As technology advances, proper diagnostics have become more and more important. While most internal transmission problems are obvious, with burnt fluid or...
Popular Articles
In the October 2016 issue, we touched upon Mazda’s AAS system. We compared it to other systems, seeing differences and similarities. One of the things we...
Not long ago, I wrote a book on the 8F35. Shortly after the book came out, a good friend of mine called me and said his Ford Transit van had a transmission...
When diagnosing transmission and driveability issues, it’s important to understand the computer systems that control them. Using multiple control modules...
As I build a Ford 10R80 alongside a couple of GM 10Ls, I hold my breath and attempt to slide this D clutch apply ring to keep it from cocking and getting stuck...
So here we go again with a Honda with noises and weird shifting. In most cases, we tend to think that we’ve pretty much seen it all by now, but oh boy how...
MCMXVIII is the Roman Numeral for 1918. I think you’ll agree that this is a fitting title after you read this article. To gain a little better perspective as...
The day began like any other day for Kim Lingenfelter, founder, owner, and operator of Norfolk Transmission & Muffler (NTM) in Norfolk, Nebraska. Kim was...
As time goes by, we see more and more of these 6L80s showing up at the door. It reminds me of how often we used to see 4L60Es. Although, the problems with the...
The transmission repair industry sure has a way of keeping its technicians humble. Sometimes, the fix to certain problems can seem to be so obvious until the...
I have been writing books, bulletins, magazine articles, and other forms of technical writing for more than 40 years, and there is one thing I know for sure...
Noises are typically something that many shops would prefer not to handle. In some cases, the noise is intermittent, so sure enough, the vehicle is not making...
Welcome once again, to Clash of the Classics. This month we’ll head back to 1971 for a look at two of the coolest cars of the period. 1971 was an interesting...
We’re all aware that the complexity of today’s vehicles is continuing to accelerate. The problems that we see today may look like the issues of yesterday...
In this issue of Keep Those Trannys Rolling we are going to take a look at a special tool that enabled me to easily locate and isolate a clank type noise on a...
You’ve no doubt heard the old saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That old saying can be revised for the modern diagnostician: “Don’t judge...
Diagnosing today’s vehicles is a challenge that every shop faces. A quick, correct diagnosis is the difference between the job being a moneymaker or a loser...
In the Jack Reacher books and movies, Jack Reacher often says this line, “In an investigation, details matter.” And in this case, it is very much about the...
This past April, Monte Ahuja returned as the Chairman, CEO, and significant shareholder of Transtar. I had the opportunity to speak with him and find out what...
Speed sensors – how complicated could they possibly be? They use only two or three wires, so what’s to learn? Well, imagine checking a wheel speed sensor...
Tomorrow.
Annie was happy to let us know how much she loved tomorrow in song, and it seems a lot of people agree with her. Maybe that’s why so many people...
In our last article we talked about frequency and how it relates to the mechanical response of a solenoid when Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is used to control...
Many changes have taken place with transmission cooling since its inception. It started with a cast iron beast with only a torque converter with fins to a...
2020 is a year that most of us will never forget. It reminds me of the opening paragraph from Charles Dickens’ classic historical novel, A Tale of Two...
For most of the world, the auto repair industry is one populated by men. Oh sure, there are a few women here and there… you usually see them in the office...
It’s been a while since our last look at electrical theory and diagnostic procedures, but a recent look back at some of those articles revealed a few issues...
All multi-speed transmissions have some form of hydraulic control for shift quality optimization. One would think that the emergence of 10-speed transmissions...
Since the introduction of On-Board Diagnostics, Generation 2, or OBD-II, PCMs have done a pretty good job of monitoring oxygen sensors and setting diagnostic...
Late-model vehicles can present unique problems. With electronics controlling so many functions inside transmissions, we are forced to verify solenoids...
This article is a departure from my traditional routine. My process for writing GEARS Magazine’s Shop Profiles typically includes gathering details with a...
In the last issue of GEARS (Oct/ Nov 2020), I wrote a tribute article on John John Myers, founder of the popular Transmission Brotherhood Facebook group. In...
Auto repair can be a dirty business. Between large quantities of waste oils, grease, used chemicals, and just plain dirt, today’s shops must be careful not...
