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Topic: Check Transmission light comes on? (Read 1086 times) previous topic - next topic

Check Transmission light comes on?

I started the coach as usual for our trip yesterday with no issues. After a short period of 1/2 I shut the engine off to do some more packing and when I went to restart it would not shift into gear and the Check Trans. light came on on the dash. I immediately shut it off wondering what it could be as I had checked the fluid level and that I know was alright. Then I tried restarting and it was fine. Thinking it could have been a minor glitch we continued on with our trip leaving Bellingham, WA and heading south. Everything seemed fine until late today when stopping to check out an antique shop in Oregon and upon leaving it did the same thing again and after restarting twice it was fine again. Is there anything that I should check as it seems to be shifting fine and temps are normal after 300 miles of driving as well as a few stops along the way? I don't want to get into a situation where it is really off the beat and track with no way of getting it fixed. I have a '94 U280 8.3 with 6 speed Allison transmission which is running like a champ right now except for this one little problem that I would really like to see gone. Thanks for any help on this issue. Right now we are in Dayton, Oregon hoping to leave heading south for California tomorrow.

Thanks,
John

John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #1 –
Check the transmission for diagnostic codes:

With ignition on, engine off:

On the Allison shift pad, press the up and down arrows at the same time.  If that brings up d-1 record the codes.  If there is one, press mode to bring up d-2....

If it brings up OL, press the up and down arrow again to bring up d-1 and follow directions above.

When finished, just turn off ignition or press D to exit.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #2 –
Thanks Brett,

Did as you mentioned and the key pad did not do anything first time around except show 2 slashes with dashes through? The second time turned on ignition again and got a live keypad. Coding on D1 was 6 9 and second was 3 2. Hope this will get some answers with an easy fix.

Thanks,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #3 –
This is from Barry Beam's great site:

Allison Transmission Codes Manual

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Parati –
Thanks Brett,

Did as you mentioned and the key pad did not do anything first time around except show 2 slashes with dashes through? The second time turned on ignition again and got a live keypad. Coding on D1 was 6 9 and second was 3 2. Hope this will get some answers with an easy fix.

Thanks,
John


Slashes with dashes (aka snake eyes) means there is a communication issue with the shift pad, ECU or voltage to them.  Start by verifying that all plugs are in and tight and that voltage at both the Allison fuses is 12+ VDC.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #5 –
Hi Brett,

Thanks again on your help. I managed to get to my next stop with no issues without turning off the engine once I had the transmission functioning. Now I'll take a look at the connections and see where that leads. I feel that it may be a bad connection someplace as it has been sitting in storage for the winter. Even though it is covered storage it is in a moist climate in the Northwest part of Washington State not far from the ocean. I think that this is just a clean all connections and hopefully solve my issue. If that is all it is then I'm laughing. Thanks again for all your vast knowledge and help. I would rather do it myself and learn more about this great coach but without people like yourself to lend a helping hand that would be very hard. Maybe by the time I get ready to sell it in 5 to 10 years I may know a bit more than I do now.

I will keep you informed to what I find and thanks again.

John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #6 –
Brett,

While checking connectors I found on the back of the Allison Keypad a broken jumper wire (red or orange) that does not have a totally clean break. Also, if it was done at the factory during a build then I would assume that they would have capped the ends to prevent accidental contact. I'll check the wiring diagram that I have for any mention of a jumper at the connector. If that is not an approved break then I will put new ends on the wire with a new wire extension loop to close the circuit. I hope that is the case as it will simplify things greatly. I'll check the forum page in the morning before enacting the repair to the wire just in case someone knows that it should be cut. I still have yet to check all connectors as this campground does not allow any work in or around the coach and crawling underneath without proper precaution would in it's self be dumb.

At least I feel as though I may have a lead to follow up on.

Thanks again,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #7 –
Checked the wiring diagrams and could find nothing on this connector nor the wire in question. So I'll wait for a reply and barring that I'll try to place a call to FOT for further clarification. It is not a difficult fix if that is the problem but I just want to be sure about the right way to proceed first.

John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #8 –
Yes, check with James Triana before connecting that wire.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #9 –
 http://truckroadservice.com/barth_attachments/virus.pdf

Page 6-36 or sheet 72 shows a diagram and it shows a wire to be cut if using the remote pad as the primary shift pad. That might be teh wire you are looking at.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #10 –
If I Remember correctly on my 95 U280 when I changed the pad I also found a cut wire.  But Brett is right check with James before connecting.,
Gary B

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #11 –
Thanks Gary and Brett,

I will check further and bypass the broken wire for now and call James if I don't find anything else amiss.

Much appreciated,
John
John Smith
1994 U280 36' John, Pauline, & Marley Cat
2010 Ford Fusion

Re: Check Transmission light comes on?

Reply #12 –
Not sure if you have solved your problem or not. You might want to read this trouble shooting page. http://www.transmissioninstruments.com/troubleshooting.html
I am working on my 94 U280...and just sent my ECU and remote to him to have it rebuilt. If you are still having problems call this guy, John, at Transmission Instruments. Nice guy and he will talk you through it....Bottom line  69 32 means it is time for an ECU rebuild. He has a fast turnaround, he got mine today and said that he would fix it and have it out tomorrow.
I was told that when it goes to snake eyes to try heating the ECU with a hair dryer. I did and it started working. That confirmed it to me and sent it in.  Hope this helps.


Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487