Those Pesky Lean-Condition Codes
This particular vehicle gave us two codes: P0171 and P0174. It is important to note that neither of the codes was current; they appeared only under “Memory Codes.” In a situation like this, I look at freeze-frame data, and we had the following data snapshot from when the code set: vehicle speed, 38 mph; coolant temperature, 189°F; long-term fuel trim for both engine banks was at 14% and 17%; engine speed, 1,803 rpm (Figure 2).
Can You Say ‘Derailleur’?
A newly designed type of automated manual transmission (AMT) that is touted as the world’s fastest-shifting AMT has been developed by Zeroshift Ltd. in Milton Keynes, England, by a man named Bill Martin.
Another Option
I am sure that all of us who are in our late 40s and older can agree that valve bodies today are not what they used to be. Bore wear, valve wear, sleeve wear and leaking bore plugs are frequent ailments in most transmissions today.
Thanks be to several aftermarket companies that have developed repair kits to overcome these hurdles, saving transmission shops the expense of a new valve body.
Magna Powertrain MP3023 & 3024 Transfer Cases
This is the last of a three-part series on the Magna Powertrain MP 3023 and 3024 transfer cases. These are electronically controlled “active” transfer cases (ATC).
May 2010 Issue
In This Issue
Honda/Acura MGHA family: Neutralizing on downshift to first
Honda/Acura BYBA/MGHA family: Gear noise
Honda/Acura BAXA/B7XA family: Tie-up in reverse when hot
Honda CR-V & Element: Severe body damage
The Right Person for the Job
Promoting technicians to sales or management-level positions is a great way to show the entire staff that there is opportunity for growth within the company. As a current owner or manager you may even feel obligated to move someone up when a position becomes available. Most of the time the available position will have something to do with selling work to customers, a job for which many technicians are not suited or not qualified, or don’t really want even if they think they do.
Is It Safe to Drive?
Knowing about specific transmission problems still doesn’t stop folks from asking whether it’s OK to keep driving their vehicle. A customer has a 4L60-E transmission that has no reverse, second or fourth and he wants to know whether he can drive it to work this week or would it last until his next payday. Another customer has a 4T65-E with a P1811 code and wants to know whether they can make a trip over the weekend, or yet another customer who has a 5R55E with a broken third-gear band wants to know whether it is safe to drive.
Mercedes 722.6: Cold Stall/TCC Shudder
For several years, technicians have been trying to solve the mysterious cold-stall issue in vehicles equipped with Mercedes 722.6 transmissions. When the problem was first identified, it was thought to be associated with aftermarket components. At that time, no one had seen the problem in a vehicle that still had only original equipment.
GM’s 2ML70 Hybrid Two-Mode Transmission
Having looked at the electrical and mechanical aspects of this rear-wheel-drive two-mode hybrid transmission in the past two issues, a brief look at the hydraulic components will finalize our comprehensive overview of the 2ML70.
Taking the Fear out of Rebuilding the New GM Captive Clutch
The new General Motors captive clutch has four spring-steel straps that restrict the rotational movement of the piston. One end of each strap is riveted to the piston and the other end is riveted to the cover (figures 1a and 1b).
When You’re the Best, the Innovation Never Stops
Many of you in the transmission industry have found that it’s good business to supplement your primary activity with general-repair and maintenance services. When you get really busy with transmission work some of you kick the other activities to the curb to concentrate on the more-lucrative and familiar transmission repairs. I can totally understand and have been guilty of it myself in years gone by. The question is, “Can you still afford to run a hit-and-miss general-repair business or do you have to put forth an extra and ongoing effort to convert those sometime customers to regulars who can help you continually maintain and grow your shop’s income?”
Pattern Failure
The definition of a pattern failure as far as transmissions go is seeing the same wear issue or broken part in every transmission of that type. This is such a case.
We have similar transmissions in two different car makes, the 6T70 from GM and the 6F50 from Ford. These transmissions are almost identical as far as the internal parts and pieces go, but they are controlled differently. The parts that fail in the 6T70 are different from those that fail in the 6F50, say the manufacturers.
