ZF Transmission stopped going forward..help

[1000islander]

Coming home from our vaction the port transmission quit going forward. It worked in reverese. AFter awhile it started to work again. I have a 480ce and the shift is electronic, I am hoping it is the relay on the shift control or the solinoid on the tranmission. The boat ran great for 500 miles without any problems, no noises, just ran great. I think it is electrical in nature, I am hoping someone has some ideas. Thanks.

 

[Carver370]

Have you checked the fluid?

 

[1000islander]

The fliud level is perfect. My dealer said that it might be a low voltage situation..I don't know where they are getting that from. The batteries are charged and when the engine is running it charges 13.5 - 14.0 volts....

 

[1000islander]

Did some research on this problem. I spoke with the ZF and the Teleflex tech support people. Both of the techs told me to check the electrical connections to make sure they are clean (use contact cleaner)and tight. Also check the ground connections. The ZF tech said he didn't think the transmission was the problem. He said it could be the solenoid on the transmission and told me to swap it with another one(the reverse one) and see if the problem occurs on the change. I looked into the teleflex relay switch and they are $240. You have to buy the entire assembly from SeaRay. The relay is not sold by itself. I will be checking all of the connections this weekend.

 

[tobnpr]

Man, when I keep hearing about this kind of stuff- electronic transmissions, electronic switch modules, etc. I wonder if maybe it's a good thing I've got an old boat with simple cables for the engines and plain old toggle switches at the helm...

I often think that "modernization" for it's own sake comes at the expense of reliability.

Good luck with the troubleshooting.

 

[fwebster]

ZF solenoid failure is not a common problem but it does happen. Another item to add to the list of spares.

 

[Alex D]

Man, when I keep hearing about this kind of stuff- electronic transmissions, electronic switch modules, etc. I wonder if maybe it's a good thing I've got an old boat with simple cables for the engines and plain old toggle switches at the helm...

I often think that "modernization" for it's own sake comes at the expense of reliability.

Good luck with the troubleshooting.

Total Ditto on this one ... I have a lever and a cable attached to a mechanical valve on the trans. No problems there. The new integrated electronics make me shiver.:smt009