Automatic Transmission Problems
B&M performance transmissions
Automatic transmission problems can be some of the most expensive repairs on today’s automobiles. In my 25 year career the entire automobile has advanced and gone through many changes.
The automatic transmission in my opinion has seen more changes than any other system on the automobile. Back in the 60s a two and three speed automatic transmission was all that you could get in any new car.
Today it is more common to have a six speed transmission or even a constant velocity transmission or CVT. What is amazing about modern units is that they use all of the advancements in automotive technology to improve operation.
Even though these advancements help improve drivability and efficiency they have not seemed to reduce automatic transmission problems. Internal malfunctions continue to be on the same level as they were in the previous years.
Automatic transmission history
Sidebar: In my day B&M was all the rage for those interested in high performance. They still offer shift kits and high performance automatic transmissions
Automatic transmissions in the 80′s and 90′s relied on hydraulic controls to up shift the transmission. This upshift through the gears was controlled without a computer. The use of a governor and a throttle valve were the internal components that controlled the up shifting. Read more
How a Supercharger Works
Suppercharger Kits
Before I discuss how a supercharger works. I wanted to review a bit of a history for this amazing automotive technology.
Some people do not realize that a supercharger was first installed on a production vehicle in 1906. Now bolt on supercharger kits
Back in the old days, the leading Car companies that used this forced air technology were Mercedes-Benz and Duesenberg.
These companies put a lot of research and development into improving performance. Both of these car companies dominated the racetrack in the 1920s through the 1930s.
After World War II, larger displacement engines that could produce the same amount of power replaced superchargers.
Also in the late 1950s the forced induction turbocharger started to gain traction. This was because a turbocharger was able to produce more boost at lower RPMs. The trucking industry embraced this automobile technology which allowed extremely heavy loads to be moved easily from a dead stop.
The return of the supercharger
Roush Superchargers
The intake mounted belt driven supercharger started to make a comeback in American car models in 1989. One of the most popular of these models was the 1989 Bonneville SSI.
The standard 3.8 L engine coupled with the supercharger returned excellent performance without much effect on over all fuel economy.
The 3.8 L engine was the perfect platform due to its cast-iron block and cylinder heads. This engine also demonstrated the ability to produce large amounts of horsepower.
Buick had shown this engine’s potential when they bolted on a turbo charger for the T-type and Buick Grand National models.
In 1987, the Grand National deployed the intercooler turbocharger making it one of the fastest rear wheel drive production cars ever produced with a v6 in the United States. Read more
Traction Control Automotive Technology
Buick Burn Out
Have you ever tried to accelerate hard from a stop light on a wet slick road? Without automatic traction control a driver would have to feather the gas pedal and balance the acceleration and wheel spin. This is a skill that some drivers just don’t have.
But what if you could just smash the pedal to the floor and let the car handle the complicated stuff. Enter modern day traction control automotive technology.
Not only is this high tech system useful on wet roadways but on snow covered ones as well.
Yes you can still get stuck especially if there is a layer of ice under the snow. But the common problem of digging yourself in even deeper with spinning tires is greatly reduced.
Corvette ATC off
I was fortunate enough to own and drive a corvette for a short time. This was my first vehicle with a traction control system. It worked flawlessly and I never had a problem with it.
It came in handy many times. Here is an example of this systems usefulness. When driving on the local highway after a light rain the road surface was like ice.
After a few weeks of no rain followed by a light rain the oil from the road would float to the top causing super slickness.
Sitting at a four way stop with a very light fiberglass car and 400 horsepower driving the rear wheels meant lots of tire spinning. Read more
Stability Control Automobile Technology
stability control active
Car buyers see these stability control commercials where a family is saved on a rainy night and think that this is pretty cool automotive technology.
But what they may not know is that automotive stability control systems are mostly operated and controlled by antilock brake technology.
Although there are various types of stability control systems that are found on today’s vehicles.
Traction control and stability systems are linked to the ABS system and on some vehicles they are linked to both the brake and electronic suspension systems.
On some of these expensive automobiles, a driver-controlled switch can be used to disable the traction control while the stability safety features remain active.
High tech systems use the angle of the steering wheel and the speed of the wheels to calculate the chosen path of the driver.
The main control module will then monitor the lateral sensor and the G-forces on the vehicle to measure where the vehicle is actually going. Read more
Respecting the Auto Repair Mechanic
I am a auto repair mechanic. There I said it! Sometimes the bad things that have happened to me over the last 25 years can sour me on the automobile industry as a whole.
But sometimes my bitterness subsides, and I look around at the skill level and dedication of my coworkers and I feel proud. This article is intended to shed some light on the professionalism of the average car mechanic. I will also show you some mind blowing advances on the cars of the near future, like intelligent cruise control.
Because electronics play an important part in the operation of all automotive systems, an understanding of electronics is a must for all auto repair mechanics. In fact a needed level of understanding comparable to that of a designer of these complex electrical systems is required. In many cases, a technician is faced with reverse engineering the circuit completely to discover its malfunction.
In addition to mastering the mechanical skills needed to remove, repair and replace faulty components today’s auto repair mechanic also must be able to diagnose and service the most complicated electronic systems we have ever seen in the auto repair business.
Computers and electronic devices are used to control the engine and its support systems. Because of these complex controls today’s cars and trucks use less fuel, perform better, meet ever-increasing emissions standards and provide a level of safety also never experienced in the automotive industry.
What auto repair mechanics know
Some people just get in their car insert the key, turn and go. This is fine, and this is also why they paid a large amount of money for reliable transportation. I just wanted to identify a few things that happen in this turnkey operation. Read more
