Scania retarder

[nclarke]

We run a Scania mainly for local work with the occasional highyway run. Lately we've found the retarder works for about half an hour in the morning then not for the rest of the day. A local bloke thinks it may be due to low oil in the box, when it warms up it stops working. Any ideas?

[DebsyDoo]

Yes, it is probably due to low oil in the retarder reservoir. Get it checked ASAP, as you will only incurr more expense through brake wear if you don't !

[nclarke]

Thanks mate... next question... where is the reservoir for the retarder? I thought it ran on the gearbox oil?

[DebsyDoo]

No, I would suggest you go to your nearest Scania dealer, where they will need to get underneath to access the filler point. We had this same problem only last week !

[nclarke]

trouble is my nearest dealer is about 300 k/ms away but it's ok, I think we've found it. Thanks for your help.

[DebsyDoo]

No worries, glad I could help !
We - (that's me & my partner - of which I'm the female half) came across this same problem only last week !
We had to change units with another driver - as the unit needed to come back to the UK for a service (we do deliveries to Gibraltar & back every week) so, have to go up (but more importantly - DOWN !) three mountain ranges !
After discovering that the retarder wasn't working, we took it into Scania's & ended up having a total re-line on the brakes - all because the previous driver had not bothered to get the retarder "topped up" (which required just 4 litres of oil !!)

That ended up costing the company aprox �4k !!

[nclarke]

I probably should've mentioned that I live in Australia but was born in the UK.
I have the truck in my workshop and I'll get under it tomorrow and see what I can do.
Thanks for your help, 1 day I'll get back for a drive.

[DebsyDoo]

Did you manage to top the oil up in the retarder, and is it working now ?

Other half's just got back & informed me that you could've tilted the cab to access the filler cap - oops ! Sorry !!

He also said it could have been a blocked filter - or leaky seal ??

Let us know the result mate ok ?

[nclarke]

Mine doesn't have a filler cap, it's more like the filler plug on a gearbox but I did tilt the cab to run a hose in and fill up the oil.
Sadly though it didn't work!
I got hold of a manual from a mechanic mate that lists the fault codes that the diagnostic system shows..... not sure how I'll go with that but I'll give it a try, the next option is to book it into the dealer in Sydney and spend the day up there.... I can think of worse places to be.

[DebsyDoo]

Oh, right !

Other half still says could poss be the filter then - have you checked that ?

You didn't say how old, or what model it was ???

Let us know what fault code(s) came up, our fitter is Scania trained - might have some ideas on it ?

If you do end up going to Sydney, have a "bonzer" time mate !! Gotta be better than here in the UK, as it's snowing - yet again !!

[joeb]

but a volvo .....knob.....

[nclarke]

but a volvo?