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1995 Magna Help

Yahoo Message Number: 108573
I have a1995 38' Magna that has sat idle for about 5 years. It has 'settled' to the point where the chassis appears to be resting on top of the tires. I want to get back on the road with it in the next couple of months. I already know I have to replace the chassis (engine) batteries. I'm thinking I should probably try to raise the coach up off the tires using an air compressor before I try starting it.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
DougC

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108575
It might be close to sitting on the tires but probably not, normally it would be down onto the bump stop's. I don't see any reason to worry about airing up the suspension if you can get it started, unless you need to crawl under to get to something...

Jim Lewis

Infinity Coach

From: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com] Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:08 AM To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] 1995 Magna Help

I have a1995 38' Magna that has sat idle for about 5 years. It has 'settled' to the point where the chassis appears to be resting on top of the tires. I want to get back on the road with it in the next couple of months. I already know I have to replace the chassis (engine) batteries. I'm thinking I should probably try to raise the coach up off the tires using an air compressor before I try starting it.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
DougC

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108577
Check fluids, get it it running, then change all fluids/filters. Five years sitting ruins oils. Do not forget radiator and only use premix or distilled water. Rodents love to use air filters for nesting material, and or housing. Look over battery cables for interior corrosion and connections at engine and frame. Good luck!

Robert mcclernon
2000 intrigue
Robert McClernon
2000 Intrigue
40 one slide cummins 375

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108809
Thanks very much for all the suggestions. My neighbor, who is a mechanic, came over a week or so ago and helped me replace the chassis batteries. Then last night he came over and checked over a few things and suggested some things that I needed to do to get ready to try to start it. Tonight he came over with a big wrench and turned the engine by hand to make sure all the belts and pulleys turned.

I turned on the ignition and waited about 15 seconds, then turned the switch to engage the starter. After about 15 seconds it kicked once. I tried again and it kicked again. On the fourth try it started and almost everything worked as it should. Oil pressure, alternator, and air all came up and the coolant temp gradually climbed to about 180 during the half hour I let it idle. I didn't realize it was happening but the HWH apparently worked by itself raising the coach to travel position. But the transmission switch lit up strange and a light said not to shift gears. Also the steps didn't retract as they should when I closed the door.

I shut down and let it cool for half an hour then restarted. It started on the first try, all the gages looked good and this time the transmission lights said 'N' and the 'do not shift' light was off. After 15 minutes I shut down for the night.

My neighbor said it was lucky that 5 years ago when I shut it down I had less than 1,000 miles on a full service I had done and I had put a gallon of Howes Diesel Treatment in the fuel tank which was about half full. He had checked the sight glass the night before and said it looked like brand new. He wasn't surprised that it started but I sure was.

Lots of other little things to get done to get ready to hit the road not the least of which is solving the problem of the steps not retracting.

Thanks again for the suggestions.

DougC

1995 Magna 5072

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108812
Touch a magnet to the door frame step switch contact.

The steps likely will retract.

You might have to do this several times and spray some lube on the step frame pivots.

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108814
Thanks Dean,

The steps give a little jerk when I close the door. Same thing with the magnet. I lubed the slides with WD-40 before I started the engine. I also lubed a pivot of some sort near the center under the steps which is as far as I could reach. Are there more further back? How many? Thanks so much for your help.

And by the way, aren't these old CC's awesome machines? I've seen the pics of yours....if I remember, its blue. Mine is green.
Thanks again
DougC

'95 Magna 5072

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108818
I think you may have found all the pivots.

It sounds like something is binding if the switch gets a visible response.

Get someone to use the magnet while you are underneath looking at the linkages.

(Keep your fingers clear of everything under there while the switch is activated!)

You may want to disconnect the step linkage just to check that the gears are operating correctly without the load of the steps.

Perhaps you can then see what component is binding and take corrective action.

Yes, we have nearly completed 15 years with our rig. It has treated us well and meets all our needs for comfort.

Our rig color is Teal, which is a blue - green mixture.

Dean

95 Magna 5280

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108819
Doug,

I have 95 Magna 5220. I've found grit/dirt in the tracks that the step slid in can cause a fair amount of drag on that little motor they used to move the steps. I've use WD40 then a rag and Q tips to clean out the tracks, then WD40 them again. Helps flush them out.

