Tag, You’re It! A Case of Injustice?
“The Hazardous Waste Manifest System is a set of forms, reports, and procedures designed to seamlessly track hazardous waste from the time it leaves the generator facility where it was produced, until it reaches the off-site waste management facility that will store, treat, or dispose of the hazardous waste. The system allows the waste generator to verify that its waste has been properly delivered, and that no waste has been lost or unaccounted for in the process.”
On-the-Road Diagnosis
The car in Figure 1 is a 2000 BMW 528i that had been to a couple of transmission shops before I got to it. The complaint was that the transmission was in failsafe mode. The car started and moved but would not upshift. The other shops also said they could not communicate with the transmission EGS module.
Advancing Clutch Technology
Last month we discussed pioneering new technology for differentials. Here we look at the cutting edge of manual-transmission clutch technology.
Playing TAPS on Pressure Systems
TAPS is one of the latest acronyms to join the list. It stands for transmission adaptive pressure systems, and it is used both for shift adapts, which establish pressure control during the shift, and for steady-state pressure control, the adapting-pressure requirements for a given gear after the shift is completed.
April 2005 Issue
In This Issue
The ZF-5HP-24: Preliminary Information
Identification Guide to BorgWarner Transfer Cases
One of the most time-consuming and annoying problems associated with manual-transmission and transfer-case repair is unit identification. It is difficult to diagnose, buy parts or remanufactured units, and create a correct estimate for the customer when you cannot identify which unit you are working on. All units leave the factory well marked with decals, metal ID tags or both, but through use, weather and previous repairs, many of these ID devices become illegible or non-existent.
A Case of Mistaken Identity, Part 2: Impossible?
It is important that you identify the problem immediately. Do not road-test the vehicle to check out the forward speeds if you are having a problem with reverse. The reduction band must be anchored to the case by the anchor stud to prevent rotation. If you try to drive the vehicle without the stud in place, the band will rotate, wedging itself between the drum and case. This will prevent the drum from rotating and will burn the clutches that try to apply for a given gear. If the clutches lose their service ability, then the transmission must be removed.
Exploring the Globally Diverse JF506E
In today’s global economy, manufacturers of all types of goods are looking into joint ventures with other global partners. In the past the transmission industry has had dealings in this global marketplace. Ford and GM have been using and continue to use ZF Industries to provide medium-duty manual transmissions for its pickup trucks. ZF automatic transmissions are now finding their way into a growing number of non-German vehicles.
Warranty Insurance Is Supposed to Protect YOU
There was a time when selling transmission overhauls was a simple matter. Most shops offered one service at one price. If the customer approved it, the job was carried out. The problem with that one service was that many times it didn’t suit the needs of either the customer or the shop. If a customer wanted more than a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty he was out of luck. If the shop needed a way to make an overhaul more profitable it had a hard time finding one. So customer choices and shop profits were limited.
Going Bald
Curve-recognition programs in BMW’s 3, 5 and 7 series with bald tires can make your head go even balder. The purpose of this strategy is to prevent shift business during turns for driver pleasability. Recently we had a call where a shop was distraught over a 530i with a 5HP18 that had no upshifts to 4th or 5th under light to medium throttle and no upshift to 3rd under heavy throttle. Much was done and replaced to remedy this complaint when all along it was one tire being a different size from the other three.
A First View of Borg Warner’s Interactive Torque Management System
The quest for better technology never rests. The cars being produced today are perhaps the best ever for durability, emissions control, fuel efficiency, handling, braking and power. You don’t have to be in our industry for very long to realize that, across the board, the manufacturers are building great products. If the car owner follows the prescribed maintenance schedules, there is an excellent chance that his vehicle will easily exceed 100,000 miles without a major component failure.
Water, Water Everywhere
Many of us are familiar with the “strawberry milkshake” you see when a transmission cooler ruptures in the radiator and mixes engine coolant and transmission fluid. In recent years we have seen other problems that can be traced back to water intrusion. A massive leak is easy to find. Let’s look at some causes that often are less obvious.
