Hello,
Just documenting and requesting any advice.
Truck is a 2006 Freightliner M2 106 (Automatic Allison 2100 RDS and Caterpillar C7 ACERT)
VIN: 1FVACWDC76DW71478
Allison S/N: 6310585250
Mileage: 330,000.
In September of 2016 (1 year ago) I brought my truck into a local Freightliner shop for a PM service.
They recommended I flush and fill the transmission. I approved. Upon leaving the shop, I received a "CHECK TRANS" light in orange on the dashboard. I brought the truck back to the same shop, and they said it was due to the engine running rough.
I fixed the engine issue (injectors) so it was running smoothly but continued to have the CHECK TRANS light.
Occasionally, when starting the truck in the morning, the truck would not engage into "DRIVE" and a red, "RANGE INHIBIT" icon would light up on the dash. Just putting it back into neutral and trying again fixed that.
Last night, the orange dashboard indicator light for CHECK TRANS lit up and began to blink. (First time blinking) At the same time, my speedometer ceased functioning. (I was traveling up Interstate 5 at 55 MPH).
This all started when the shop recommended a PM service. I am really frustrated now because the transmission was functioning perfectly prior to them touching it.
I almost want the shop to replace my transmission as I feel it was their recommendation, but could the trans have been on its last leg anyway and the PM service just pushed it over the edge?
I searched my issue in the forums prior to posting and a poster by the name of Bobwolf had put up a questionnaire so I went and got the answers before posting. See below:
Also I have attached the invoices and photos. (Why would the dipstick recommend DEXRON III when TranSynd is TES-295 approved and apparently a better fluid? The shop used TranSynd. Could this have caused a failure?)
BOBWOLF QUESTIONNAIRE:
1) What series it the transmission 2000, or 3000 how manny miles on the transmission? 2100 RDS - 330,000.
2) When was the spin on filter changed? Do you change it every 50,000 miles or 2,000 service hours at least twice a year regardless of milage I change mine on average 25,000 miles. Spin-On Filter Changed 7/16/16, along with PM service.
3) Was the fluid and filter changed every 150,000 miles, 4,000 service hours, or four years old? Purchased 11/2015 so can not say.
4) What type of fluid you are running Transynd like you should have or did somone get cheap and fill it with Dextron. Dextron is still ok but it dose not perform and protect as good as Transynd. Filled with TranSynd (however the dipstick says to use Dexron III - Please see attached picture)
5) What is the condition of the fluid, cherry red, slightly tinted, brown, black, smell normal or gross burnned smell. Is there bits of metal on the dipstick, how dose the fluid feel clean and smooth or dose it feel gritty, The fluid is clear brown, and smells like oil... No metal debris on the fluid. The fluid feels smooth. It does smell odd... But not outright burned.
6) Any new or strange sounds? grinding, banging, moaning, louder than normal operation sounds. No new sounds.
7) Is the transmission slipping or dropping gears? Yes - While driving yesterday. Lost output to speedometer, trans light began to blink orange (CHECK TRANS). Upon starting truck in morning, very rarely it will not engage into "DRIVE" but will indicate "RANGE INHIBIT" in red on the dashboard cluster. Also, when descending a steep hill, the truck will "jump" and catch a lower gear. Seems as if it will be rolling downhill in neutral then suddenly the RPM's jump up and the trans seems to be assisting in the deceleration. It does this multiple times when descending a hill.
8) Any burning smell like burned oil miked with hot brake smell? No burning smell at all.
9) Any codes or trouble lights? YES - Check trans light blinking.
10) How is your engine performance? Engine problems will affect the transmission. Engine performance WAS rough. But after replacing injectors engine performance has been smooth.
11) Has the transmission locked into limp mode on you stuck in second gear? Or has it shut down completely? The trans has locked into limp mode as of last night.
12) Do you still have both electronic as well as manual/hydrolic opperation or has it dropped to manual/hydrolic mode? I do not know.
13) Is this the original transmission, Allison factory rebuilt, transmission shop rebuilt, or a bone yard special? Yep, theres a difference. Original Transmission.
14) Are your cooler fins blocked up with crud, dented or flatened restricting airflow? No cooler fins visible on the outside of the pan, and according to the tech notes, inside of pan was clean of debris.
15) Are your transmission lines and pan bolts tight? Yes. Zero leaks.
