Obd?

DT Rutledge · 04-12-2016, 09:14 PM

I have a 1997 Thomas RE with a Cummins 5.9 and a Allson MT643. Is there a OBD port on the engine or some sort of computer output on the tranny?

opus · 04-12-2016, 10:00 PM

I know for sure the 643 is all mechanical. I dont think the 5.9 that year is OBD compliant but not positive. Someone that knows will chime in.

Robin97396 · 04-12-2016, 10:14 PM

I heard the 640 is all mechanical.

M1031A1 · 04-13-2016, 05:46 AM

That year is kinda fuzzy as far as computerization is concerned. I know my '94 International 9600 was a Cat 3406E (electronic), the '92 was a Cat 3406B, thus mechanical. The Cummins family was a bit different in that area. IIRC (and do NOT hold me to this), the 5.9 became electronic in '99. I know the ISC is electronic.

Hope this helps.

M1031

cadillackid · 04-13-2016, 06:44 AM

the bigger question to ask is what are you looking to do? if you are looking to make improvements or changes, there are things that can be done even on mechanical drivetrains..

-Christopher

gbstewart · 04-13-2016, 10:09 AM

I 'm not sure if you have it but look under the dash for a hook up, it should be round connector where you plug a computer into, maybe 9 or 12 pins in it
gbstewart

Booyah45828 · 04-13-2016, 11:07 AM

No computer for the tranny. Is the cummins 12 or 24v? What are you trying to do?

DT Rutledge · 04-13-2016, 11:30 AM

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm just looking for information and error codes. I'm a bit of a geek that way. Everything is working fine, as far as I know.

family wagon · 04-13-2016, 04:55 PM

If that Cummins 5.9 has a computer it'll also have "24 VALVE" emblazoned on the top of the valve cover. If it does have a computer, it will have a diagnostic port but it won't be OBD-II. For that era it'll be a round connector and at a protocol level will be SAE J1708, which electrically is an open-collector RS-485 interface. Usually there would be a diagnostic port in the driver's seat area and, it having a rear engine, there would be another connector in the engine area.

Qya1991 · 12-18-2016, 05:56 AM

Does a 1999 international t444e have a obd 2 hook up? I'm looking buy the bus and it would be nice to hook a scan gauge up to it. And is $2500 a good deal on this bus it's a bluebird with 85,000 on it?

Scooternj · 12-18-2016, 06:29 AM

Heavy duty shorties (built on medium duty chassis) and full-size buses use the J1708 protocol. Scan gauge does make one for this protocol, though.

superdave · 12-18-2016, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qya1991

Does a 1999 international t444e have a obd 2 hook up? I'm looking buy the bus and it would be nice to hook a scan gauge up to it. And is $2500 a good deal on this bus it's a bluebird with 85,000 on it?

are you looking at full timing or a weekender? that bus will have the 545 for a tranny. not a good over the road combo

Qya1991 · 12-18-2016, 08:06 AM

It has the 643 in it. Just a weekender for now. And maybe to live out of later. There won't be a lot of miles put on it.

Qya1991 · 12-18-2016, 08:28 AM

What are some things to look at and listen for with 643 transmission and the t444e engine? It's been cold here in montana below zero should be a good time to see how it starts.

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cadillackid · 12-18-2016, 10:17 AM

The t444e has a J1708 connector on it, scangauge does make a J1708 version.

As far as the deal , often a bus of that age has had its dashboard replaced so mileage may not be accurate .. though it could be..

Other things factor in.. rust , tires, transmission, etc..

Others can comment on some of the other pieces. One of my busses is a t444e and thus far I'm really happy with it.
Christopher

Qya1991 · 12-18-2016, 10:33 AM

Okay thank you. No rust that I could find and I gave it a good look over. Tires are fair to good. And the transmission is mt643 4 speed.

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AlleyCat67 · 12-18-2016, 11:56 AM

With the 643 it sounds like a pretty good deal if the mileage is accurate and everything else checks out.....

cadillackid · 12-18-2016, 12:09 PM

soubds like a kickass bus!! unusual to find a 444 with a 643 in it.. that would make a nice roadtrip bus assuming the gears are decent in the rear end and not designed for 45 MPH!.. id want to ask the VIN and find out the rear gears or drive it to be sure it can run the freeways.
-Christopher

Qya1991 · 12-18-2016, 12:22 PM

Thanks for the input guys I appreciate it. I'm going to go look at it more in depth tomorrow and drive and see how she does. I'm new to the hole forum stuff and it's nice to see there are nice people out there with great knolage.

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GreyCoyote · 12-18-2016, 12:38 PM

Definitely get the ScanGauge-D! Saved my bacon big-time when the fan clutch started a slow failure. You can see stuff on the display that the stock gauge cluster completely miss.

The biggest complaint I had with the ScanGauge was the ability to only display four parameters at one time. So I bought a second one and daisy-chained them. Works flawlessly and now I can see everything important at a glance. The only parameter of interest not displayed is brake pressure.

If the existing stock gauge cluster dies, its coming out and I'll use the ScanGauge displays exclusively as a poor-mans glass cockpit.

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