Diagnosing an unusual problem: A slow-to-respond solenoid
A 2001 Chevrolet S-10 pickup came into our shop the other day. This job started with a concern of the engine revving high and not shifting correctly. With the truck being equipped with a 4L60E transmission, I expected to find non-functioning third and fourth gears, which is a common failure for these transmissions. I scanned
The Nightmare on Oak Street: A hunt for 4L30E electrical problems
This story begins with a 4WD 1998 Honda Passport equipped with a 3.2 V6 engine and 4L30E transmission. The shift indicator in the cluster was not functioning correctly and transmission was shifting hard. The shift indicator showed ‘P’ in Park, and ‘1’ in D3, D2, or D1. The indicator didn’t light up in any other
How do you know if a car is lying to you?
Sometimes a vehicle comes into the shop with a code in memory and a concern, and it is quick and easy to follow the code and find the source of the problem. But how do you know if a car is lying to you, trying to throw you off the trail with some false information?
Putting what you learn in training into practice
We all have those family members and loved ones who need our help and expertise when it comes to cars, and I am no exception. I purchased a 2001 Honda CRV AWD with a possibly bad transmission for my daughter to replace the worn-out vehicle she was driving. After determining that the transmission was indeed
An accidental solution: When an issue resolves itself, but you don’t know why
Today I found myself working on a 2008 Chevy Silverado with a 4L60E transmission that wasn’t shifting correctly and whose speedometer was jumping around. After a short drive I was able to confirm the customer’s concern that the transmission had an erratic shift. I have seen faulty alternators that cause erratic speedometers, so I did
It’s the little things: Double-checking and doing the basics in transmission repair
As transmission technicians, problem-solving is what we do. We see that box that says “customer states” and we already have an idea of what is wrong, and 99% of the time we’re right. After all, it’s the eighth 6L80 we have seen this month. But with an endless list of components and ever-evolving technologies it
Mystery transmission problems: When the code doesn’t match the complaint
This one was a learning experience for me, and I hope my journey will help others if they run into this same scenario. A 2012 Nissan Quest with a 3.5L engine and the RE0F09B transmission came into our shop with the complaint that the CEL was on, there was a loss of power and the
Simple fixes for bad battery connections
In this article we will discuss bad connections, starting with the battery and ending with, well, the battery. Seemingly every week, we at Certified Transmission get a vehicle in that has an issue at the battery terminals; and if it isn’t causing an issue right now, it will sooner or later. All the following cars
The diagnostic value of the scope
There was a time in my career when replacing a computer was touch and go. I always tried to do my due diligence and eliminate everything else as a possible cause before replacing the computer, but sometimes that wasn’t enough, and I would miss something along the way. That was long before I learned how
Troubleshooting tips: Narrowing down the reasons for a no-shift situation
A customer brought their 2013 Ram 1500 equipped with a 5.7L/65RFE powertrain to our shop in Omaha, Nebraska, with a complaint that it “will not shift at times.” A quick scan of the truck revealed a P0750 (Low/Reverse Solenoid Circuit) code. I took the vehicle for a road test and was able to duplicate the
A needle in a haystack: Finding and diagnosing intermittent problems
A customer brought in a 2013 Ram 3500 6.7L Diesel with the following issues: a CEL, a transmission temperature display on the instrument cluster reading incorrectly, and harsh shifting that would go into limp mode. This customer informed us that he just took delivery of the truck from a Dodge dealership. The dealership was aware of
Easy fixes to common transmission problems
Transmission makers are always throwing the repair industry curveballs. The challenges seem endless. Sometimes manufacturers will let us know of changes they are doing, while other times they let us figure it out as we go. I would like to go over a few examples we’ve encountered that may help you on a simpler installation
