lake49068 Posted January 15 Share Posted January 15 The coach wouldn't start after fueling (no starter clicks or noise, Arens key pad displayed "6-3") and it would not go into "NN" either. Sat there a bit after cutting off the chassis batteries to potentially reboot any computer and still no recovery. Typical Sunday afternoon, called Allison and the local Fort Myers Allison shops...no one taking calls. Went on line and Googled "Allison Fault Codes" and came up with nothing useful except a YouTube video where the guy said to hold the mode button in for 10 seconds to clear any codes. Worked! Key pad showed "NN", coach started right up and we cleared the pump we were blocking for 2 hours. We drove the last 4 miles to our RV park, backed in and shut it down...didn't have the courage to turn it off at the gate or anywhere between Loves and our site. Tried to start it the next day and it did start...HOWEVER it will not engage DRIVE. Reverse engages but nothing forward. I'm still waiting for an Allison mobile tech to show up, check for error codes, etc. Any ideas of what's happening? While going through the prep for the technician, thought I'd find the Allison "brain" but I couldn't find it in the FRB or in the driver's side console. Where to look?? (Allison 2500MH tranny behind a Cummins ISB 340/360) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vito.a Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 The Allison transmission electronic control module is attached to the basement ceiling in the main basement compartment. In most of the big diesel coaches it has a felt covered plywood cover over it and the leveling computer. There should be an Allison fuse inline on a wire direct from the battery bay. Sometimes the trans will not engage if the engine is idling too fast. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 EVO Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Yep! Sure you didn't accidentally increase idle speed while setting cruise control? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted January 16 Author Share Posted January 16 Found the transmission control box in the rear most curb side compartment on wall above & to left of inverter. That's one question off the list. Fort Myers getting hammered by rain and don't want to check out the "idle speed" suggestion until we get some clearing in case I need to go outside. The coach did go into reverse so if the idle is too high I would think it would not go into reverse either. Allison tech still not scheduled but they did get the billing info they wanted! Not sure how this thread got into the "electrical" topic heading but had started the day with another entry about my 120v inverter circuit problem. Guess that category carried over since I didn't have an option for selecting another pigeon hole. Maybe one of the moderators can put this one in the "transmission" folder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 EVO Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Possible the TCM prevents going into gear above 800RPM's, and the second you pressed reverse, the engine was spinning 798RPM. Just something to check before digging deeper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadTripper2084 Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 (edited) I had this happen to me after a rest stop last summer. Looked online and was quickly reminded that the transmission will lockout "D" if the idle is too fast (pretty sure it displayed a code to that effect as well). My mistake, was fast idling and forgot about it. Edited January 16 by RoadTripper2084 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 Generically... An intermittent or sudden condition, unless one did something "out of the ordinary or NOT advised" usually comes from a connection issue or perhaps a "nicked" or chafed wire. There are THREE places, I think, that I would look....as well as the interconnecting wiring harnesses (Male and Female Plugs). The ECM, the Tranny and the TCM. Moisture is a bad...as well as vibration. I use the old trick of WD-40 (NASA created it for WATER DISPLACEMENT....the 40th formula worked). Spray the connectors or such....then you can use canned air or a MILD ELECTRONICS Cleaner....NOT A COMMERCIAL Electrical Cleaner. The commercial MOTOR or Electrical Contact cleaners are too aggressive. Even a shot of rubbing alcohol in a mist or vapor with a small spray bottle will work....then CANNED AIR. That's my input.... Otherwise....it is gonna take some trouble shooting and possibly having the codes read from the Allison. Allison tech support will walk you through the diagnostics from the key pad and help you identify the codes and their possible causes. They are GREAT.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J A Posted January 16 Share Posted January 16 (edited) My trusty old stuff!!! I used it 10 years full timing on everything!! https://www.google.com/search?q=boeshield+t+9+on+electrical+connections&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1020US1020&oq=Boeshield+T+9+on+electric&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgCECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCTIwMjgwajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Edited January 16 by Paul J A Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted January 17 Share Posted January 17 The older allisons would default to reverse only if they couldn't read the output sensor, so not know if the transmission was slipping too much. The plug was on the tail end of the transmission, maybe on the side? easy enough to find anyway, just remove, wiggle around as you put it back together and see if it shifts. May have to remove the chassis battery ground connection for a minute to reset it. I don't know if this applies to a 2010, but it's something you could look for online. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solution lake49068 Posted January 19 Author Solution Share Posted January 19 Allison Fort Myers was here yesterday, hooked up their diagnostic computer and checked for fault codes. Nothing showed up, the coach started, the idle was perfect and tyranny went into drive and reverse without issue. And no harness issues. The tech said there is an internal harness buried in the sump that may have been the cause and replacing it would take a day at their shop. He considers the problem as an anomaly and recommended no immediate action be taken. He will prepare a detailed diagnosis report with my bill for future reference should the problem reoccur. He was pretty positive so will wait a bit to see if it happens again on the way home in late February/early March. Hopefully! I was impressed with the tech and would recommend Allison Fort Myers for any tyranny work in SW Florida. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96 EVO Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 Good and bad! Issues that resolve themselves feel good, but always leave that little worry! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl_racing427 Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 23 hours ago, lake49068 said: Allison Fort Myers was here yesterday, hooked up their diagnostic computer and checked for fault codes. Nothing showed up, the coach started, the idle was perfect and tyranny went into drive and reverse without issue. And no harness issues. The tech said there is an internal harness buried in the sump that may have been the cause and replacing it would take a day at their shop. He considers the problem as an anomaly and recommended no immediate action be taken. He will prepare a detailed diagnosis report with my bill for future reference should the problem reoccur. He was pretty positive so will wait a bit to see if it happens again on the way home in late February/early March. Hopefully! I was impressed with the tech and would recommend Allison Fort Myers for any tyranny work in SW Florida. I'd get rid of that tyrannical tranny as soon as possible. 