Regards,

SteveB

1995 Magna 5220

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 108839
Thanks Dean and Steve, for the suggestions. It took several applications of WD-40 over a couple of days to get it to break loose, a couple of inches at a time. But last night it finally went all the way in. I mainly sprayed the lube on the piviots but also the tracks. I used some compressed air to blow out the tracks as well. Still a little rough but I'm going to use some slide out spray on them today.
DougC

'95 Magna 5072

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109013
The saga continues. The moho starts and the engine runs fine but the transmission goes quickly to 'Do Not Shift" with the shift display going from "N" to a slash with a dash thru it. If I shut it off and restart, it comes up immediately "Do Not Shift". Wait a couple of hours and the "N" lights up for 4 or 5 seconds before it goes to the "Do Not Shift".
Alternator out put looks good....close to 14 volts and the batteries are fully charged.
Then today, when I started it, I looked in the little bay below the drivers seat and discovered that none of the green LED's are lighting up. But the horn, lights and turn signals all work.
Any ideas?
Thanks much
DougC

1995 Magna 5072

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109014
Doug,

Bay light might be the easiest to deal with. Once you open the door to the electrical bay, there's a little switch/plunger that might be sticking.
Looks like the head of a nail, this comes in contact with the door. Also, possible corrosion on this, or the wire attached could be loose? I found that twisting this just a bit back and forth might give you the contact and the light will come on.

As for the tranny. I think this also might be just a contact issue, dirt or corrosion. Start it up, once up to air pressure starting pushing the contact buttons, one after another. N, R, N, D, etc etc. could be you just have one that's not been used for awhile and is sticking? If not this then, you might have contacts on or by the tranny that are dirty. Happen to me once and the pushing of the buttons is all that it took. good luck.
steve

Magna 5220

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109057
Thanks for the suggestions, Steve.

I started by checking the 'nail' switch....sure enough, it was corroded. I put a coule of drops of WD-40 on it and waited a bit, then tried moving it again and it loosened up and pretty soon the dome light came on. There are three rows of fuses with LED's below them on the right hand wall of the compartment. The center row of LED's , except for the very first one, now lit up.

I next started the engine and let it idle while I checked the LED's again. The same ones were still lit/not lit. I also checked all the exterior lights, wipers and horn. All worked except the 'Drive Lights'.

Next I tried pushing the D, N, R buttons several times as Steve suggested. I wasn't as lucky as he was. Nothing happened. Still, I've made some progress. I'll keep checking for more suggestions.

Thanks to all

DougC

CC Magna #5209

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109059
Doug you have to unsubscribe yourself. Go to the bottom of any message and click unsubscribe.

Ray

They say wine improves with age! As I enter my golden years, I say age improves with wine! The Born Loser

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109065
For the transmission issue, i had a similar problem. My communications cable from the transmission to the transmission module was loose. It would start, run fine for a bit then shift into default safe mode, 4th. After awhile it wouldn't go in gear at all. Try checking this connection.

Mark

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109074
Hi Bob,

For my inspire, the module is located in the bay under the driver's seat. It has Allison markings with the cable connection on the bottom.

Mark

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109096
Here's an update on my transmission "Do Not Shift" problem.
I had a mobile tech here on Wednesday morning checking it out. He says it appears to be some sort of electrical problem. But he doesn't have the ability to scan the control module.

So Wednesday night a man with about 25 years experience working on Allison transmissions came over with his computer to scan the module. It was not able to connect to the module so no scan was possible. He talked to Allison yesterday and they gave him some ideas as to how to deal with it. He has a full time job so rather than come over in the evening, he is coming over Saturday morning.to attempt to get some data and track down the problem. He did ask me to try and find out where the "vehicle interface" is located. (He apparently got this question from Allison.)

Meantime, last night, my neighbor, who is a mechanic, used his 'prairie creeper" and got underneath to check for the cables to the transmission. He found a box on the left (driver's) side near the top of the transmission. It had two bundles of wires going into it with what appears to be a bolt between them holding the box to the transmission. The box was tight, the wires seemed fine, no evidence of critters around, and the wire loom looked good as far forward as he could see. Other than that, he didn't see any signs of cables or damage.

Any suggestions or ideas will be welcome.