Just documenting and requesting any advice.
Truck is a 2006 Freightliner M2 106 (Automatic Allison 2100 RDS and Caterpillar C7 ACERT)
VIN: 1FVACWDC76DW71478
Allison S/N: 6310585250
Mileage: 330,000.
In September of 2016 (1 year ago) I brought my truck into a local Freightliner shop for a PM service.
They recommended I flush and fill the transmission. I approved. Upon leaving the shop, I received a "CHECK TRANS" light in orange on the dashboard. I brought the truck back to the same shop, and they said it was due to the engine running rough.
I fixed the engine issue (injectors) so it was running smoothly but continued to have the CHECK TRANS light.
Occasionally, when starting the truck in the morning, the truck would not engage into "DRIVE" and a red, "RANGE INHIBIT" icon would light up on the dash. Just putting it back into neutral and trying again fixed that.
Last night, the orange dashboard indicator light for CHECK TRANS lit up and began to blink. (First time blinking) At the same time, my speedometer ceased functioning. (I was traveling up Interstate 5 at 55 MPH).
This all started when the shop recommended a PM service. I am really frustrated now because the transmission was functioning perfectly prior to them touching it.
I almost want the shop to replace my transmission as I feel it was their recommendation, but could the trans have been on its last leg anyway and the PM service just pushed it over the edge?
I searched my issue in the forums prior to posting and a poster by the name of Bobwolf had put up a questionnaire so I went and got the answers before posting. See below:
Also I have attached the invoices and photos. (Why would the dipstick recommend DEXRON III when TranSynd is TES-295 approved and apparently a better fluid? The shop used TranSynd. Could this have caused a failure?)
BOBWOLF QUESTIONNAIRE:
1) What series it the transmission 2000, or 3000 how manny miles on the transmission? 2100 RDS - 330,000.
2) When was the spin on filter changed? Do you change it every 50,000 miles or 2,000 service hours at least twice a year regardless of milage I change mine on average 25,000 miles. Spin-On Filter Changed 7/16/16, along with PM service.
3) Was the fluid and filter changed every 150,000 miles, 4,000 service hours, or four years old? Purchased 11/2015 so can not say.
4) What type of fluid you are running Transynd like you should have or did somone get cheap and fill it with Dextron. Dextron is still ok but it dose not perform and protect as good as Transynd. Filled with TranSynd (however the dipstick says to use Dexron III - Please see attached picture)
5) What is the condition of the fluid, cherry red, slightly tinted, brown, black, smell normal or gross burnned smell. Is there bits of metal on the dipstick, how dose the fluid feel clean and smooth or dose it feel gritty, The fluid is clear brown, and smells like oil... No metal debris on the fluid. The fluid feels smooth. It does smell odd... But not outright burned.
6) Any new or strange sounds? grinding, banging, moaning, louder than normal operation sounds. No new sounds.
7) Is the transmission slipping or dropping gears? Yes - While driving yesterday. Lost output to speedometer, trans light began to blink orange (CHECK TRANS). Upon starting truck in morning, very rarely it will not engage into "DRIVE" but will indicate "RANGE INHIBIT" in red on the dashboard cluster. Also, when descending a steep hill, the truck will "jump" and catch a lower gear. Seems as if it will be rolling downhill in neutral then suddenly the RPM's jump up and the trans seems to be assisting in the deceleration. It does this multiple times when descending a hill.
8) Any burning smell like burned oil miked with hot brake smell? No burning smell at all.
9) Any codes or trouble lights? YES - Check trans light blinking.
10) How is your engine performance? Engine problems will affect the transmission. Engine performance WAS rough. But after replacing injectors engine performance has been smooth.
11) Has the transmission locked into limp mode on you stuck in second gear? Or has it shut down completely? The trans has locked into limp mode as of last night.
12) Do you still have both electronic as well as manual/hydrolic opperation or has it dropped to manual/hydrolic mode? I do not know.
13) Is this the original transmission, Allison factory rebuilt, transmission shop rebuilt, or a bone yard special? Yep, theres a difference. Original Transmission.
14) Are your cooler fins blocked up with crud, dented or flatened restricting airflow? No cooler fins visible on the outside of the pan, and according to the tech notes, inside of pan was clean of debris.
15) Are your transmission lines and pan bolts tight? Yes. Zero leaks.
Attachments
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