Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

retarder stopped working

January 26, 2024, 08:14:44 pm

When I use the brakes or the joy stick the retarder isn't working. when I turn the ignition key
the retarder switch light comes on and then goes out.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #1 – January 26, 2024, 11:19:19 pm

Got a 4523 code - A solenoid circuit open and I can't clear it. Any ideas?

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #2 – January 27, 2024, 07:41:34 am

Realmccoy had this happen several years back and had to have the pan pulled and a temp probe replaced. I will hunt around and see if I can find that thread and link it here. I remember he came here to Longview and had Stewart & Stevenson fix it.

Mike

Peter,

Here is a link to the thread but I didn't remember he has a 3060 rather than the 4060 but the codes are related.  Allison Transmission Fault Codes, Retarder not working  Might be of some help

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #3 – January 27, 2024, 09:19:42 am

What about that hydraulic accumulator solenoid that has the weak bracket.  If it falls off would it cause this problem?  Trying to find the old posts on that subject.

Here's one:

Older U320 Retarder Bracket Issue

Never mind, Peter, I see you fixed your bracket 4 years ago.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #4 – January 27, 2024, 10:08:10 am

Thanks for all the info, it gives me something to work with. We just got to Q last night and off
to the tent this morning. One thing I have going for me is I installed a Jake brake so I will get
home fine, but I really like having both.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #5 – January 27, 2024, 08:49:35 pm

Mike I met Realmccoy this afternoon here at Q and it looks like a repair to do at home. I have looked
around to see anything obvious.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #6 – February 04, 2024, 10:20:03 pm

I just got home and I sure miss the retarder. I use the Jake the most but the retarder is rely
handy especially when in too high a gear going down hill I can use the retarder to get me
down to a lower gear and in town as my Jake is loud.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #7 – February 06, 2024, 07:33:07 pm

I phoned Allison this afternoon and gave him the code and he said it would probably be the
connection going into the rear of the transmission on the drivers side. Its a weird looking
connection. He told me to grab the wire going into the connection and pull a little and the
wire came right off. They are closed now so I will phone in the morning and order the part
and find out exactly what I need. 

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #8 – February 09, 2024, 11:05:48 pm

Well I think I have it fixed. It took 17 seconds to clear the fault in the ECM. I will have to take
the coach for a drive to know for sure. This is the part number for the top of the connector
that I needed (29505516) The first picture was the piece that was left that went into the bottom
of the connector. It took awhile of soaking it in a penetrating oil an acquaintance gave me that
he said really works to get it out. I would have used salt and water but I thought it might be to
hard to clean afterward and it was a good time to try this penetrating oil. If you google the part
number 29505516 you will see that there is a big difference in the price it can be purchase for.
The other two pictures of it is it being put together and finished. 
I have been reading the post on great Allison service. And the dealer here, I have used two different
service techs for advice and both have been great and the advice has been free.

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Re: retarder stopped working

Reply #9 – February 15, 2024, 07:42:34 pm

The retarder is fixed and it's great having it working. I use the Jake brake around 80% of the time.
I use the retarder in town and going down a hill with Jake on and when it won't quite hold the
speed in the gear I have selected and I also use it to bring down my speed so I can select a lower
gear.

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