Watch: Transmission filter basics
In this video for Transtar, Andrew Markel explains the basic workings and importance of transmission filters. Watch the video above for more.
Watch: Transmission fluid specifications
With changes in transmissions and engines, along with government regulations, specifications for transmissions have evolved over time. Let Andrew Markel help explain how to find the correct fluid for your vehicle in the video above.
Podcast: Talking CVTs with Transtar, part 1
CVTs, or continuously variable transmissions, have long been a hot topic in the transmission repair industry, but we can safely say they’re here to stay. So what do you do when one shows up at your shop? In this podcast, with Dave Hritsko of Transtar as featured guest, we dive in to the ins and
Watch: Transmission fluid ingredients
In this video for Transtar, Andrew Markel describes the basic ingredients of transmission fluids and how they can differ based on performance and usage. Watch the video above for the details.
Watch: The functions of transmission fluid
In this video for Transtar, Andrew Markel explains the critical importance of having the right amount of transmission fluid and what can happen if you have too much or not enough. Watch the video above for the details.
CVT maintenance basics
On the maintenance side, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) requires more or the same frequency of fluid and filter changes as a conventional automatic transmission, and many of the basic procedures are the same. On the diagnostic side, a CVT transmission is less complicated internally than a six- or nine-speed transmission. Like any automatic transmission,
Volkswagen dual clutch transmission and direct shift gearbox: What you need to know
Most of the drivers who own a Volkswagen car or truck with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) will not know they have a dual-clutch transmission connected to the engine. Most of them will think they have an automatic that gets excellent gas mileage. It is not until a transmission component fails or a service interval
Dynamics of transmission fluid hydraulics and shifting
To understand why using the correct transmission fluid is necessary, you first have to know how the transmission fluid flows inside an automatic transmission. Fluid paths The journey starts in the pan. The transmission fluid is drawn from the pan through a filter by the pump that is behind the torque converter. The fluid level
Transmission fluid hydraulics
To understand why using the correct transmission fluid is necessary, you first have to know how the transmission fluid flows inside an automatic transmission. Fluid paths The journey starts in the pan. The transmission fluid is drawn from the pan through a filter by the pump that is behind the torque converter. The fluid level
As cars keep aging, what will the future look like?
We always talk about the average age of a vehicle crossing the 12-year mark. But, I think the more interesting number is the average age of a vehicle that is scrapped. This is a difficult number to obtain due to title laws in the different states, but it has been estimated by some at 22
Solving electronic control problems in today’s automatic transmissions
Special tools are often needed when diagnosing transmission problems and overhauling units.
BMW dual-clutch transmission diagnostics
The phrase “dual-clutch transmission,” or DCT, can strike terror in the heart of some technicians. You will probably never deal with the internals of a DCT transmission like the gears, synchronizers and shafts. You will instead have to repair the external components that control the clutches and cool the fluid. But, understanding how the gears
