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  • Motor Shut down

    Posted by Darrell on October 29, 2018 at 12:05 pm

    Hi everyone, we had been driving for about 7 hours and were just 42 miles from our destination of Pahrump, NV driving through Las Vegas when the coach just Died and on the shift pad it said service. I had the Trans in mode and traffic was stop and go, after about 10 minutes the bus started and I was able to go another 5 miles when it happened again with no warning, no lights on the dash just shut down and again the trans shifter said service. After 10 minutes it started and this time I left the trans in normal operation not mode and was able to drive the rest of the way to the resort about 30 miles. I have never heard of a trans shutting down a motor but was wondering if anyone out there has experienced anything like this, it is scary to loose power steering or if going down a mountain loosing the Jake Brake. maybe someone has a suggestion

    Thanks

    Darrell

    Harry replied 7 years, 9 months ago 17 Members · 28 Replies
  • 28 Replies
  • Archived

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 1:56 pm

    I presume that you have enough coolant in the reserve tank (you can see it in the sight glass), there is enough oil in the big engine, and there is enough transmission lube in the transmission. Those are first things I would check.

    Then absent a response from the Forum members, I’d call:

    American Fleet Inc/Brian Stanton

    2441 E Jean St. — Springfield, MO 65803

    (417) 865-4420Toll-Free: (877) 865-4420

    =================

    The Large Family
    Expert Transmission Inc.
    27111 1/2 Carol Dr.
    Huffman, TX 77336
    Phone 281-844-6026
    Text 281-900-7923

    zedef07@juno.com

    ===============
    Expert Transmission is a Forum advertiser and American Fleet was an advertiser and Brian welcomes calls. I think its an engine issue and would call Brian first.

  • DON

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    Thanks for the information and advice I will call and see what they advise, it was a great ride from Wisconsin to Navada ran great until the last few miles. I did check all the fluids and looked for loose wires. It does wake you up when you loose all power, it steers really hard.

    Thanks everyone I will let you know what I find

    Darrell

  • Chuck

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 3:34 pm

    I would assume that the transmission is tied into the overall system, so a serious issue with transmission could put the engine into limp mode.

    Search for.how to read error codes off the transmission keypad to see what the error is. With that information trouble shooting will be easier. I believe my prevost manuals have that info. You can also find this on allison website (and other sites through google.search).

  • Doug

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    Charles is absolutely correct because no matter who is engaged to find out what is happening, the very first thing that is going to be done is to read the codes.

    The Prevost Car web site, under parts and maintenance, then publications is going to provide access to the service manual for your coach, and from that you can determine how to “flash the codes”.

    But I suspect you have a problem to fix first and that is to open the dash panel and make sure the check transmission, red stop engine light and the amber check engine lights have working bulbs.

    Before you get a shutdown you you should be getting a red SEL light and an audible alarm. If you do not have a Pro-Diesel display you cannot access the codes without a reader if the lights and alarm are not working.

    There are only three reasons for an engine shut down on your vintage coach: low oil pressure, high coolant temp, low coolant level. Assuming all of those conditions were not the case it appears to be a bad sensor or sensor ground.

  • Archived

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    Thanks Jon as always your input is greatly appreciated. I will have a mechanic come and use a reader on both the trans and motor to see what has been stored in memory.

    Thanks all

  • Archived

    Member
    October 29, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Additionally, if the engine shuts down, you can use the over ride switch to at least get off the road safely. That’s a red rocker switch on your dash somewhere.

  • Glenn

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 5:13 am

    Has any work been done prior to this trip? New batteries, or any other work?

  • Archived

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 10:09 am

    Hi Jeff. The only work performed on the bus was a inspection, brakes, air bags, steering, wheel bearings and so on. I also did try the red override switch and nothing happened, I’m hoping that something will show up in the codes.

  • Darrell

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 10:21 am

    The Stop Engine Light and alarm are critical because they alert you to an impending shut down and give you an opportunity to over ride the function long enough to get out of traffic and to a safe place. That is why I mentioned to find out of the light and audible alarm is working.

    Sometimes a few extra seconds is all it takes to get to the shoulder of the road and having a warning before shut down is a critical safety feature.

    And without a reader the light and audible alarm is how you can hear/see the code number being flashed.

    Once the engine shuts down the over ride button will not restart it.

  • Bill

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 10:43 am

    When I turn on the ignition the lights come on. The hunt continues for the grinch.

  • Ronald

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 11:03 am

    I do not know how true this procedure is, but I have used it for as long as I have had the coach.

    When starting the engine, turn the ignition key “on”, but do not engage the starter.

    Wait until the CEL and SEL have extinguished. Let the computers go through their self check procedure. Only after the CEL and SEL have gone out do I engage the starter. I never try to start the engine if either are lit.

  • Bernard

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 12:18 pm

    Another good point Jon. At least I have time to find out what is going on. We will be here in Navada until spring then it’s back to Wisconsin whatever I find out I will post so if anyone has a similar problem maybe it will save them time.

  • Harry

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 1:31 pm

    Have you tried to flash the codes? Engine off, ignition switch to run, flip the engine override switch and count the flashes/pauses. That will give you a series of 2-digit codes corresponding to DTC’s in the engine ECM. If it’s a trans code/problem, I think you have to use another procedure. If there are no codes, it should flash a 25 (2 flashes, pause, 5 flashes).

  • Ken

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 2:35 pm

    Hey Jon,

    RE: “When starting the engine, turn the ignition key “on”, but do not engage the starter.

    Wait until the CEL and SEL have extinguished. Let the computers go through their self check procedure. Only after the CEL and SEL have gone out do I engage the starter. I never try to start the engine if either are lit.”

    Does that apply to older coaches as well?

    Harry

  • Steve

    Member
    October 30, 2018 at 5:49 pm

    Every DDEC equipped coach has an engine control module that seems to have the lights light until the computer goes through some form of start up sequence at which time the lights go out. Every coach from my 1987 DDEC I to my current coach had that feature and for as long as I had coaches I waited until the lights went out before engaging the starter.

    But I have no clue it the procedure is required, if it is just something I was told for no reason, or if it is just an old wive’s tale.

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