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Transmission Problems
I recently found that my coach was leaking transmission fluid. I took it to a local shop and they said they removed the drive axle and replaced the rear seal. I specifically asked the technician who worked on my coach how much fluid he had to add and he said it did not need any. I then went on a 250 mile trip and began to notice the shifts were not smooth and the engine would rev when the transmission would shift. Later, the transmission stuck in 5th gear and I had to shut the engine off and restart it to get it to reset. When I returned home, the keypad would not even register the oil level. I added more fluid (synthetic 295), 2 GALLONS total! I though this would fix the problem, but it continues to rev when shifting and 3 or 4 times the “do not shift ” light has come on and it locks in 3 or 5 gear and had to be reset. I have never had transmission problems before. What could be wrong?
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16 Replies
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If you are east of San Antonio and south of Dallas, I have a Allison mobile service that can come to the coach.
Large Transmission Service, Lewis Large, 281.844.6026.
He did a fine job on a friends Newell here and I believe he has worked on a PC member’s coach also.
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That is probably a Allison B500 you need Allison shop the transmission is going into the default “limp home” mode I hope it is not a major problem
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Lewis Large is one of our Advertisers.
Expert Transmission, Inc.
Lewis Large 281-844-6026
27111 1/2 Carol Dr. Huffman, TX 77336
zedef07@juno.com
http://prevostcommunity.com/advertisers.asp?ID=5
Expert Transmission Service, Inc. A family owned and operated
business since 1993. Three generations are currently working together.
The business and homes are on the same property.
Lewis, the second generation, does the trouble shooting and service calls.
**Many times he is able to repair the transmission on site.** Have truck will travel is his motto.
His Mom, the first generation, enjoys typing up his service calls,
seeing how he comes to his conclusions and then making the repair. Her
favorite ending to a service call report is: Transmission is now A-OK,
ready to go.
We only do Allison Transmissions. That includes rebuilds. To facilitate
down time if a transmission is condemned another is in stock and ready
to swap out. That is headed up by Anthony, the third generation. We
also rebuild ECU’s, shifters, repair and make wiring harnesses and all
electrical components of transmission.
We enjoy our work, especially when we can please others.Sincerely,
The Large Family
Expert Transmission Inc.
27111 1/2 Carol Dr.
Huffman, TX 77336
Phone 281-844-6026
Text 281-900-7923 -
Thank you for the information. We are in Northern Indiana so having a Texas company assist is not possible. I will be taking it to an authorized Allison Dealer soon.
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Why would a shop remove the drive axle to work on a transmission leak? Or did you mean the driveshaft? Big difference there…….
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If things get dicey and you can’t get to a Allison dealer, the owner of the I-65 Chrome Shop at Remington, Indiana (between Lafayette and Gary) is a Prevost H3 owner. I met him last summer on our way to the mainenance seminar at Jeff’s.
http://www.i65chromeshop.com/location.htm
They have a shop that works on their semi tractors. When I mentioned the guy to Tom and Jon their comment was to the effect that at a place like this, eventhough they really aren’t experienced with a Prevost, they are more likely to stop trying to help someone who limped in before they get to a point of causing more problems than the coach had in the first place. I would expect this guy to know of a good Allison shop in the area since he has a Prevost and is in the trucking business. Can’t remember his name, but if you call and ask for “the owner who has the Prevost motorhome” I’m sure they’ll connect you with the right guy.
Good luck!
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If it turns out that you need a new B-500 Allison, American Fleet can quote you one. Ours comes with a 4 year unlimted mile parts and labor warranty. If you have any further questions please feel free to give me a call.
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I hope everyone reading this thread sees the instructional nature of it.
With the exception of the 5 speed transmissions on the early model coaches, most of us have the ability via our keypads to check our traansmissions.
By pressing the up and down arrows simultaneously we have the ability to see the fluid level. A check of the fluid level is something we should all be doing routinely, and especially any time it is suspected it has changed.
The technician that said the fluid level was OK should brobably have his crotch infested with the fleas of 1000 camels because the fact a leak had to be repaired was a pretty strong signal the fluid level may be low. As owners it is sad to say we have to accept responsibility for checking our coach any time it is serviced, prior to a trip or when there is an indiaction of a problem.
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I want to give the outcome to the problem identified in my prior post: Apparently there is a spring that surrounds the drive shaft. It was not attached properly when the first seal was replaced. This let the spring move around the shaft leading to false readings from the sensor leading to erratic shift patterns. The spring was attached properly, the seal was again replaced, the transmission was put in “learn” mode and I am again rolling down the road with seamless shifts of the Allison transmission.
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Eric,
A spring that surrounds the driveshaft ? What ? I’am happy to read your not buying a B-500 transmission, but a spring around the driveshaft, I’am scratching my head.
AL
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There is a spring on the inside or backside of the output shaft seal. The purpoose of the spring is to keep the seal against the output shaft. This has to be the spring he is talking about.Mikee
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In that case that would be called a “garter spring” and found inside the seal.
Wondering, did the first shop pay your bill at Allison?
JIM
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I have an idea how the garter spring ended up inside the tail shaft housing. One or the other;
A) extremely lack of care in removing old seal. Tech fails to account for spring which ends up staying inside housing. It rolls around and works it way forward getting caught up inside sensor pickup.
B) Somehow the newly installed seal released the garter spring. Tech might of installed wrong seal part number and during install garter spring rolls out.
Tech reinstalls slip joint drive shaft and his job fails within miles.
Tail shift assembly with slip joint; Picture is not from Allison trans—–demo only
Picture shows spring which provides constant tension. Not paying attention in seal removal could dislodge spring and remains on shaft inside housing.
seal with garter spring
Any other theorys ?
AL
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Al, I can almost guarantee your theory. When I was working my company made products with seals that came with garter springs. Field installation by incompetant mechanics caused many problems as they were not careful to insure that the garter spring stayed where it was supposed to. I finally specified that the garter springs would be removed from seals prior to assembly and assembled without. After that, no claims.
In reality the garter spring does not do a whole lot in preventing leakage.
Just sayin.
JIM
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Jim, I’ve installed thousands of seals in transmissions,some garter springs come easier than others
depending how the seal is designed. It seems like when I use seal installers that expand the inner part
of the seal that the garter is on they pop off more easy. In that case I put a heavy grease around the
inside of the seal to help prevent that,. I would never leave a garter spring off a seal that has a application
of possible run out. Drive shaft, torque converter,axle seals, ect. But I’m not a seal engineer.Al , Only the tech would no for sure if the spring was missing from the new seal installed
or if the one from the old seal was interrupting the pulse signal to the output speed sensor
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