Hi,
I just bought my first truck (FL 2005 Columbia Detroit)I've never driven Automatic transmission. I have experience with manual transmission, but I bought this because it was a good deal. The engine is 515hp (under 400 miles in the engine) but the previous owner reduced to 465hp. The transmission is meritor Auto/manual (12 speed).
my questions is what should I watch for when I drive this truck? when or in what situations I use the manual/ Auto? What would you guys recommend so I do not burn my transmission or my engine? I'm planning to drive the western states.
Thank you for your help.
2005 FL columbia D60 Auto/manual transmission
Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by chimbotano, Oct 10, 2013.
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Really it is European ZF AsTronic tranny, one of the best. TCU is 24 V supplied so voltage doubler is installed on tranny. Clutch organic with air servo (four air valves inside). TCU board is made by Wabco, more reliable then Auto shift TCU.
Tranny differs from US transmissions and not all mechanics can fix it. So you have to know a bit about your tranny how to diagnose and fix wiringchimbotano Thanks this. -
Thank you Pablo,
Regarding this tranny....when do I use manual #### and when do I use Automatic?? what would be the best way to drive this truck going up hill with 80,000 lb or downhill? -
really use auto, but if ABS fails ore J1939 fails - no auto is possible so you have to use manual.
Ok, sometimes manual is useful, for example in mud ore snow, ore U can use manual before driving uphill to keep RPM high, downshift before hill to avoid loosing speed and rpm dounshifting under loadchimbotano Thanks this. -
We have a lot of these transmissions in our fleet and in my opinion theyre the best around the biggest problem is that not evryone knows how to work on them also when the truck gets near million miles you meed to replace the clutch because if it goes out on the road its going to cost u a #### load of money plus a lot of time to find someone willing to replace it other than that in my opinion its the best auto around right upthere with the volvo i shift. We do have a few drivers that prefer to drive manual all the time and they do get a little better fuel than full auto but also these are drivers with 30 plus years of experience.
chimbotano Thanks this. -
Hah, organic clutch, release bearing is held with small clamp looking like a big engilish sagety pin)))) LOL. Unlock it and pull and drop tranny, lock it before u push tranny, it is self locking) click - and bearing is locked in clutch cover
chimbotano Thanks this. -
Ya pablo i know the clutch is actually easier to do than a lot of other ones out there it took us one week in north dakota to find someone and teo weeks truk was sitting there to get ot done plus we had to ship all parts
chimbotano Thanks this. -
yep, all parts from Europe.
With US parts I use to order them on line myself. much faster them dealer does.
But all EU parts are available in UK, u can easily purchase there with sea shipping, less a week and parts are on east costchimbotano Thanks this. -
Hi Pablo,
I took my truck to Smith Power products here in SLC. they used a generic scanner and told me that the TCU needs to be replaced. Now, what the TCU does? I'm driving it in manual shift for about 20-30 minutes and then the auto shift works just fine. Do you know anything about this type of transmissions? do you know if the TCU will cause a major problem in the future? I heard that is expensive to have it fix....I'm in Utah, if you know anyone who can give me a better reading on this trany I'll appreciate your help. -
TCU is the top of trany, it is electronic board combined with shift cylinders/
why do the want TCU to replace? what faults?chimbotano Thanks this.
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