Transmission failure

[CoastieSCPO]

This is bad. We're on our trip to Florida, leaving Tennessee last Wednesday, drove two days in no big hurry and stopped for the night at The Old Suawannee River CG in Old Town Fl. Watched the gators beat the Sooners, went to bed, got up and got the rig ready to head to Sebring,our destination for a couple of weeks. Started pulling out of the CG and the tranny starts slipping badly, the yellow dash light comes on, I coast back into my campsite and turn it off. Look at the dipstick and the fluid looks burned, but it looked OK the day before. I called Good Sam, they send a wrecker all the way from Gainesville and after 2 hours of prep, we get it towed to Ocala, Fl at the Detroit Diesel/Allison facility. After diagnosis, I'm told that the transmission is shot and needs to be replaced to the tune of $3450.00. Ten days wait time, including installation of the new (retran) unit. I will fight for assistance from the extended warranty company if they refuse to pay.

Allison's are not supposed to fail. I will pay for this out of pocket if necessary, but I am not happy about it. The tranny failure is the primary issue here and my next comment is not sour grapes but.......because of last years brake failure that I had and documented on this forum, I used my transmission to help slow my down at times. In fact, a lot more than I normally would have and I am just a little upset about it. The brake thing is on my mind when travelling and now the tranny thing as well. Bummer!

On the positive side, we're at Sebring, Fl staying at my mother in laws house and not having to pay for a motel. The weather is great and I'm going to the Florida RV Supershow (w/o) RV on Wednesday. Maybe I'll look for a fiver. Who know? Oh, atta boy to GS road service as they came thru for me.

Bob

[edgray]

BOB: I'm so sorry to hear of your tranny problem. You are right, Allisons are not susposed to fail. I'm linking your post to the Allison forum below for additional exposure.

After the diagnosis at their facility did Allison offer any explaination or theory as to what went wrong to cause the failure? Also, please tell us your mileage and if TranSynd was in place. Thanks, ED

[dieselclacker]

That is bad! How many miles are on your 2004 Bob? Certainly hope that extended warranty comes through for you.

Dieselclacker

[CoastieSCPO]

Ed;

Thanks for the reply. The pan will be dropped tomorrow at the request of the extended warranty company so the complete diagnosis is pending. I have 27800 on the rig and I will send you a PM.

Bob

[CoastieSCPO]

Hi all;

As soon as I get a call from the service manager at the shop, I will report what I learn. One good thing..this is a good shop with good people so I am confident about the repairs.

On a lighter note...At home I use DSL for the computer. My mother in law, bless her heart, has dial-up...what a pain!


Bob

[Tom N]

Sorry to hear about your break down.

Have you ever had your transmission serviced?? Have you changed the fluid yourself??

The Ocala Detroit Diesel-Allison shop changed me over to TranSynd in April, 2006, did my 5000 mi filter change and gave me the extended warranty. They did a great job and we even stayed in the coach while they did the TranSynd job.

-Tom

[DriVer]

I switched over to synthetic fluid as far back as late spring of 2005 before we went out to Arid-Zona in August.

You just do not hear tales like this very often. Everyone I know would swear on a stack of bibles that an Allison is bulletproof and for the most part it usually is.

I am very disappointed for you and I hope the extended warranty company helps dispel the cost of the replacement tranny.

I can guarantee that the new one will be filled with Transynd.

[Tom N]

Probably not of interest to you but a new Allison 1000MH setup for the GM 8.1 for $2450.

http://www.ronthebusnut.com/detailDisp_1000-MH.html

-Tom

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom N: Probably not of interest to you but a new Allison 1000MH setup for the GM 8.1 for $2450.

Tom, Now there's some recovered money!

I believe that the man needs an LCT1000 5 Speed. The 1000MH is a six speed. The TCMs and ECM calibrations are different.

[John-D]

Agree with those who say Allisons are not supposed to fail in fact they warrant them for what 5 years if you use Transyd (Synthetic fluid)

Less with dino oil

However they are not noted for failure

That said even the best of companies sometimes put out a clunker That's why you bought the extended warranty you mentioned.

Sorry you got the clunker, Hope I did not too

I see your rig is only one year older than mine. With proper maintenance it should NOT have failed.

[Richard 34A]

Quote:

Originally posted by DriVer: I believe that the man needs an LCT1000 5 Speed. The 1000MH is a six speed. The TCMs and ECM calibrations are different.

I've never cross-referenced my transmission serial number nor verified that I even have the correct manual, but the Allison manual that came with my Winnebago, W20 chassis, using a 5-speed transmission, says '1000MH' series.

Not meaning to minimize the unexpected expense, but was surprised that the cost to replacement the unit seems reasonable for such a complicated part... of course, that doesn't include labor but I would have guessed a lot more money for a heavy-duty transmission used in a motorhome.

[dieselclacker]

Richard, if you are referring to picture and price posted by Tom N, that trans is from Ron the Bus Nut, and not Workhorse. I agree the Bus Nut price seems very reasonable.

Dieselclacker

[angelman]

I would rather have the "new surplus" from ronthebusnut, than the rebuilt from allison. JMHO

[Richard 34A]

Quote:

Originally posted by dieselclacker: Richard, if you are referring to picture and price posted by Tom N, that trans is from Ron the Bus Nut, and not Workhorse. I agree the Bus Nut price seems very reasonable. Dieselclacker

If the transmission was subject to failure, I'd buy it just for a spare!

As a cost comparison, it cost $2,200 to 'rebuild' (not replace) the rear differential on my W20. (Workhorse denied the claim for warranty.) To replace the entire unit would have cost approximately $3,100, which is what I wanted to do, but Workhorse (at the time) didn't have a single unit available and told the local Workhorse dealer that it could take 'months'. Not sure what was really true, but felt that I was stuck in getting the MH back on the road, so I went with the rebuild. Funniest part is when I picked it up, I drove about 100' and felt that something was wrong. The rear differential let go again when the tech took it for a test drive but somehow I was told to come pick it up. They had me drive it down to Los Angeles and back while we waited for new parts: man, what a racket everytime I slowed down.