May 2013 Issue
In This Issue
45RFE/68RFE: A bit of change is good?
4L80-E lockup issue: Trouble codes donʼt convey everything
6F50/55 AWD leak: Know the source
722.6: No upshift – How many contributors are there?
Can a Bad Shift Solenoid Cause No Reverse with OK Upshifts?
Body of Evidence It is not too often that you see a no-reverse concern caused by a bad solenoid or by a valve-body problem that does not affect any forward upshifts. Generally you’ll see this only on valve bodies that have a reverse-inhibit function, such as the 5L40 or JF506. There are always exceptions, though.
The Importance of Proper Testing
We can all agree that testing today’s transmissions can be more complicated then it was 20 years ago. We have to deal with more electronics and hydraulic design, not to mention programming of the transmission control module by the design engineers. Proper testing procedure and testing equipment become a necessity.
Lead Status
A transmission-shop manager will make a minimum of 100 important decisions a week. Let that settle in for a moment. Now, understand that these decisions will determine the shop’s financial success. Every wrong decision he makes has a consequence. Nowadays each mistake can cost upward of $2,000 – makes it hard for a shop owner to sleep at night if you are the worrying type. However, the good news is, there are time-tested policies and procedures that help keep production mistakes to a minimum.
Your Dollars, My Sense
I get emails each week from dedicated readers looking for answers or help about their sales or service situations. Today, I’ve got a little green Q & A that may relate to your business, your sales or your company right now:
Turning the Tables: What kind of customer are you?
Being a better customer can often get you better service. Think about how good you feel when a customer of yours is pleasant and understanding of a situation that might not have gone very well. In my experience it just makes me want to help a whole lot more than when they come on strong and say agitating phrases like, “That’s not acceptable!”
I remember a time when my flight home out of Chicago was canceled after we were on the plane and ready to go. People were freaking out. They went running up to the counter and some even started yelling obscenities at the young lady working there, who had no fault in the matter and was trying to help rebook passengers on other flights. I was about 20th in line and could see her frustration mounting while each passenger in turn gave her a verbal beating. It got to the point where she started telling them all that there was nothing she could do about getting them out that night and that they would have to go to the ticket counter all the way back in the main terminal to make other arrangements.
Magna Powertrain Transfer Cases, Part 4
Last month we discussed the design features and mechanical operation of the Magna Powertrain MP3023/3024 (RPO Code NQH), and this article reviews the electronic operation of these transfer cases and the diagnostic routines to troubleshoot problems. These are “active,” computer-controlled transfer cases, which are capable of biasing torque to the front wheels without driver input.
Valve-Body and Plate Changes for the 5R55S
In 2009, Ford changed the casting of the 5R55S valve body and changed the separator plate as well.
Motivating Managers
If you are reading this article and your manager is upfront burning the shop down, keep your seat. I started out as a manager, but most of my career I made a living by managing transmission-shop managers. They are a group who require from time to time, shall we say, a little motivation. There are ways that I know of to do that and I am willing to share.
The New Guy
Instead of hoping that the new guy gets used to the way things are, work hard to leverage his excitement and ideas – they’re often more creative than anything you’ve thought of. Try looking at your business through the eyes of the new guy.
Misconceptions about Hybrids all too Common
Hybrids: they’re safer to work on than you might think.
Diagnosing an Overheating Condition
For the purposes of this article, we were working on a 2008 GMC Acadia that required internal repair of the transmission. In this specific instance, a reman unit was installed as the replacement. Similar to the diagnosis and repairing of this unit, the R&R is fairly straightforward also. Paying attention to things like cracked flex plates, reprogramming of the TCM, performing Fast Learn and getting the transmission to the correct fluid level are important items to check for a clean installation.