🤣 Seriously, good luck getting home, and hopefully it's not an internal tranny problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted January 23 Author Share Posted January 23 Gave the problem/resolution some additional thought. 1200-1300 miles wandering home in March with a unit that has gremlins and the potential for breakdown, towing, finding a repair facility, parts and temporary lodging is not high on my wish list. Visited Florida Allison yesterday, discussed the issue (internal wiring harness) and decided to spend the $, get some peace of mind and do it on my schedule locally (under 3 miles). They can complete the work in a day so authorized getting the harness which they're guessing will take 7-10 days. Still pretty impressed with the people at the shop and have confidence that they will get it right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 Fort Myers Allison did the repair yesterday...new internal wiring harness and detent lever. Even got a fresh load of Transynd and a new filter which takes care of the almost-due every 2 year maintenance. They also found that the filter magnet was missing...will bring this up with my regular annual maintenance shop in October! The coach was dropped off at 8am, picked up at 3:30pm and all is well. Their shop is only 3 miles from our RV site which really took a lot of pressure off getting it fixed and they were very accommodating and easy to work with. Worry gone and got a good night's sleep! Oh, and got a bunch of Delta miles... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl_racing427 Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 Awesome that you got it taken care of Adam. Peace of mind is certainly worth the expense, and you also got ahead of some other upcoming maintenance, which helps justify the cost. Also glad to hear the positive experience with Fort Myers Allison. It's good info for the Monaco community to know of trustworthy shops around the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 "Going into gear" problem persisted even after repair in Fort Myers. On our way back to Michigan (5 overnight stops, I never turned engine off for fuel or personal breaks), the transmission would not go into "D" but sometimes would go into "R" unless the shift pad keys were played like a cheap piano. Would hold mode button, hold both up/down buttons, the D/R buttons and eventually it would go into gear. Made it home, completed a number of other repairs and contacted the Allison shop supervisor in Fort Wayne, the gentleman who conducted the Allison seminars at the Ramblin' Pushers/Chapter 419 Maintenance Sessions in Goshen, IN as well as customer/tech services at Arens. Between the 3 of them, it was concluded that the problem is caused by the Arens actuator that translates the electronic signal from the shift pad to a mechanical engagement in the transmission. Drove the coach to Fort Wayne and within a day they confirmed that the actuator had failed (water and road debris intrusion) and is being replaced. Bottom line, my positive comments about the Fort Myers Allison shop were way premature and the big bucks spent there were probably a waste. A new actuator is on order and the coach should be ready by mid week. Will confirm with them that the Fort Myers diagnosis and repair was wrong and if that's correct, I will try to recoup some of the $$ spent there. Hope this is problem has finally been resolved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacwjames Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 Can you post a part number for the Arens actuator?? Where is this located?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cherry Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 1 hour ago, lake49068 said: "Going into gear" problem persisted even after repair in Fort Myers. On our way back to Michigan (5 overnight stops, I never turned engine off for fuel or personal breaks), the transmission would not go into "D" but sometimes would go into "R" unless the shift pad keys were played like a cheap piano. Would hold mode button, hold both up/down buttons, the D/R buttons and eventually it would go into gear. Made it home, completed a number of other repairs and contacted the Allison shop supervisor in Fort Wayne, the gentleman who conducted the Allison seminars at the Ramblin' Pushers/Chapter 419 Maintenance Sessions in Goshen, IN as well as customer/tech services at Arens. Between the 3 of them, it was concluded that the problem is caused by the Arens actuator that translates the electronic signal from the shift pad to a mechanical engagement in the transmission. Drove the coach to Fort Wayne and within a day they confirmed that the actuator had failed (water and road debris intrusion) and is being replaced. Bottom line, my positive comments about the Fort Myers Allison shop were way premature and the big bucks spent there were probably a waste. A new actuator is on order and the coach should be ready by mid week. Will confirm with them that the Fort Myers diagnosis and repair was wrong and if that's correct, I will try to recoup some of the $$ spent there. Hope this is problem has finally been resolved. Credit Card companies THRIVE on helping customers....as that loyalty pays off. AMEX is one of the best....but MOST will side with YOU. HOPE you have that option. Call and make notes as to WHOM you talked to and their answer. NO JOY....Then you have your "FIRST STEP" completed. Call the CC company...and then do a DISPUTE... Worked for me several times when concealed damage or parts replaced not needed....and I had to have it REPAIRED again. Good Luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 The Arens actuator is located/bolted to the "curb side" of the Allison 2000 series in my 2010 Neptune. Depending on application. it may have a vertical or horizontal orientation and it looks like a windshield wiper motor assembly. If you don't have an Arens shift pad you probably won't have an Arens actuator. The part number is SBW-ACT 1000 for the horizontal and SBW-ACT 2000 for the vertical orientation. Arens also sent me 3 PDF files the content of which is overwhelming unless you're a real gear head. If anyone wants a link to the PDF's, let me know at aghyobo at aol com and I will email to you. Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lake49068 Posted Tuesday at 01:36 PM Author Share Posted Tuesday at 01:36 PM Finally all fixed! Was both the actuator AND the shift pad. Discussed the problem's earlier diagnosis at Fort Myers and their non-fix...and Fort Wayne agrees with their approach to replace the internal harness. Guess I should have tested the shift engagement periodically while in Fort Myers during our stay there to make sure all was well. Very happy with the techs in Fort Wayne and have to retract any criticism of the Fort Myers techs. Deep problems require time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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