Engine Diagnostics

Topic: Engine Diagnostics (Read 2653 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #50 – August 10, 2013, 09:33:47 pm

Here is what I have been using for about a year. The retarder temp is one of the most valuable gauges for navigating long downhill grades, at least for me. You will notice that the retarder temp will shoot through the roof if you are not careful, hitting 300 degrees at times. The transmission temp lags behind, but will rise when the retarder fluid is dumped into the transmission fluid.

The text field in the top middle "gauge" tells me if the retarder is on or off and if the cruise is off, on or set.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #51 – August 10, 2013, 09:41:02 pm

Geo, Delighted to see that Allison has that sensor, it is not a FOT sensor,, like the man said do not exceed the 300f at retarder using the Transynd ATF,
THANKS

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #52 – August 10, 2013, 09:41:50 pm

I am such a dufus. Sniffer works when it has power. DUH. Turned the key, sniffer works and found battery volts.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #53 – August 11, 2013, 11:20:11 am

My ancient understanding was that before transynth the trans was fine at 300 degrees or below. An old Allison guy mentioned when using old conventional trans oil to pull the dipstick and look for a color change from the red to a more orange color and a burned smell to the oil.

Bob

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #54 – August 11, 2013, 03:17:29 pm

Dave, George did my 2 computors for the ret temp. He is a whiz on that stuff. Suggest you drive to Tucson to get him to do it because the dessert you are offered is yummy, along with the hospitality.
Long drive but worth it.
John H

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #55 – August 11, 2013, 04:23:47 pm

Dave M.... email me and I will see if I can help you find the retarder temp. gmhatfield100@gmail.com

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #56 – August 11, 2013, 05:32:54 pm

[Snip: mail me and I will see if I can help you find the retarder temp.}

George; I'd like to set up a Retarder gauge on my display as well, if you'd be willing to share? - sdslim@q.com

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #57 – August 11, 2013, 06:59:54 pm

We're in Taylorsville State Park in KY doing the Bourbon Trail. Unfortunately the park has no WiFi and our Verizon aircard has a very weak signal. So I can't send anyone anything in the way of images or Word documents. Can't even search the Form for my past posts. Most of what I have to send has been posted previously. Perhaps someone can find it. Otherwise, I'll send everyone asking for more info something later this week. We plan to leave here on Wednesday.

The process is pretty straight forward. First, download the latest person of the software. VMSpc Downloads | SilverLeaf Electronics, Inc. I think it is version 3.0 build 1. Next, use the parameter editor to setup PID 120. Setup new gauge. Then define as follows: gauge: Retarder Temp; Abbreviation: RET; PID 120; unit: F; min 80; LRL: 0; HRL 300; GMax:300; LYL: 0; HYL: 250; Format: %0f; offset: 0 and Multiplier: 1. Then save this.

Once this is done you should be able to see the retarder temp when you setup a new gauge under gauges.

George

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #58 – August 11, 2013, 07:28:31 pm

Dave M, we leave here wednesday for NJ by air and should be starting the drive home an hour after we get to Ed and Evelyn's.
I am taking some solar panels etc and resonator and pipes so we do a change on it while stopped for sleep etc!!!
Hope to be home this time next week.
John H

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #59 – August 11, 2013, 07:40:30 pm

Dave..... I have the serial port version of the cable too. After my serial port computer died, I started using a Serial to USB converter which works fine.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #60 – August 11, 2013, 07:44:13 pm

Geez, I have great news I think, First Thanks George, I followed your info, and BINGO, have the Retarder Temp displayed, so so simple when you have a clue as I am usually clueless, so I am grinning, again thanks

Dave M

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #61 – August 11, 2013, 07:51:11 pm

John H,
Sure wish I could catch up along the way and help with the resonator too.
Know you will have a great trip.
Good luck and enjoy and if by chance you wind up on I-90, save a couple hours for the Auto Museum in Murdo, SD, I promise you will be amazed.

