Ford Recalls Nearly 68,000 2020 Pickups and Expeditions   Ford has recalled nearly 68,000 vehicles manufactured at the start of 2020 and sold in North America, saying the cars suffer from a potential manufacturing defect where the clip that locks the gearshift cable to the transmission can become unseated. While the company says it isn’t aware […]

FORD USING F-150 PARTS TO DESIGN RESPIRATORS FOR CORONAVIRUS FIGHT The Ford F-150 has joined the coronavirus fight. Ford is helping 3M redesign the powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) that it makes for first responders and health care workers to protect them from contracting the virus while treating patients. The new device incorporates a fan normally […]

Hyundai and Kia say they’ve developed the world’s first predictive information and communication technology (ICT) connected shift system, enabling the vehicle to automatically shift to the optimal gear after identifying road and traffic conditions ahead. It uses intelligent software in the transmission control unit (TCU) that collects and interprets real-time input from underlying technologies, including […]

Ford has been hammered by Fiesta and Focus owners, as well as multiple law firms, due to its troublesome Powershift transmission. The six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox has forced customers into hefty repair bills and extended periods of downtime, which led several thousand to initiate legal action against the Blue Oval. This process came to a head […]

EPA LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN ON EMMISIONS DEFEAT DEVICE MAKERS After finding dozens of aftermarket parts companies in violation of the Clean Air Act for selling emissions defeat devices last year, the Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will step up enforcement against such companies and clamp down on any aftermarket parts designed to bypass emissions […]

Dodge 48RE Transmission & The Parts Affected Change: Beginning at the start of production for the model year 2005, Dodge trucks equipped with the 5.9 diesel and 48RE transmission, were equipped with an electronically controlled Transmission Throttle Valve Actuator (TTVA), See Figure 1. This Actuator has replaced the previous Throttle Valve Cable, which controls the […]

An Inside Look at Ford’s P310 eCVT Transaxle                                         If you found this quick tip to be helpful, let us know below. If you need technical help from one of our tech experts, give us a […]

Ford Escape Hybrid- Preliminary Information (Part 2 of 3)   TORQUE MONITOR A strategy within the PCM, the “Torque Monitor” looks for certain PCM computer faults as well as monitoring to see if the overall powertrain torque delivered to the drive wheels exceeds what the driver is requesting. There are 3 gross errors the torque […]

The Ford Escape Hybrid was offered for sale as a 2005 model. At the start of production for the 2006 model year the Mercury mariner was added. At the start of production for the 2008 model year Mazda acquired this same vehicle as the Tribute. The hybrid systems used in all three of these vehicles […]

Transmissions: Japan v. Korea There is some history that runs between the two countries, even more so when you compare transmissions in vehicles from the different locations. Being neighboring countries, Korea and Japan have managed to enjoy a close relationship from ancient history to present day. As a result, similarities can be observed in both […]

Audi 01J DTC 17114 Gear Ratio Monitoring: An Incorrect Ratio Complaint: After a rebuild, an Audi 01J CVT exhibits a gear ratio error code 17114 only after the transmission has reached and held its highest ratio while cruising. If driven around town in stop and go traffic the transmission operates correctly; even if its highest ratio is […]

Soft 1-2 Flare 3-4 On Ford and Mazda Ford and Mazda share a 4 and 5 speed front wheel drive transmission together. Ford calls the 4 speed a 4F27E while Mazda refers to it as an FN4A-EL.   Ford and Mazda share a 4 and 5 speed front wheel drive transmission together. Ford calls the […]

The Cold and Old- Montero Sport 4×4   With the cold weather hitting many areas of the country nearing an end, spring time fever outweighs a cold headache anytime. Some things are designed to work well in the cold and some are not, especially when they get old. 1997 to 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 4×4 […]

The Twists and Turns In Keeping Up With The Changes From time to time, we hear about how people can be resistant to change and understandably so in many cases. I was very disappointed to hear that GM had to close its Willow Run transmission plant as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. As 2010 came […]

Transfer Clutch Burn Out’s On Subaru Transmissions Transfer clutch burn out is not uncommon with Subaru transmissions. Normal wear and tear, sealing ring failure or molded piston failure (especially with glycol intrusion) would be a few items on the list. One possibility is a problem with the integrity of the spline area where the CV […]

The CVT VT20/25E Transmission- Be Careful and Watch The Bolts The CVT VT20/25E transmission was used in two Saturn vehicles; the 2003 to 2005 Ion and the 2003 to 2004 Vue. Overseas it was used in the 2002-2004 Opel Vectra. One of our longtime subscribers shared with us about an incident where one of these […]

Crack, Snap, Split, or Fracture: It Will Break Your Bank and Ruin Your Day   GM’s 6L40/50/80 series rear wheel drive transmissions referred to as GM6 may come in to the shop experiencing a complaint of a delayed reverse accompanied with a slipping reverse as well as a flare or slide 2-3 shift. The problem […]

Mercedes Has Torqued Transmissions? Did you know that Mercedes 722.9 transmission has a two part case?     Mercedes 722.9 transmission is a two part case (Figure 1). The converter housing is made of die-cast aluminum. The main transmission case or housing is made of die-cast magnesium. This provides a reduced weight compared to aluminum […]

A 6-Speed from Korea?   Hyundai and Kia manufacturers use a front wheel drive 6-speed transmission in many of their vehicles. We will this transmission and issues that could be encountered.   The name for this transmission is determined by the size engine it’s paired to. From as small as a 1.2L engine to as […]

Older Vehicles Are Not Necessarily Easier To Fix   The majority of calls we receive on our technical help line are with vehicles 15 years old and newer. With the complexity of newer vehicles, these calls have become increasingly more difficult to do. Suffice it to say that when a call comes in for a […]