February 2011 Issue
In This Issue
Ford 5R110W: Repeated breakage of coast-clutch housing
Mitsubishi F4A40/50, F5A50 series: Gear-ratio-error codes
Mitsubishi F4A40/50, F5A50-series: Harsh 3rd and harsh downshifts
What Is Metal Fatigue and How Can It Be Prevented?
This football season is characterized by a preponderance of broken-down and injured quarterbacks. Numerous quarterbacks have been removed from games after repeated “sacks” from the on-rushing defense. A frequent observation from viewers is, “How long can this quarterback last under the strain of these repeated sacks and knockdowns?”
Diagnostics: To charge or not to charge; that isn’t the question
Pretty much every online forum lately has had the question come up as to whether charging for diagnostics is appropriate and/or good business practice. There are many opinions from which to choose. The bottom line, however, is that it’s your business so you need to pick one or several methods to be applied in varied circumstances that will keep your customers happy and at the same time allow you to make the money you require.
Finding Info Is Easier than Ever
Even old data can be found online
I have noticed lately that many familiar sources of information have some amazing features that allow us to save diagnostic time, as well as space on our bookshelves.
When Things Go Wrong
Customer service in the transmission and auto-service business begins when something goes wrong. If nothing ever did, there would be no need for it. So you have to figure that in virtually every after-sale customer-service situation, somebody didn’t get what they either wanted, needed or thought they were entitled to. That means that emotions are running high in every one of these instances. People range from being mildly upset to fighting angry. Often an otherwise calm, friendly individual can turn into a monster before your very eyes.
Reflashing Job Takes a Different Turn
He goes on to explain that it is a 2002 PT Cruiser, and it starts overheating whenever he runs the A/C and sits in traffic. He traced it down to the fan relay and replaced it with a new one. Apparently that solution didn’t work, so he was trying to bypass the relay to get it to turn on the fan, and smoke started coming out of the computer. So he got a used [computer] and put it in but it still wouldn’t start. He said D.J. said it needed to be flashed and that I could do that. He added, “I could bring it to you, as I already have it loaded on a trailer.”
Another One to Add to the List
Throughout the years I have produced articles revealing various types of self-inflicted injuries that ate up time, energy and money unnecessarily as a way to forewarn others so they can avoid this pitfall. Many thanks go to those who have revealed their mistakes to us so we can share them with all of you, as well as the ones we have discovered on our technical hotline.
Aisin AW Linear Solenoids
In this article, the AW 55-50/51 five-speed (also known as AF 23/33) will be referred to as the AW 5.
4R/5R55E: Engine Stall on Engagement after Rebuild
A local general-repair garage brought a 5R55E transmission and converter to a transmission shop for a rebuild. The transmission came out of a 1997 4.0-liter Ford Explorer with 216,456 miles on the odometer. The shop had the correct rebuilt transmission and converter in stock, so exchanging the change-over parts was all that was necessary to return the unit to the garage.
4L60-E EC3 TCC Control and Adapt
While I was helping a co-worker repair a TCC slip, we analyzed some graphs and noticed some interesting info on how the PCM behaves and how it “sees” and adapts for a TCC slip.
January 2011 Issue
In This Issue
Volkswagen 09A/Mazda JA5A-EL; Jaguar & Land Rover JF506E: Solenoid identification
Nissan RE5R05A: TCM fuse blows
Speculating in Petroleum
The lifeblood of any machinery with moving parts is the lubricant. Without the proper lube, serious failure occurs quickly, yet few technicians have taken the time to really understand such an important commodity. Just as parts have proliferated dramatically with so many transmission and transfer-case designs in the market, the different specified lubricants are now almost too numerous to stock.
