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wil
Active Member
USA
30 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2006 : 04:24:07 AM
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| Is anyone out here having problems with allison 545 transmissions? Especially in 1998 thru 2001 school buses. |
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ModMech
Top Member
USA
948 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2006 : 07:55:54 AM
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| Not really anymoreso than before. Our B10 was 88,000 miles, and B50 135,000. |
If you want customer service, you NEED an International! |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2006 : 1:07:48 PM
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| What kind of problems? We never had good luck with them, mainly because they just weren't big enough to handle the job (bought the buses already-made-up *CHEAP*). They tended to overheat on us. |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2006 : 1:10:37 PM
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| Our 98 model was probably one of our worst, very hard shifts. Occasionally it would be uncooperative and take a while to go into gear. Our last AT-545 arrived in 1999. |
If you have an International, you NEED customer service. |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2006 : 04:18:54 AM
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| Florida DOE is checking with districts now, since there have been several reported failures of low mileage 2000-2001 units (AT545's). Appears to be a big issue. |
Joe
Land of the Free, because of the Brave! |
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Mechan1c
Top Member
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2006 : 11:14:27 AM
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| Problems with AT545's? I experienced this 15 years ago with no real solutions but specing a MT643 instead. We used to joke about AT's needing a zipper. |
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MorrisV
Advanced Member
Canada
231 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2006 : 1:35:14 PM
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| The AT545 has a pretty good success rate. We have found a few have failed and it is likely due to the fact they really are under rated for the higher torque engines. The DT466 for example. We also found that on long grades they would overheat. This was due in part to the smaller rad capacity. There were some operators getting a secondary or auxilary rad cooler on the T444E 190 hp which seemed to do the trick nicely. That being said, it really is an inexpensive fix. You can Re&re a remanned AT545 for about $2000.00 Canadian. Email me if you want the particulars. |
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FORDSAREUS
Active Member
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2006 : 2:18:05 PM
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| wil, what kind of engine is in front of those at545's? i may be of some help as we are having issues as well. |
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wil
Active Member
USA
30 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2006 : 04:24:08 AM
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| We are running DT 466 engines with the AT545 transmissions! |
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FORDSAREUS
Active Member
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2006 : 5:33:56 PM
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| on those model year buses, the modulator is electronic. has 2 wires going to it from the engine computor. according to allison, the modulator needs to turn on at 60% throttle and off at 40%. all this means is that it needs to get battery voltage at 60% throttle travel. it's easily checked by installing a light bulb to the 2 wires, turn the key on, (engine off) and pushing the pedal to the floor while watching the light. we have some coming on as soon as you touch the pedal, (off idle), and we have had issues with those units. ihc has a fix, (although we haven't tryed it yet). |
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IC-CEiswhereiwannabe
Advanced Member
USA
214 Posts |
Posted - 04/02/2006 : 09:50:20 AM
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Our older Amtrans (97's, 98's, 00's) definately have had major problems. They oftentimes "forget" to shift until the last minute and then BANG into gear as the driver almost flies through the windshield. Also, those era buses seem to be smoking a whole lot (smelly bluish gray) that is being blamed on transmissions. Something I thought was interersting on my 98 Amtran a few years ago was when it would flutter between gears until it found where it wanted to be. It gave up alot of acceleration doing that. |
Why can't U C what I C in IC? |
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allison 545 transmissions
