March 2004 Archives - Transmission Digest
AX4S or AX4N?

Their turbine-speed sensors look similar but won’t interchange.

At first glance you might think the AX4S and AX4N turbine-speed sensors are the same. However, a closer look will show you that the AX4S sensor is a little longer – which means you easily could install the wrong sensor in a unit by mistake.

Fast, Easy and Simple

It may have taken a while for transfer-case technology to catch up with the technology seen in transmissions, but it has, in fact, arrived and it shows no signs of letting up. The Sport Trac, Control Trac II, Active On-Demand 4WD operation and Progressive On-Demand 4WD operation are examples of the types of computer-controlled transfer cases on the road today.

March 2004 Issue

Issue Summary:

Mitsubishi’s onboard computer system presents transmission-related “P” codes that are misleading, causing needless, unproductive diagnostic routines and repairs.

The A4AF3/A4BF2 transaxles used in Hyundai Accent, Elantra and Tiburon since model year 2000 are nearly identical to the A4AF1/A4AF2 units they replaced but have some differences.

Solenoid locations, connector-pin ID and bench checks are provided for Mitsubishi F4A-41/42/51 series transaxles.

For the 1995-98 Mitsubishi Eclipse non-turbo 2.0-liter with the Chrysler A604 transaxle, you gain diagnostic access through the Chrysler partition of the Snap-on Scanner’s Domestic Primary Cartridge.

Tips for Transmission-Business Buyers and Sellers

Many of us have reached the age when we are thinking seriously about selling our shops and retiring. At the same time there is a new crop of 30- and 40-something-year-olds who are leaving the corporate world for a variety of reasons, ranging from being laid off or downsized to simply not wanting to deal any longer with the corporate grind. Some are finding their way to the transmission business through brokers who help them locate opportunities commensurate with their abilities and goals.

Fun with Fords

As almost all of us are aware, a technician can easily create a scary nightmare when trying to mix and match parts while making repairs to some of Ford’s automatic transmissions. A classic example of this is interchangeability of the lockup solenoid (LUS) for the 1991 AXOD-E (AX4S) transaxle.

The Tremec TKO Series of Transmissions

The business of doing business for our industry has become much more complicated in the past few years. The general advance of complex designs and electronic functions has made severe changes in the cost and volume of the work the average shop can produce. Add to this the competition for market share that the car dealers through reman programs and the centralized rebuilding centers have placed on the transmission shop, and it is easy to see how the industry is contracting.