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Update regarding Inspire tranny overheating

Yahoo Message Number: 23907
I have been gathering information from various trips we have taken over the past year and supplying this data to CCI. They have been very interested in the data and most recently together (CCI & myself) may have found a contributing factor to the transmission overheating (overheating from my perspective not from CCI or Allison's perspective).
In May I had my C9 flash upgraded to handle black smoke issues as well as others outlined for that update, tranny fan operation checked, the heater hose recall fixed, finally the oil dip stick correction (that Holland could not seem to handle), and some more work on my dash air conditioning issue that had continued over the past year (thank you CCI for your help identifying this!).

Upon these updates and fixes, I ran two consecutive trips towing my trailer in 90 to 100 degree temperatures where the tranny temps were at 203 degrees or lower on the trips. Most notably was the cooling when I put the tranny in neutral in traffic or parked, it would cool down to 188 degrees which never happened before. Additionally the dash air conditioning was ice cold and worked great for most of the trips.

We just went out again in July without the trailer and the temperatures were in 210 range and idle temps in the 218 to 230 range.
The dash air condition was marginally cold but not like before when it was ice cold and I needed to turn it down because I was too cold while driving.

Using the VMSpc data from these trips and comparing to previous trips, I discussed this with CCI. They are currently analyzing the data but have a theory about the tranny temps. That is, since the air conditioning was not working before, started working after the fix in June, and is now starting to fail again, CCI thinks that since this is happenning, the fan that cools the tranny is not coming on as it should when the dash AC is running. According to CCI the cooling fan for the tranny should run when the dash AC is on high. When the dash AC is not working well I have notice, when parked in neutral that the fan does not come on at all. When the dash AC was working well on the trips in June, the fan did come on and the tranny temps would drop to 188 degrees. CUrrently in July the fan no longer comes on.
I will keep everyone posted as this progresses but this might be why many Inspire's have tranny temperature problems and some of those same people I have corresponded with also have dash AC issues like we do.

I have to say, CCI has been very good about working with me on this and continues to do so. I have supplied quite a quantity of gathered and documented information to help with this but I am pleased with their willingness to look into it.
Also note that they do have a secondary tranny cooling solution but it is involved to install and I and CCI, at least at this point might believe that the issue could be handled in some other fashion rather than another cooler. Time will tell about that though as we look into this latest theory.
Kary

05 Inispire 36'
#51499

Update regarding Inspire tranny overheating

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 23929
Kary,

Last trip the Allison was steady @ 210 regardless of highway speed or hills. It also was not the usual 6 degrees above Cat temperature on highway. Cat was running low, 198 to 203. Main cooling fan was slow except on one steep hill.

Dash AC was switched on to cause high speed operation of hydraulic fan.
Soon the Allison was @ 208 & steady. When AC was switched off, Allison resumed 210. Dash AC was only cool, not cold. Weather temperature was near 110.

Maybe this fits your data.

Is a second fan part of heat exchanger package? I do not remember seeing a second fan.

5 Inspire 51321.
--

Thanks,

Eric Lee Elliott

eric@...
http://eric-elliott.com
870.635.0201

245 Rainbow Drive #14559
Livingston TX 77399 2045