13 spd automatic starting to misbehave..

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Lucar, Sep 1, 2013.

  1. Lucar

    Lucar Road Train Member

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    Aug 22, 2012
    Texas
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    So I got this '08 kw with a c15 @475/1650 boost tops at 30psi. Truck is equipped with Eaton 13 automatic which is very slow (painfully) taking off from a stop. I have to run it manual through the first 3 gears or the engine will hit 2100 rpms in automatic, so I wonder if all autos are this way.

    Wether on D or Manual, once it hits gear 13 I can feel drivetrain vibration. It is noticeable on 13gear only and I'm questioning wether it could be the U joints or not.

    As of the last 2 days it's been getting weird. I park, kill the engine to get lunch @ truck stop, when I'm done and get back in the truck it wont start and it displays the service light next to the shifter. I jerk it back and forth a few times or a minute or 2 and then the truck starts. Could it be programming? I can't find a way to check the tranny oil, should I replace it and use syntethic? What else could I do to speed up take off or longer lasting working life?
     
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  3. 25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    the road less travelled
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    They don't all, or even many of them, peg the tach on up-shifts, there is something wrong. As for the vibration, I can't tell you anything about that, our company traded the last 3 2009s off, and are leasing them back for short run operations, they had too many instances of long duration downtime with them and considered them too unreliable, now, if they break down, the lease system will get them another truck to get the driver moving again.
     
  4. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    CHASIN THE DEVIL'S HERD
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    Sounds like the no start condition may be a neutral safety issue, I have seen the floor mat or dirt build up around throttle pedal keep it from reaching the full throttle position and keep them from shifting. I can't belive it dirt by the way truck looks to nice in the signature pic for that. May also have a speed sensor issue, not the ground speed but some of the autos actually monitor shaft speeds, would need a little more info to be sure which one you have. I'm sure it probably has synthetic oil as most require it now days. On the vibration see if it quits or gets worse as you let up on throttle or tip in to it. If you really feel it in the floor of the truck look at the very back u-joint they are usually the one to cause a vibration especially if they have a "hard spot"
     
  5. Lucar

    Lucar Road Train Member

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    That was my grandma's truck in my sig
    My truck now is a T660
     
  6. Prohemi500

    Prohemi500 Bobtail Member

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    I can't help you with the upshifts or the transmission, but I had a truck with the exact same vibration problems as you described. My truck would only vibrate in top gear and it actually seemed to do it the worst around 1/4 throttle. You could feel no signs of a problem in any other gear! If you let up on the accelerator it would subside, but the second you started applying throttle, it was back again. It could be felt in the floorboards and it was a high pitch vibration. I checked the tires, wheels, even bought some wheel centering lug nuts that perfectly positions the wheel on the hub, pulled the driveshaft, had it checked and the joints for problems, etc... I chased it for 6 months after purchasing the truck. Finally I checked my pinion angle and it appeared relatively inline with the driveshaft, but after checking it with an angle finder, the yoke was downhill compared to the driveshaft.. I bought some aluminum 3.5 degree wedges, installed them, and problem solved immediately! Not sure if this is your problem, but it's worth a check anyway.
     
  7. Charli Girl

    Charli Girl Road Train Member

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    I'm interested to see if T.Nation is going to "make good" on any of your recent problems. I almost bought an 09 Pete from them,and decided to go across the street AND SO HAPPY I DID!!!
     
  8. Lucar

    Lucar Road Train Member

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    Good going... thanks. I'll have a tech check it.

    I got nothing other than good things to say about those guys. My truck deal to me is great, the fixed some things on the truck and I'm a happy customer.

    This tranny thing started 2 days ago. I bought the truck "as is" and turned down warranty that would only cover mains with a $2k deductible in exchange for a few $$ grand off the total price.
    I'm a big boy and have to resolve this on my wallet now.
     
  9. Charli Girl

    Charli Girl Road Train Member

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    Geez must be losing my int connection...ugh I'll try again...

    i hear ya driver,was just curious bc I've heard 50/50 on those guys. Try to p.m. HeavyD ,I'm sure he will know exactly how to help you. He's REALLY good at what he does.
     
  10. Frenzy

    Frenzy Medium Load Member

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    Seattle, WA
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    I have a 2000 Century with a 10spd autoshift that has just over 1.6 million miles on it. My advice is to change the transmission oil. I think that what happens is that the oil gets tacky as it ages, so the air box that does the shifting has a harder time moving. I had problems with my transmission for the first year that I owned the truck (bought it with 640K miles) and it had problems until I changed the oil.
    good luck!
     
  11. Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

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    Philadelphia Pa
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    First off, is it an untrashift or autoshift? (2 peddles or 3?) It sounds to me like bad sensors are preventing it from working properly. How many miles are on the trans? You may want to take it to a trans specialist to diagnose. Changing oil may help, but it may need some actual work. In my experience, the computer doesn't normally fail, sensors go bad, and of its to hard to shift do to physical problems with the trans it wont.
     
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