Julia's Problem

[Julia Bonser]

I don't know that the air filter is the root problem there may be
more than one cause. However after examination of the filter in El
Paso it was declared used up. I think that would indicate that the
examination of the filter in OKC was insufficient.

Everything was not working as advertised. We had problems between
Gainesville and Irving, Texas where we had the transmission side of
the equation checked out. We then started having problem just outside
of Pecos and again in Van Horn where the hill was steep. I was down
to 5 miles an hour getting to a level spot. After that we did not
trust that it would not misbehave between Van Horn and El Paso.
No one is claiming the air filter was instantly plugged. It was used
up over time.
As it was explained to me, insufficient air causes lack of combustion
hence loss of turbo boost which leads to the transmission being
stressed and it believes there is a problem with the throttle sensor.
Two shops think that the problem is not the sensor. They tell me the
sensor is basically an on/off switch in the translator between the
engine and the transmission. The transmission shop checked that side
of the problem, when we subsequently had problems on I-20 they said
we needed to get the engine side of the problem examined.
We are now having the Bluebird seen by a place that services both
Detroit Diesel engines and Allison Transmissions.

Perhaps I have not explained things well as I could lose some details
between what I was told and what I wrote. Someone else may be able to
explain it better than I can.

I did not claim park dust caused the problem. I asked if it could
contribute as we spend a lot of time in dusty places. We get dust
inside the motorhome as well as the outside so for all I know the
dust could infiltrate the air filter even when we are not using the
engine which would lead to it clogging up sooner than expected. I was
not talking about the time between Iowa and Van Horn I was talking
about the time prior to the problem showing up on our way to Oklahoma.

Julie Bonser
1992 WLWB PT 40'
El Paso, TX


On Dec 8, 2006, at 9:45 PM, jwasnewski wrote:

> I got a gut feel:
> I am not the guru, no one wants to be wrong, and I do not care to
> increase the stress level of the folks in distress.. I've been wrong
> before but feel I need to try help these folks solve their problem.
>
> I do not believe the air filter is the root problem!
>
> Some questions: Applying the air in air out theory, if the air filter
> was plugged how did Ms. Julia get from Gainsville, TX to Van Horn,
> eveything working as advertised? Some 500 miles. The air filter was
> ok in OK! Somehow in an instant it is plugged? Was there a sand
> storm? If I have it correct the problem has been intermittant from
> Iowa.
>
> I do not believe that park dust theory either! That engine ain't
> running when you are parked having cocktails. Just makes you wash the
> bus.
>
> How would a faulty air filter cause code 21 on the Allison
> transmission? Something does not fit here.
>
> This is what I would do!!
>
> I think I would take a serious look at the throttle system and how it
> interfaces with the transmission. I know absolutely nothing about
> the throttle system but would bet it works off of a Potentiometer
> somehow,(a fly by wire kinda thing) and something could be going
> haywire there.
>
> I'm not the sharpest tool in the box but somethin' ain't right here.
> I think I would be asking lots of questions before I hit the road
> again.
>
>
> For info;
> United Transmission Xchange for info. 800-527-1637
>
>
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors"
> Niceville, FL
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>