n out. Nothing one sec, then 6 for yhe gear, then next then a red cross. All is working fine, shifting ok, temps fine retarder fine just the display...any reason to have any concern?....figuring maybe just a loose or oxidized connecter. Parked for the evening. Thanks for any input.
They are easy to remove. Spray it with some Deoxit then with the Deoxit protection spray. Lets hope that it is the connector being loose or dirty. Those pads are hella expensive. Had to buy one in 2015 when it left us stranded 2 hours after buying our coach. That was a $1,000 part back then.
I despise soft touch switches.
Figured it might be such. We'll do ,prefer it not leave us out there somewhere.
$1000 :o Wow!
I second the "pull it and clean the connector" idea. Once you have the connector off, check for any signs of corrosion and/or loose wires in the connector. There is no guarantee that the issue is in the wiring or on the console side of the wiring, but it's an easy and inexpensive place to start.
Right now just trying to figure out how to get the touch pad out to access any connections.
No experience, but it appears these are held in with screws from below so you will probably have to disassemble the console around it. See this (https://www.ebay.com/p/1117851042) for an example.
Here's the important pic:
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JVoAAOSwV0tjdSaY/s-l1600.jpg)
If needed contact John @ transmission instruments. You can find him on the internet. He rebuilds them, wwwway less than new.
Yep held in with screws an most of left side of dash panel has to move. Don't think this area of my rig has aver been accessed as all was held tight with tie wraps. Was finally able to access same connector as in your pic. Seperated and sprayed with contact cleaner even though spotless in appearance. At the moment the console lights up and shows gear position again. Fingers crossed will last till we get back home on Sunday. Then plan a session of removing entire area again and fixing a few bulbs as well as well as clean and lube all fittings in this area. Slowly but inconveniently surely getting our 22 year old back in top shape . Thanks for some quick feedback guys.
Thanks for the tip Bruce.... hopefully won't need to.
as crazy as it sounds try taking a hair dryer to the touch pad and connectors sometime a bit of moisture gets where it doesn't belong.
Yes WOW. It's a commercial vehicle part used in a coach. So just bend over and take your punishment for being rich😁
There is (or at least was) a person that will rebuild them for about $450 (in 2016) but that only helps if it quits in your driveway. Not sure who it was or if they are still doing that rebuild.
Yup, he is the "go to guy" for diagnosing and repairing Allison shift pads and ECU's.
There still is. John Kopalek.
Worthwhile to read the trouble shooting tips on his website if the tranny touch pad is giving
any signs of distress.
Transmission Instruments (https://www.transmissioninstruments.com)
Great service from John. We had the same issue..now its "click" and go.
Hans
The cleaning of the one connector under the touchpad appears to have us back in business. All was ok today. Hopefuuly no more this trip will dig into much deeper when at the home front. If see any issues will use TI for a whatever it takes to get it back in top shape.
I am a big believer in dielectric grease like this (https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81150-Dielectric-Tune-Up-Grease/dp/B000AL8VD2/ref=asc_df_B000AL2RI2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312126147596&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14783165563360703921&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028270&hvtargid=pla-457202311674&th=1).
Press some into the female connections and smear a bit on the male connections as well as any seals and it will keep water/moisture out of the contacts, which will make them a lot happier for a lot longer.
If you end up pulling it apart again and if it isn't too much trouble could you shoot some photos as you tear into it? Mine looks like to pull the left panel holding the gear selector I have to partially remove the front dash but maybe I'm missing something.
Thank you
I will, but you are correct, in order to get the top completely off you would have to move at a minimum the left dash panel. I was able to pull that dash section up enough that it allowed the allison panel room to be tilted upward, have my wife hold the back half of the allison console in the air while I snaked my hands into the opening under the console and get to the connectors, the issue was the fact the cable the connector was on was tie wrapped tight to a harness I had to reach in and clip that loose first.
couldnt agree more, I use it everywhere, but did not have any with me at the moment, and stop for contact cleaner they were all out. ALL connectors I have so far pulled apart have it, when I go back into all of this when home and have some with me will do all of these as well. Need to get a tube for my rv tool box.