Ice/Snow question regarding an automatic trans down steep grades

Is there a manual mode that allows you to select your gear?

 

There should be a way to put it in a set gear and let the motor hold your speed

 

Brake down to the speed you want and apply jake. Keep rpm between 1500 to 2000 to prevent it from shifting up or down. Stab brake as necessary.

Even locked in they'll jump a gear if you overspeed the transmission.

You won't jacknife with jake on. You'll jacknife if you apply jake and aren't prepared for the additional braking force being applied suddenly. If your jake is messed up, get it fixed. Important piece of safety equipment.

Learn your truck, pattern out the gears, and then just drive it like it was a manual basically.

 

I always put mine in manual mode when going downhill. Check to see if u could do that.. These auto trannys is gonna get ppl killed one of these days. Be safe driver

 

Have you said anything to your company about this? There should be a setting in the ECM that will fix that problem, your jake should come on when you let off the pedal. Next time you get to the shop ask them to check it out.

 

I have a simple solution. I'm not sure if their is anything special about the auto transmission you have. I have the Freightliner DT-12 automatic.

You just turn off the Jake brake and turn off the cruise control. You down hill with light steady pressure on the brakes of 10psi or less(hopefully your truck has an Applied brake air pressure gauge) you use all the brakes, not the Jake brake. Because the differentials will put all the Jake brake power to the tires with the least amount of traction. Your better off using all the brakes for the most traction from all the tires.