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Drivetrain
On level roads, drive in the highest usable gear,
keeping engine speed down.
NOTICE
Do not rest your hand on the gear shift lever
while driving. This can cause synchronizer dam-
age.
When approaching an uphill grade, shift down ahead
of time to prevent loss of engine rpm. When ap-
proaching a downhill grade, shift down ahead of time
to prevent runaway speed. For information about
shift points and "progressive shifting," see
ter
7.
Change gears only when absolutely necessary. Skip
gears if needed.
When shifting, always press the clutch pedal all the
way down. Do not force the gear lever.
Before shifting into reverse, be sure the engine is
idling and the vehicle is not moving.
NOTICE
If the transmission locks up while driving, mak-
ing further shifting impossible, continue driving
in the gear already selected to reach service as-
sistance, as circumstances allow. Or, safely park
the vehicle off the roadway and contact your
nearest Freightliner dealer or other qualified ser-
vice provider for roadside assistance. To prevent
further transmission damage, do not move the
vehicle from a standing start unless this can be
accomplished safely, taking into account the gear
that is engaged and the load on the vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz Automated
Transmissions
General Information, AGS
The AGS Automated Gear Shift is a fully automated
6-speed medium-duty transmission. The clutch is ac-
tivated by a hydraulic system that is integral to the
transmission. No clutch pedal is needed to operate
the vehicle.
AGS transmissions use the SmartShift control lever
on the steering column to select gears. A manual
shift is possible at any time by moving the SmartShift
lever up or down as needed.
8.25
The transmission control unit (TCU) can direct all
forward shifts in response to driving conditions and
the driver's pressure on the brake and throttle ped-
als. To know which gear the transmission is in, look
at the round current gear indicator on the right-hand
control panel as shown in
The TCU always selects first gear to start the vehicle
in motion. It is possible, in manual mode, to start an
unloaded or lightly loaded vehicle in second gear. In
most cases, second gear is acceptable for downhill
starts. In other situations, for best results always start
moving in first gear. Loaded vehicles, or vehicles on
substantial grades, must start moving only in first
Chap-
gear.
At the first sign of a transmission malfunction,
take the vehicle out of service immediately. De-
pending on the type of problem, further shifting
may not be possible, and driveline torque may be
interrupted.
Operation, AGS
Power Up
1.
With the parking brake set and/or the brake
pedal pressed down, select neutral (N) by mov-
ing the selector switch to the center position.
2.
With the transmission in neutral, turn on the igni-
tion switch. The "CHECK TRANS" and "TRANS
TEMP" telltale lights come on and go out again
(bulb check). See
3.
On power up, the current gear indicator shows
the dot display, arranged in a square pattern. All
dots in the pattern should light up, without gaps
or spaces. See
4.
When the current gear indicator shows "N," start
the engine.
NOTE: No matter what the circumstances, do
not start the engine unless the current gear indi-
cator shows "N." See
ing information.
5.
Select drive (D) by pressing in the neutral lock
button and moving the selector switch downward
to the position below neutral. Release the park-
ing brake and/or service brake pedal. The gear is
displayed on the current gear indicator.
NOTE: When D is selected, the transmission
starts up in first gear. To start up in second gear
Fig.
8.12.
NOTICE
Fig.
8.13.
Fig.
8.14.
Chapter 13
for jump start-
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