July 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
Before or after overhaul, vehicles equipped with the 4L30-E transmission may exhibit a binding sensation on take-off in Drive or on the 2-3 upshift.
Hyundai vehicles equipped with the F4A42/51 transaxle may come in with complaints of erratic and/or harsh shifting, third-gear failsafe and one or more codes for open or shorted solenoid circuits.
After overhaul, Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with F4A40 or F4A50 series transaxles may exhibit shuddering engagements or harsh upshifts.
Before or after overhaul, Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with F4A40 or F4A50 series transaxles may exhibit a flared or harsh upshift into third gear.
June 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
Some 1997-2002 vehicles equipped with the 4T40-E or 4T45-E transaxle may exhibit harsh engagements and/or harsh upshifts and may have trouble codes PO112, PO113, P1111 and/or P1112.
Since the introduction of the THM 4T40-E transaxle in 1995, there have been three different design levels of the accumulator springs and their locations.
Some 2003-model THM 4T65-E transaxles come equipped with a newly designed input and third pawl-clutch assembly instead of the previous-design input and third sprag clutch.
Beginning in June 2002 Hydra-matic changed the design of the oil-pump assembly on 2002 and 2003 models of the 4T65-E transaxle.
May 2004 Issue
Beginning at the start of production for some 1999 models, BMW introduced a new five-speed automatic transmission (see Figure 1) that is designed and manufactured by General Motors Powertrain division in Strasbourg, France. This new transmission is designated the A5S 360R in BMW 3-and 5-series applications and the 5L40-E in Cadillac CTS applications.
The 5L40-E transmission is a completely new-design rear-wheel-drive unit and was designed to be a four- or five-speed. The same case and components are used for both applications with the exception of the 2nd clutch and the 2nd sprag clutch, and the use of a smaller Ravigneaux planetary carrier assembly in the four-speed version.
April 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
The 341E type of valve bodies used in various Toyota, Lexus and Volvo models look alike but are very different and are not interchangeable.
Before or after an overhaul, a vehicle equipped with the RL4FO3A/V transaxle will not upshift after warm-up.
Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager models may exhibit persistent codes for the throttle-position and/or vehicle-speed sensor.
Ford Motor Co. vehicles with the 5R55N/5R55W can experience delayed or no engagement that is more frequent when the transmission is cold.
March 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
Mitsubishi’s onboard computer system presents transmission-related “P” codes that are misleading, causing needless, unproductive diagnostic routines and repairs.
The A4AF3/A4BF2 transaxles used in Hyundai Accent, Elantra and Tiburon since model year 2000 are nearly identical to the A4AF1/A4AF2 units they replaced but have some differences.
Solenoid locations, connector-pin ID and bench checks are provided for Mitsubishi F4A-41/42/51 series transaxles.
For the 1995-98 Mitsubishi Eclipse non-turbo 2.0-liter with the Chrysler A604 transaxle, you gain diagnostic access through the Chrysler partition of the Snap-on Scanner’s Domestic Primary Cartridge.
February 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
On a GM vehicle with the 4T65-E automatic transaxle, OBD-II service code P0742, “TCC Stuck On,” can be caused by a sticking TCC release switch on the pressure-switch manifold, a clogged TCC PWM solenoid or a short to ground of the TCC release-switch wire.
A squealing noise from the bellhousing and converter area of a Ford Escort with the F4EAT transaxle can be caused by a clogged pollution-control valve.
January 2004 Issue
Issue Summary:
The M6HA and BAXA family originated in the 1997 Honda Prelude and the 1998 model Honda Accord. Other members of this family include MAXA, B7XA, MDWA, B7TA, B7YA, M7ZA, B6VA and M7WA.
December 2003 Issue
Issue Summary:
Beginning with the 2001 model year, all 4L60-E transmissions were produced with a new-design converter-clutch regulator-valve lineup in the valve body.
2000-model GM trucks equipped with 4L60-E transmissions and either 4.8- or 5.3-liter engines may experience a driveline vibration at speeds between 35 and 50 mph during conditions of low engine speed and the driver’s foot off the accelerator pedal.
The valve-body spacer plate for the 4L60-E transmission has changed every year since its introduction in 1993, and the plates will not interchange from year to year. The valve-body casting changed again for model year 2001.
Some 1999-2001 Chevrolet and GMC C/K trucks and/or Cadillac Escalades with 4.3-, 4.8-, 5.3- or 6.0-liter engines and 4L60-E or 4L80-E transmissions may, on initial startup during cold weather, exhibit late 2-3 and 3-4 shifts and delayed converter-clutch application.
November 2003 Issue
Issue Summary:
After re-installation, the transmission in a Nissan Quest/Mercury Villager is stuck in third gear, line pressure is at a maximum level and the inhibitor-switch circuits do not range correctly. Solenoid codes also may be present.
The Audi 01F/01K transaxle (ZF 4HP-18FLE/FLA) may have a vent cap mounted on top of the transmission filler tube instead of a dipstick.
In GM electronically controlled transmissions, false output signals can cause complaints including no TCC apply, wrong-gear start, missing gears, falling out of gear, or line-pressure control problems.
When removing the allen-style torque-converter bolts in 4L60-E and 4L80-E transmissions, a technician may find them difficult to remove and possibly round out the internal hex slots.
1999-2002 4WD trucks with a New Venture Gear 236/246 transfer case may experience a “Service 4WD” indicator light that remains on, possibly accompanied by Service Code B2725 (ATC Mode Switch Circuit Malfunction).
An electronically shifted GM transmission may exhibit late 2-3 and 3-4 shifts under heavy-throttle conditions but seem to operate properly under normal throttle conditions. It also may have an elongated forced detent shift with no increase in vehicle speed that may require the driver to back off the throttle to complete the shift.
October 2003 Issue
Issue Summary:
General Motors electronic transmissions can experience a wide variety of complaints related to program parameters installed in the vehicle’s computer at the time of manufacture.
PCMs in some 1996 and 1997 Taurus and Sable models equipped with 3.0-liter 12-valve engines have been reprogrammed to eliminate complaints of engine surge or engine miss at vehicle speeds between 45 and 60 mph while the vehicle was still under factory warranty.
Before or after overhaul, 1995-2002 Ford Motor Co. vehicles equipped with 4R44E/55E or 5R44E/55E transmissions may exhibit soft or flared shifts and multiple gear-ratio errors.
September 2003 Issue
Issue Summary:
No reverse, no 1st and no 4th before and/or after overhaul of a Volvo 50-40LE/50-42LE may result from the solenoid screens being installed upside down during cleaning and servicing of the valve body.
The transmission control module in some Kia vehicles may produce codes for a gear-ratio error, transmission-range-signal malfunction and/or converter-clutch malfunction even though it has not observed incorrect data or any malfunction.
Honda recently released a product update for a problem with the intake air breather pipe and a no-reverse condition on the 2003 Accord.
August 2003 Issue
Issue Summary:
Vehicles equipped with the RE4RO1A transmission may exhibit a 2nd gear start, with no first or fourth gear.
Mitsubishi Fuso trucks have a diagnostic lamp that will flash if the automatic-transmission control unit detects a fault. We cover procedures for retrieving and clearing codes on 1988-94 and 1995 and later models.
