Ok, I've tried flooring it, hitting the down arrow and even touching the brake pedal before flooring it and for the life of me I cannot get the tranny to downshift when I want it to (for the record, I'm not trying to downshift to 2nd when doing 60) say from 5th to 4th when approaching moderate grade to get the RPM's up a bit. Is there some secret to manually downshifting the allison?

You cannot do that. The transmission is programmed to only allow downshifts once the transmission speed lowers to a preset amount.

When you push the down button to select a lower range, the selected range will appear on the display. But the transmission will not downshift to that range until the preset speed has been obtained. To make it downshift faster, you can use the exhaust brake or service brake to lower the speed.

I find that once I hit the grade and RPM's start to drop the transmission will shift to a lower gear manually.

quote:

Originally posted by nutensteve:
I find that once I hit the grade and RPM's start to drop the transmission will shift to a lower gear manually.

I find that too, but unfortunately by then I've lost my momentum. Just thought there might be a way to hasten the downshift (manually).

If you are within the desired gear rpm range you can hit the downshift button twice and it will downshift. I found that out during last trip in the mountains. I was pulling a pretty long grade and wanted to keep the rpm high to avoid the possibility of overheating. If you are above the lower gears rpm limit the transmission will not downshift.

Hey Mark -

Please clarify for me your statement about "... hitting the downshift button twice and it will downshift...". Are you saying you hit it twice and it will downshift TWO gears, or will hitting it twice FORCE ONE downshift no matter the current gear and rpm?

I've used the select-panel to 'row' the transmission up and down big Rocky-mtn grades, but didn't know it could (maybe) do more. Cool.

Thanks!
Ron

Ron,
I had to hit the downshift button twice to force a downshift while climbing in the mountains. The engine speed was within the range for the lower gear. Downshifting while descending only required a single push if in the speed range of the requested gear. On mostly level ground, which is where most of our travel is a single push is all that is needed. I talked to Allison and they said it was not uncommon and the first push of the downshift button cancelled the secondary shift schedule and to retrain the transmission and went off into a bunch of technical talk, none of which I really understood. I argued that the Mode button was off and he went into another discussion how the transmission learns driving habits. He did recommended that I take the coach in to reflash and to look at the code history. Now, that's clear as mud huh?
So, sorry, there's no neat feature that allows us to overrev the engine or do a double step.

I just have to ask (or comment).

There was a brief sentence in my owners manual about the cruise control determining different shift points when on, but not necessarily active. The recommendation was to turn it off when driving in mountains are heavy hills.

I haven't actually experimented with this (but plan to), so I'm not sure if it makes that much of a difference.

Just a thought.

I use the down arrow quite often especially in urban driving, heavy traffic, etc. Just like to keep the RPMs up in the 1500range and then when you use the exhaust brake it will go to the next lower gear and be at near max RPM while braking. And yes, why not start a descent on a grade in the same gear you went up the grade in, just old truck driving rules.
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Mbl Cndo:

quote:

Originally posted by nutensteve:
I find that once I hit the grade and RPM's start to drop the transmission will shift to a lower gear manually.

I find that too, but unfortunately by then I've lost my momentum. Just thought there might be a way to hasten the downshift (manually).

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On my last motor home, I lived at 7000 ft and thus drove in mountains a lot. I do exactly as you say, move to higher gear to maintain momentum. I have not have a problem dropping from 6 to 5 by manually setting gear. Of course, if done when speed is too high it won't shift but under most conditions it will immediately raise RPM which I try to hold at torque peak and thus I get a stronger run up mountain.