Year-End Roundup
We have reached the end of another year, and a wild year it was. Business in some areas has shown modest improvement, but on the whole I believe most shops are far from happy with the results.
Whodunit?
Every technician who rebuilds transmissions has failures, which we call comebacks. We get the failed or improperly working unit back, diagnose the cause and make it right.
The entire exercise we go through on a daily basis making repairs is based on the same set of facts: We have to first diagnose the problem, understand the cause of the failure, correct that cause and then certify that the unit is working correctly and deliver the product.
The Science of Synchronization
The next step in the design was synchronization. To synchronize means to coordinate several events to take place at the same time. Soldiers synchronize their watches before a mission to make sure everyone is on the same time schedule. Synchronized transmissions are easy to use, eliminating the driver’s having to match shaft speeds for each shift and creating a smooth, clash-free gear engagement with only a clutch release necessary. Synchronizers are one of the most-misunderstood parts of the transmission, and as with zippers everyone knows how to use one but most people have little or no clue as to how they work.
Different Differentials: What is the difference?
Differential comes from different. In automotive terminology the differential is a component of a drive axle – either rear-, front-, or four- or all-wheel drive – that permits the axles to rotate at different speeds as the vehicle makes a turn. In a turn the drive axle toward the inside of the turn will have to rotate less than the axle on the outside of the turn because of the larger arc covered by the outside wheels.
Up to Standards
In last month’s article we looked over the mechanical functions of the Magna Powertrain 146 transfer case found in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 model. To review briefly, this model is Jeep’s muscle car and is capable of 0-60 times under five seconds with its 6.1-liter Hemi engine, five-speed automatic transmission and single-speed 146 transfer case.
The Hotrod Jeep New Venture Gear 146 Transfer Case
SRT8 stands for “Street and Racing Technology,” which is the performance group of Chrysler Corp, and the 8 signifies a V-8 engine. The SRT people put a whole lot of oomph into this vehicle, designed to compete with the BMW X5 and X6 models and comparable Mercedes-Benz SUVs. Powered by a 6.1-liter Hemi engine, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 is the second-fastest vehicle in the Chrysler line, surpassed by only the Dodge Viper with its V-10 power plant.
Bucking the Trend, or How to be Successful in a Down Market
Trends in our business have changed dramatically so that customers can price-shop or buy parts or reman units on the Internet and then seek someone to install them. This puts a lot of pressure on price as the most-important factor in the business equation, with quality becoming a less-important factor in the decision. It is very easy to get caught up in this squeeze between what cheap is and what good is. There is a difference between spending less money on repairs and buying a better-quality job. That difference is “value added,” and it is vital that you know and understand the difference and explain that to your customers, and that you practice the same policies in your business purchasing.
Magna Powertrain MP3023 & 3024 Transfer Cases
This is the last of a three-part series on the Magna Powertrain MP 3023 and 3024 transfer cases. These are electronically controlled “active” transfer cases (ATC).
The Magna Powertrain MP3023/3024 NQH
In last month’s article we discussed two of the three new models of transfer cases from Magna Powertrain, the MP1222/1225/1226 NQG and the MP1625/1626 NQF. This month we will discuss the operation and mechanical functions unique to the MP3023/3024 NQH. Figure 1 breaks down the identification code for the MP3023. These are active transfer cases (ATC) with sophisticated advanced electronics.
The Latest Models of Transfer Cases from Magna Powertrain
In the ever-changing world of automotive technology, we must keep up with an endless supply of new car models and their components. We will look at a new family of transfer cases manufactured by Magna Powertrain.
Advanced Diagnostics: Thinking ‘Outside the Box’
As automotive technology and design have reached new levels of sophistication, the role of the diagnostician has risen to critical levels. It is possible to replace transmissions and transfer cases with factory or aftermarket new or remanufactured units with relative ease. The shop needs only a qualified installer to make the swap.
Lubrication
One of the things often neglected is lubrication of the transmission, transfer case and differential. As with the automatic transmissions there are now dozens of specified lubricants that a professional shop must have available. What used to work no longer does, and putting the wrong lube into a late-model unit will result in spoiling a good rebuild. You must use the correct fluid for the unit you are working on. It sounds logical, but if you understand why, it will go a long way toward preventing shift complaints and outright failure under warranty due to incorrect lube fill.