It is not a high class joint where everything is polished like new, more like it came off the street, that means more to me than a wax job. What a collection of STUFF, cars, trucks, farm tractors, slot machines, old everything.
Dave M

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #62 – August 11, 2013, 08:00:05 pm

Quote from: George Hatfield – August 10, 2013, 09:33:47 pm

The retarder temp is one of the most valuable gauges for navigating long downhill grades, at least for me.

George H helped walk me through install of the retarder temp gauge last year when we first got the Vmspc. I use it all the time when in the hills/mountains. Peace of mind knowing what the fluid temp is.

Dean

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #63 – August 11, 2013, 08:22:09 pm

Well, now it makes sense, Mark Harvey said that the temp sender was in the sump, guess I should have pushed for more info on temp senders, but I did not know enough to ask.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #64 – August 11, 2013, 08:25:10 pm

Put Amsoil synthetic in and watch it go down and also able to help with greater heat control. get rid of the Transynd crap. Mine runs sweet. Now over a year in and no seize ups etc like I was told would happen by the "experts"
John H

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #65 – August 12, 2013, 02:05:01 pm

Dave-what did you set the multiplier at?

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #66 – August 12, 2013, 02:13:22 pm

Original was 1, that gave me the 43, then used 1.8. That gave 80, so used 1.785 gave the matching number to the sump reading.
Since this produced a roll, I changed the DC Volt reading to match my Fluke 87 MK III.
Still have lot of space to fill up, when done there will be no white screen as it makes it difficult at night,being toooo bright.
Just like a poo kid with a new toy !

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #67 – August 12, 2013, 02:23:53 pm

I know.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #68 – August 12, 2013, 07:48:18 pm

If you use the latest version of the software (version 3.0), the retarder temp will be correct. The old software (i.e., version 2.5) will not give the correct value. Not sure using a mulitplier will even work with older versions. The software is defective when it comes to this PID.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #69 – August 12, 2013, 09:34:02 pm

George, maybe you can answer this. I posted the question on the VMSpc forums but haven't gotten an answer.

My current version of VMSpc is 2.2a, and I am running it on an old HP Omnibook 800CT running Win98 (it has a serial port and the computer is dedicated to just the VMSpc). I have been trying to learn whether version 3.0 can be run on Win98. I don't want to screw up a working system, but it sounds like I can get better access to the PIDs and easier programming with 3.0...if it is compatible.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #70 – August 12, 2013, 09:41:26 pm

What should I set yellow and red volts to?

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #71 – August 13, 2013, 08:10:13 am

@Scott...my battery (PID168) has the following min/max and limit values:

8 12 15
16 13 14.5

@Brad... I would give them a call. When I have done that they have been very helpful. Or you can just install 3.0 on your computer and see if it works. I'd go in first and rename the old directories so you don't overwrite anything. Then if it does not work, go in and change the names back and you are set.

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #72 – August 13, 2013, 10:30:16 am

George H,
Again, Thanks for the info, I have changeed to the V3.0 and as you mentioned, the retarder temp came up near to what I expected, Have a pix added showing how it is lower then the sump temp, guess I need to get it on the road to see exactly how it settles out, might need a multiplier to bring the two closer, unknown now.
Now after rearranging everyting, have space for other info.
Thanks
Dave M

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #73 – August 13, 2013, 06:16:55 pm

Dave....the retard temp is often lower than the trans when we start in the morning. Not sure why. But after a bit of driving, the temps will be close. You will notice an immediate increase in the retard temp when using the retarder. I have the retard multiplier set to 1. Have fun!

Re: Engine Diagnostics

Reply #74 – August 13, 2013, 07:09:52 pm

Thanks George. I called and they said no problem. The biggest problem I had was getting the program onto the old 800CT computer! Talk about taking progress for granted! While the computer has a serial port, there are no USB ports, SD card slots, wifi, nor Network card! I had to burn the 455k file onto a CD from the normal computer, then get it into the proprietary HP CD Rom player to be read. Sheesh!

I just deleted the old VMSpc.exe file and replaced it with the newly downloaded VMSpc_0.exe file and renamed it VMSpc.exe. Looks like it works just fine.

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