Thanks in advance for your help,
DougC

Magna 5072

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109097
There are 3 sensors that are external mounted on the trans, one is the engine speed sensor, the turbine speed sensor and the tailshaft sensor. You might try refreshing these connections. They can get slightly corroded and prevent shifting. It only takes a few minutes to try this and it may solve the mystery.

There should also be a fuse coming off the positive battery post of there abouts on the chassis battery. Actually there should be 2 one for the engine ecm and one for the trans ecm. Check to be sure they are not corroded of a fuse blown.

Mikee

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109098
Good advice from Mikee, if you are unable to communicate to the transmission module, it is either not getting power or the module is faulty. I would check the fuses as mentioned and if possible check the leads to the module for power.

Mark

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109099
This might shed some light or maybe not. Last summer, we were on Mt Hood, just pulling into a campground after traveling from Puyallup, WA. Before pulling into our space, I stopped to survey the spot, got back in and the transmission wouldn't shift had what they call a cat eye in the shift indicator window. We were dead in the water, I called Butch Williams and he walked me through some trouble shooting, no luck yet, so he referred me to Allison Transmission tech support, they were able to diagnose it from the codes and behaviors - the brain was not communicating with the transmission. The rig was towed on a lowboy trailer to Pacific Truck Center in Ridgefield, WA (free of any charges - thank you AAA RV Plus towing). The technician came out with his computer and hooked it into the system and we could drive the rig. He pulled the brain, tested it and it had died. Now the interesting part, they told me it would be about $3,700 to fix, Ouch! I then asked about any discounts and they came back with $2,700 out the door - that price worked for me. Now, since then I see that remanufactured brains can be had for $800 to $2,000, some with a warranty. I am not sure how much programming is required to swap the brain, but it might be your problem. I was told failure is common after 10 - 15 years. The brain on our 2005 Magna sits in the upper left corner of the compartment under the driver. I watched the tech swap it and it seemed to be plug and play. The interesting thing here is that it's free to call Allison and they diagnosed the problem over the phone - no guessing or poking around.

Good luck,
Mike St. John

2005 CC Magna Matisse C13, #6501

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109106
Thanks very much to all for the help and suggestions. Ken, my Allison guy, was here for quite a while today. I started the engine and the 'N's appear in the shift indicator for about 2-3 seconds and then reverted to the slash with dash in it (is this what's called a "cats eye"?)

The LED's in the center row on the right side of the box lit up as soon as the engine was started. He confirmed that the top and bottom rows of LED's are not grounded and didn't light until he grounded them using a jumper. He then crawled underneath and verified that all the cables coming off the transmission appeared OK, were not corroded and were free of damage.

After lots of testing and probing he determined that the four relays situated above the controller (see attached photo) are not getting power. (Some other items on the back wall of the box also appear to not be getting power either but not sure what they are effecting.) He tried again to connect his computer but was unable to down load any data.

From looking thru all of the Allison literature Ken has on the World Transmission, he thinks the power for the relays might be coming from something called the "Vehicle Interface" but we have no idea where to look for such a thing. We finally hung it up for the day and he went home taking all the Gillig, and Country Coach literature I had available.

He called me later and suggested a couple of places to look for the interface, a black box, maybe 3"x4"x6",....under the dash or in the area near the generator. I've looked under the dash...nothing. It's dark out and raining but tomorrow morning I will check the area around the generator and call him back.

Once again, all suggestions and ideas are most welcome. Sure hope I don't have to buy a replacement controller!!! DougC

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109115
I know from experience that if the center row of fuses on the front run board do not light up when the ignition key is turned, the transmission will not be powered.

The two side rows of fuses on the front run board are lit whenever the battery is on, as I recall.

The center row only lights up with the ignition key.

Dean

95 Magna 5280
 

Re: 1995 Magna Help

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 109120
Thanks, Dean.

Mine appears to be the same way except that the top and bottom rows are not grounded unless we clip a jumper from a grounded screw to the bracket that holds all the wires and fuses.
I also looked under the dash and in the generator compartment for the 'vehicle interface module' with no luck....guess there is supposed to be on somewhere but we haven't been able to find it. That photo is, of course, the floor of the front run bay under the driver's seat. Not sure if yours looks like that or not. I think your S/N comes closer to mine than anyone else I've heard from so far.
Thanks again for the suggestions
DougC