Transmission Woes

[Porter]

I have a 2003 40' Alpine Coach.
It has a Cumins 400 and a 3300 series Allison transmission.

After a lond day of driving, I stopped for the night in SD.
When I went to leave the next mroning my coach wouldn't start.
The shift selector had no indicator lights. (D-N-R <->), nothing. This was preventing the coach from trying to start. I wiggled the wires under the selector, to no avail. I finally called a Mobile RV repair man and he came and spent about an hour, checking voltages and connections from the tranny to TMC to the push button selector. Suddenly the indicator lights came on and the coach started right up. I took it to the Allison dealer and they couldn't find anything wrong.
It has since happened two more times. Has anyone ever had this problem? and if so .... what is the solution?

David

[JohnRR]

I take it the mobile tech did not tell you which wire or connection he was wiggling when the lights came on?

I'm sure you'll get some better answers shortly.

There's a lot of knowledge you can pick up here in a very short period of time, Welcome in.

[takepride]

Without having been there, I can only vote for a loose ground wire or bad ground connection.

Did the other idiot lights come on when you keyed it to start? accessory?

You might also have a mechanic read the error codes, or buy an inexpensive reader to help you sleuth it out.

Or give it a couple days. Someone here surely has had the same issue.

BTW, welcome to our forum!

[Porter]

Thank you for the reply.
Yes the 'road relay' lights came on.
You may be on to something about the grounds.
David

[gatorv]

I would try the Allison web sit and see if they have any help or Tec line for support.
That Transmission has to have a fuse or relay or somthing to protect it from over current. I would swap or replace its fuse or relay with another.
Be sure to use one with the same amperage. Just a suggestion. Good luck.

[Farmer Brown]

The likely cause may be that you turned of the coach when it was still in gear. The transmission thinks it is still in gear and will not allow the engine to start. To start the engine do the following. turn key on, punch the reverse button, drive button and finally the nuteral button. that will clear the computer to the tranmission so the engine will start.
I had this happen twice and was towed to a service center both times. It was discoverd by a tech at the second service center finally. This was after I was charged something like $600 by the service center. When the tech showed the service manager how to start the coach. I finally got a refund.
It will happen to you again when you get in a hurry to shut down. Fore warned.
Farmer Brown
06 Alpine SE with VW Toad

[94-Newmar]

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f125/md30...wer-59624.html

[TRAKKER]

I always turn the engine off while in D or R. No problem restarting.

[Arch Hoagland]

Originally Posted by Rick J Fisher

I always turn the engine off while in D or R. No problem restarting.

I don't have a diesel and I'm curious why you would turn off your engine while in Drive or Reverse.
Never thought about it before but I've always put vehicles with an Automatic in Park before I shut them off.

[OldForester]

On our diesels we don't have a "Park" with the Allison tranny and air suspension -- it's D, N, or R, and we have a driveline brake that serves as the "Park". It's spring-loaded to "on" and comes "off" with air pressure. So that's why we don't shift to "Park - we have to put on the parking brake to hold the coach.

[Porter]

Please try to stay focused on the problem at hand.
David

[OldForester]

Porter,

Not sure what you mean by your comment--do you have a diesel pusher or a gas motorhome?

[takepride]

OF:

His profile says 40' Alpine.

Not sure about the comment other than the usual interjections by non-Alpine, non-diesel owners, leading the resolution astray....

[Porter]

It is a 40FDTS, 400 ISL cumins w/ 3000MH Allison Transmission w/ push button selector.

David