2016 Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Transmission Digest
GM 8L90 – The Other 8 Speed Automatic: Part 1

One example of how time flies by is the fact that there has been an eight-speed automatic transmission on the road since 2007. The Aisin Corp. beat everyone to the punch when they developed the AA80E for use by Lexus. The next eight-speed automatic to hit the streets came from ZF in late 2009 and was used by Audi and BMW. Even Hyundai got into the mix by releasing the A8LR1 and A8TR1 in 2011.

It’s Just Routine

“Routine.” The word basically means to do the same things in the same order time after time. What’s interesting is that in the transmission or auto repair business that’s exactly what we need to do to be successful: Follow the same routines every time. There are routines for dealing with telephone callers, with customers as they come in, with diagnosing and pricing jobs, with calling customers to close sales, with handling price objections, with delivering the finished vehicle, and with following up after the work is completed.

The Fast and the Furious Way to Make Sales

In context, this is exclusively talking about racing cars. Out of context, I’d argue that this applies to sales. Standing by your car is like standing next to a list of sales you’ve made. Sure, it’s cool to have a mile-long list to show how many people you can sell something to. But after a while, you’ll likely run out of people willing to fork over their money. Racing your car is when you’re performing your job. When you put in the work to hone your craft and take challenges head on, you become one of the best. Your skills lead to admiration. Admiration earns respect. Respect opens the door to friendship. With that friendship, your list of possible customers can be endless.

January 2016 Issue

In This Issue
Nissan Maxima harsh engagement
Dodge 3500 truck develops converter shutter
6L80 no forward condition

Diagnosing A750E/F 2-3 Flare After Overhaul

Diagnosing shift quality concerns can be difficult, especially after rebuilding the transmission. You have just invested parts, your time and expertise into repairing the transmission. You are emotionally invested, which sometimes makes it hard to think clearly. This can be the case when you have a Toyota/Lexus A750E or A750F that has a 2-3 flare after overhaul.

If You See Something that Looks Wrong, it Very Well May Be

The subject of this article is a 2006 Hyundai Sonata that came into our shop with a no-shift complaint. It was likely in limp-in mode, so in order to get down to the cause of the problem I began with a cursory preliminary inspection.

BorgWarner 4417 Transfer Case: 2 for the Price of One

From 2008 to present, Lincoln Navigator, Expedition and Ford F-150 pickup have come with the BorgWarner 4417 transfer case. Seems simple enough but there are two models of the 4417, which can be an issue in diagnostics and obtaining parts or reman units. The Navigator is equipped with a single-speed transfer case, while the Expedition and F-150 are equipped with a 2-speed T-case, although both are 4417 models. The quick and easy way to identify what you see is to look for an electronic shift motor, which will be the 2-speed unit. The single speed unit will only have an electronic connector to operate the electronic clutch and is basically an all-wheel-drive unit that has no low-range mode. Both units are Torque on Demand (TOD), which uses computer control to apply the internal clutch pack to send power to the front wheels as commanded by the computer (Transfer Case Control Module or TCCM).

Hyundai/Kia 6-Speeds: Key Components (One Size Does Not Fit All)

The series of six-speed transmissions Hyundai released in 2009 has three basic levels or sizes that can overlap vehicle models and engine displacements. As a result, technicians must verify the specific model before ordering any replacement components.