A friend of mine recently called me about his daughter’s 2009 Volkswagen Touareg, with an 09D, giving him problems. They purchased the vehicle a few years...
Good mechanics aren’t just skilled technicians; they are automotive magicians who revive our cherished vehicles. These sentiments echo within every...
Many of you have probably run into speed sensor issues on a Chrysler product that set gear ratio error codes, input shaft speed sensor codes, or output shaft...
Applying a proper load is critical to the success of certain electrical tests. Although some technicians routinely practice this technique, others are unaware...
You’re at a friend or relative’s house for dinner. After about an hour of chit chat, dinner’s served. You’re starved, but then a sinking feeling comes...
Sam Burrage founded Santa Rosa Transmission & Car Care in 1999. He started the business in a small, out of the way location in Santa Rosa, California, with...
A common request repair shops get is for a high stall converter that inevitably begins like this: “I need a 2500 stall converter for a TH400.” This is like...
Aus-Tex Transmission is in Round Rock, Texas, about 10 miles north of Austin. So why Aus-Tex, if it isn’t in Austin? Because this is a new location; the old...
In this issue of Keep Those Trannys Rolling, we will look at Lexus’ all-wheel drive (AWD) system. For this example, we will look at the 2020 Lexus RX350F...
Meet Jerry and Mary Ellen Heirigs, owners of J&M Transmission and Auto Service in Tea, South Dakota. And say hello to their furry, four-legged greeter...
The Automatic Transmission is complex, to say the least. You’ll need years of practice to master. In this article, we’ll learn the components that make up...
We don’t think much about servicing an automatic transmission. Fill it until the dipstick shows full, and off we go. Even if the dipstick read low, it...
Last month in part I, we explored data that could help determine whether the engine management system should be addressed before moving to the transmission...
While working on later model Nissan vehicles equipped with the RE0F10D CVT (figure 1), you’ll notice they’re using a much heavier push belt compared to the...
In this issue of fishing for the facts, we’ll take a look at a 2016 Ram 2500 equipped with a 6.7L Diesel and a 68RFE transmission that was experiencing...
In this issue of Keep Those Trannys Rolling, we are going to take a look at a low mileage 2017 Volkswagon Jetta equipped with a 1.8L engine and a 09G...
Erich Bockelie and Kevin Owens are the owners of KC Martin Transmissions and KC Martin Automotive, two shops in Lynnwood, Washington. The general repair shop...
As today’s vehicles become more and more complex, there’s more pressure to be aware of how these vehicles operate, how they’re controlled, and what can...
Most days in the field, it’s just building your transmission and sending it down the road. We’ve all seen the common problems and their causes with most...
Former civil war officer and Baptist minister Russell H. Conwell was once asked to mentor seven young students who couldn’t afford college tuition. This led...
Milton Costakis and William Lorefice are the owners of Sharp Transmissions, a transmission and general repair shop in a rural area of New York. When the shop...
According to its web site, Bob’s 151 Transmission Center is located one half mile west of US Highway 41 on Highway 23 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. It’s a...
This article is a prelude and supportive document to a new column, “Thinking It Through.” Over my 40+ years in the transmission industry as a rebuilder...
The foundation for every automatic transmission built since the beginning is hydraulic pressure. This pressure applies and releases clutches and bands to...
So much of what you work on today is challenging, to say the least. Many shops lament, regarding the days when life and the transmission business were much...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
By the time this is in...
This article is a bit of a teaser for the upcoming Powertrain Expo, coming this October in Las Vegas. We will demonstrate how to use various scopes...
Choice Transmissions & Complete Auto Care has two locations in the Phoenix, Arizona metroplex – one in Tempe and the other in Gilbert. Both shops are...
As we gain experience over the years of building transmissions, we learn the idiosyncrasies of various transmissions—the common failures with specific...
Over the years, I’ve met thousands of shop owners, but I’ve never met one that started as a street musician. Jason Scott, the owner of Guardian...
In the previous two articles, we discussed how engine inputs directly affect transmission operation and how GM manages pressure in different applications. In...
Just when you thought you have seen it all, life and transmissions will throw another curve ball your way. Things like bushing wear, spring breakage, bore...
When most people consider opening an auto repair shop, they usually look for sites near their homes, in neighborhoods they’re familiar with. It isn’t all...
