62TE: No Reverse
A vehicle using a 62TE transmission comes into the shop with a no-reverse complaint but drives well going forward. Even with the solenoid pack disconnected it still has no reverse but drives forward in failsafe third gear well.
FNR5/4F27E Servo Concerns
A 2-3 shift flare before or after overhaul is a common complaint with the FNR5/4F27E transmission. Even a slight flare can be accompanied by codes for gear-ratio error and solenoid function. The cause for all of this is usually a worn servo-pin bore where it goes through the case.
Dodge 9.25-Inch Differentials, and Why You Can’t ‘Tool’ Around
Repairing differentials is an important source of income for every shop. Many shops had shied away from what is really a simple repair but are now finding that there is not enough work to be had just repairing transmissions. Beside replacing worn or damaged gear sets, you can offer ratio changes that will increase the performance level or lower fuel consumption on many vehicles as an elective purchase for customers who have no problems with the differentials in their vehicle.
The Future of Transmission Specialty Shops
The economy went south, so you tried to figure out what to do. Other shops were doing general repairs. You knew you needed to generate more money so you started selling general repairs too. But was that the right decision for your shop?
It seems like the logical thing to do, but my experiences in a transmission shop tell me not to do general repairs. Too many bad things can happen. I personally do not want to open up that can of worms.
Double Trouble
In today’s world of automatic transmissions we see several different types of solenoids being used depending on the strategy the engineer chose to employ. There are the typical on/off solenoids that could be normally closed or normally open. And then there are PWM solenoids, normally applied or normally vented.
September 2012 Issue
In This Issue
Toyota U150/250: shift complaints
Toyota A540/541E-series: Engine chugs coming to a stop
VW Jetta 09A/JF506E: no start; TCM-related codes
VW/Audi 09G, 09K, 09M: no movement
VW 09A/JF506E: no upshifts when cold
ZF Industries: More than just Transmissions
Several weeks ago my partner Brian Johnston and I traveled to Chicago to visit ZF Industries’ North American headquarters in Vernon Hills, Ill. We have had a very long relationship with ZF as a distributor of its products. When Ford decided to stop offering a manual transmission in its full-sized pickup trucks, it caused a decline in our sales of ZF manual transmissions and of parts for the five- and six-speed series of transmissions.
No Tech to High Tech
The source of the confusion seems to come when shop owners mix how and where we access our business tools used to manage our transmission shops. For example, If your production board is at the shop, unless you call and ask you have to go to the shop to see what is going on with production. If your lead sheet is at the shop, you have to go to the shop to view it.
If your parts invoices for the week are in a stack of papers in the back office, if your cash collected for the week is on a computer program at the shop, if your sales records are at the accountant’s office, if your production reports are in your car, if your vendor list is on a piece of paper taped to the wall at the shop and your checkbook in is in your desk at home, you “might” be caught up in the confusion I am talking about.
Serviceability Report: Chevy Cruze
This is another in a series of reports that asks a simple question: Do the automotive engineers look at “ease of service” when designing a new car?
It’s not What You Do, It’s the Way You Do It!
Presentation is critical in dealing with comebacks or other customer concerns
Good intentions are wonderful, but they are only a concept until they are put into action and properly executed. For example, you may be more than willing to take care of a comeback or other not-so-enjoyable customer situation, but is that what your voice and mannerisms convey to your customers?
Al Turner
The Technically Speaking article in the June issue of Transmission Digest was an article called A Twist of Fate. The subject matter was the effects produced when an AS68RC transmission’s stator shaft turns in the pump cover. The article briefly mentioned a similar issue with the Allison 1000/2000 transmission. This comment prompted several people to call asking for more information about it.
‘Why should I pay for diagnosis?’
A 2003 Lincoln LS with a 3.9-liter V-8 and 5R55S transmission came into our shop with a grocery list of codes stored, no power, and it didn’t shift. I scanned for codes, found P0715, 717, 718, 731, 732, 733, 734, 745 and P2106. As you can see it had turbine-speed-sensor codes, gear-ratio codes, pressure-control fault and a forced limited power from the TAC. My first thought was that the turbine-speed sensor had failed and as a result of continued driving set the other codes.
