AI Diesel Tech

Fault Code Reference

SPN 177 FMI 3DrivetrainMedium

Transmission Oil Temperature — Voltage Above Normal

Scan Tool — in guided session

DVOM Testing — in guided session

Connector Pinout — in guided session

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Overview

Fault Code

SPN 177 / FMI 3

Category

Drivetrain

Fault Type

sensor

FMI Category

voltage high

Severity

Medium

Derate Risk

No

Regen Inhibit

No

Inducement Risk

No

Component Location: Transmission oil temperature sensor — on transmission housing

Common Symptoms

  • Transmission oil temperature sensor reading high
  • Transmission temperature monitoring affected

Root Causes

  • Sensor shorted high
  • Connector damage
  • Wiring short to power

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Derate Behavior

Power Derate

No

Mileage / Regen Notes

Sensor failure common at 200k–400k miles.

System Interactions

SPN 177 FMI 3 interacts with the following systems and may trigger cascading faults if not resolved promptly.

TSB Reference: Allison TSB 2019-013 — Transmission Oil Temperature Sensor Short High

Common Diagnostic Mistakes

Replacing the sensor without verifying wiring continuity and supply voltage first.

Clearing codes without identifying and resolving the root cause — the fault will return.

Ignoring related active faults — cascading faults often share a root cause.

Skipping the connector inspection — corrosion and damaged pins are a leading cause of sensor faults.

Condemning the ECM before exhausting all wiring and component tests.

OEM Notes

Allison

Check connector for fluid contamination.

Eaton

Check wiring near transmission.

Meritor

Sensor located on transmission housing.

Deep-dive diagnostic page: SPN 177 FMI 3 — Full FSM Sequence & Repair Steps — includes wiring notes, sensor specs, and gated repair procedures.

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