In preparation for this article, I met with the WIT leadership team via a multi-state conference call. As always, Melissa “Missy” Hoying, WIT’s Marketing...
Most transmission shop owners got their start in the technical end of the business, and somewhere along the line, they decided to transition into shop...
Superior Transmissions didn’t start out with a plan to become known as an auto repair and off-road performance shop. It’s just one of many examples of the...
In our last discussion, I went over engine load data and how the computer uses this information to determine line pressure command (GEARS, July 2023). As we...
In February 1992, Bob and Patricia Franklin and their 18-month-old son, Matthew, emigrated from their home in England to the United States, to pursue the...
In this industry, it is very easy to overlook the simplest of things, and sometimes those things can come back to bite you. Such is the case with the hydraulic...
In the last issue of GEARS, we examined how to diagnose a single module that wouldn’t communicate. We covered the three requirements for a module to operate:...
If you ask Chuck Miller, owner of Hixson Transmission and Total Car Care, in Hixson, Tennessee, to explain the secret of his success, he’s quick to credit...
A common theme among truck enthusiasts is modifying their rides to stand out. The automotive aftermarket supports this with an entire industry that readily...
This month’s profile is about Dave Riccio, the owner of Tri-City Transmission in Tempe, Arizona. Rodger Bland wrote a Shop Profile about Dave and Tri-City in...
In this issue of Keep Those Trannys Rolling, we are going to take a look at a 2018 Ram 4500 Cab & Chassis Flatbed Tow Truck equipped with a 6.7D engine and...
I’m often asked, “When are the constant changes in vehicle technology going to slow down?” The answer is quite simple: They won’t! 10 years from now...
Before 2005, there were basically a few automatic transmission fluids that shops used to service everything. These were Dexron/ Mercon ATF and Ford Type F. A...
We’ve often talked to shop owners who got their start in the automatic transmission business 10, 20, 30, and even more years ago. And we’ve spoken with a...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature in which I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life.
Most of you probably...
Anytime a leak comes with a noise, you can bet they are one and the same. Simply put, find the noise and you’ll find the leak, or find the leak, and you’ll...
When a later-than-usual model arrives at your shop, the first thing you think of is, are there any updates we should be aware of? You check for parts and...
Both “displacement on demand” (DOD), and “active fuel management” (AFM) systems have been around for some time. These systems control two cylinders on...
After a certain number of years in the industry, you might think you’d have heard everything. That’s usually when you get the call that lets you know, you...
Weaver Transmission Service, Inc. (WTS) is aptly located on the Mechanicsville Turnpike in Richmond, Virginia. The business is owned and operated by Lisa...
You have undoubtedly heard the phrase “Everything is not always as it seems”? That can hold true to many things in life. Harry Houdini made a lot of money...
Just when you think things are settling in, and you are feeling more comfortable with these 10-speeds, the OEM changes it up on us again!
Ford trucks equipped...
First thing Monday morning the call comes in on a Ford F350 Lariat, 6.7 liter dually with all the bells and whistles. It blew the converter while plowing snow;...
Many of you have known me for decades, many of you have had me visit your shops, and many of you have attended seminars or conventions where I have spoken. One...
Let’s face it. They don’t make people like they used to! It seems like all aspects of life have been touched by this simple truth. Therefore, we can’t...
GEARS Staff
In this final installment of this module programming series we will address Toyota, Honda and touch on a few other Asian engineered vehicles. The processes...
Over the years, Jeep has gained a reputation for building capable and rugged off-road vehicles. The use of air suspension systems has become increasingly...
Over the last 10 years, I have worked with thousands of sales people at manufacturing, distribution and service companies. I’ve come to believe that there is...
Up Your Business is an exclusive GEARS Magazine feature where I share stories, insights, and reflections about business and life. Conversations are an...
“Starting a business together is the ultimate test of a relationship— and the ultimate opportunity to grow closer.” – Maya Elious.
In 1989, a...
This year — 2017 — marks a milestone for i. It’s our silver jubilee — 25 years! — a quarter of a century since GEARS first appeared in the mailboxes...
“Life isn’t finding shelter in the storm. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” – Sherrilyn Kenyon.
John Miller of Frank’s...
It’s fitting that the Shop Profile for July should be about a company named American Transmissions. After all, it is America’s 245th birthday! By the time...
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