January 2005 Issue
Issue Summary:
Some 2000-01 Dodge Ram Vans, Dakota and Ram pickups, and Durango SUVs with 46RE/47RE transmissions may exhibit a flashing Check Engine light, caused by diagnostic trouble code P1740 (torque-converter-clutch or overdrive-solenoid performance fault).
Before and/or after rebuild, vehicles equipped with Chrysler 47RE transmissions may exhibit soft TCC apply or repeated TCC failure.
A previously repaired Ford Motor Co. vehicle with the AX4S/AX4N transaxle may exhibit a feeling of surging with a complaint of engine-speed fluctuation during lockup application, followed by a noticeable “bump” at the end of lockup engagement.
A Dozen Traits of the Highly Successful Shop Owner
Successful shop owners share certain traits, characteristics and methods of doing business. Here are the 12 that are the most prominent and mean the most to ongoing success.
P1870 Revisited
Just when you thought you had all the P1870 torque-converter-clutch slip codes under your belt, another vehicle comes along – and here we go again!
AFL and AFL
AFL stands for actuator feed limit and another fourth lost.
Perhaps you’ve already chased this on a 4L80-E or in a somewhat similar fashion on a 4L60-E. Here’s how badly it can go. You take in your buddy’s 4L80-E with converter codes and failsafe operation beginning to appear at normal mileage. Make it worse: It’s a good buddy, so you give him a break on the price. You scan the unit, drive it, do a careful rebuild, check TCC-related areas, put in a good converter, fill it with your preferred red fluid and reset the computer.
A Blast from the Past
Today, we have a similar problem with welds cracking in General Motors’ 4T40-E oil-feed-tube assembly (see Figure 1). Lube failure to the forward-clutch-support assembly, slipping or no reverse, loss of engine braking in manual low and slipping or no forward are all possible with weld failure of the oil-feed-tube assembly.
Where Do We Go from Here?
The start of a new year is a time for reflection on the current state of business and a time to formulate a business plan for the next 12 months. For most shops in our industry the past few years have been difficult, and many have closed, sold out or changed the way they do business. Twenty-some-odd years ago there were about 24,000 transmission shops in the country, and at this point the latest estimates are less than 10,000 shops that do nothing but transmission work. This is consolidation on a grand scale.
