Electronic problems and towing insurance

[rv_safetyman]

Hi Folks.  This is kind of a long story, but may be worth reading.

We are in Tifton GA at a Converted Coach pre-rally for the FMCA Rally in Perry GA next week.  The double subject will make sense in a minute.

We had an interesting trip with what appeared to be a major electronic problem with our AutoShift.  In Nashville, the AutoShift locked in 9th and would not shift.  I pulled off the interstate and did some trouble shooting.  I then pulled out the ProLink and could not get an active code.  I contacted Eaton and they thought it was in the shift tower computer.  Bear in mind the shift tower has an ECM that talks to an ECM on the transmission.  Not a simple system.  I did all I could and called our towing service.  It is not fun being behind THE  HOOK!!

They took us to a Freightliner dealer that was reputed to be the best AutoShift repair facility in Nashville.  We stayed in the bus that night with the promise they would get to us early in the morning. 

About 3 AM I woke up and remembered the thread that H3Jim started a while back on a DD ECM problem a friend had.  Several responses suggested checking the wiring connections.  So, at three in the morning I crawled under the bus and played with the connections.  One seemed loose, but when I checked the function (without starting the engine since Pat was soundly sleeping over the engine compartment <grin>) it did not seem to make a difference. 

About 9:00,  the tech came out with a rather basic test module.  I swear that I knew more than he did.  He could read some inactive codes but nothing active.  He, and all of the management, did not want to work on a bus, let alone, a "kluged bus".  In frustration, he told me to try it again.  Low and behold the transmission worked great.  My suspicion was that my fiddling with the connection solved the problem. 

We took off and about an hour later, the transmission shifting again failed to work.  My Silverleaf also showed that my speed sensor was not working (that caused the cruise control to quite functioning and as well as the transmission malfunction).  I played with the connection again and off we went - for another 50 yards.  This time I tied the wiring up differently and we have had no problem since.  I think the latch that holds the connection is either weak or broken. 

So, the first moral of this long post is to *ALWAYS* check electronic connections every way you can, because it is often the problem (based on my experience and lots of posts by some very knowledgeable folks on this board)

The second moral of this story is to really consider AAA towing insurance.  I have both AAA and Progressive towing.  Our AAA is upgraded to heavy duty.  I have used them twice and they sent the correct heavy duty tow truck with no questions asked.  I have no idea what the 20 mile tow would have cost, but I think our yearly investment of less than $100 (for all of our cars and trucks plus the bus) is a real bargain!!

BTW, if you make it to the FMCA event, be sure to look us up in booth 1012

[Connel]

Jim,
Good post, sorry to hear of your shifting problem.  You should have all the bugs worked out of the system by the time I get mine up and running.  If you run across a shift tower ECM one is needed for my install.

Have a great time at the pre-rally and FMCA's big one.  Safe travels going home.  If you come back on I-40 call me and stop by.  Will show you my new shop and - o yea you have already seen the ugly bus.
Connel

[rayshound]

Hi Jim, I'm glad everything turned out o.k. The insurance seems like the only way to go. I will check it out. I also must make sure of all of my connections while installing them. Best Wishes. Ray

[Brian Diehl]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for sharing with us your trouble AND solution.  I will definitely keep it in mind to securely fasten all connections and immobilize wires to the best of my ability while performing this repower I'm doing now.  Good sleuthing!

[H3Jim]

Glad it worked, but you've got to get better hours  ;o)  Glad that other topic sparked your imagination. thanks for sharing the story.