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.

Although governors would fail and I would find in most cases it was either a seal or a stripped nylon gear this part was extremely reliable. Also the throttle valve was controlled by an adjustable steel cable. This provided direct input to the transmission on where the driver was as far throttle position, acceleration and engine load.

B&M Console Shifter

Wide open throttle would pull the cable tight and move the throttle valve into a position that would delay the up shift until the red line was reached.

Although these internal hydraulic controls and manual cables worked very well for upshift they were not very helpful in achieving maximum miles per gallon.

In the mid to late 80s when the computer was installed on board the vehicle they added a component known as a torque converter clutch.

This would lock up the transmission to a one-to-one ratio during the right conditions. In my opinion it was this advancement that has led to all of the electronics on today’s automatic transmissions.

Automatic transmission technology

Transmissions still use hydraulic pressure to perform up shift. Although this hydraulic pressure is controlled in most cases by shift solenoids that are electronically operated. The internal clutches and bands look very similar to the ones used years ago but again they are controlled by solenoids and electronics.

Some vehicles use a separate transmission control module to control the internal activities. These dedicated computers will monitor onboard sensors that are used by other systems on the vehicle.

4L60E Auto transmission

For example instead of using a throttle valve cable to determine throttle position why not use the TPS (throttle position sensor). Other sensors can help determine engine loads such as the map sensor which stands for manifold absolute pressure.

This sensor uses vacuum to accurately determine engine loads. The transmission control module will monitor many other sensors depending on the manufacturer and the specific transmission.

The TCM frequently reviews the input information and can make very fast adjustments to the shift schedule and current gear ratio applied to the vehicle’s drivetrain.

An advantage of this automotive technology is that the transmission can adapt and change the behavior in response to the operating conditions and the habits of the driver. This also allows on the fly adjustments to compensate for internal wear. The transmission control module can actually adjust the line pressure and boost it to compensate for these wearing components inside the transmission.

Transmission problems

As mentioned above many internal components look the same as they did in the 1960s. But the electronics used to control these internal components are cutting-edge. Now when it comes to automatic transmission problems the electronics side of the equation must be evaluated.

Fortunately the transmission control module will store trouble codes just as the main computer does for the emissions system. The set trouble codes can help diagnose both electronic and internal problems. For example if the vehicle sets a code for a second gear shift solenoid this will give you a clear path of diagnosis.

Some mechanics say that regular transmission maintenance and keeping the fluid clean is more important today because of all of these electronic controls. I do believe in following the recommended automatic transmission fluid maintenance schedule as recommended by the manufacturer. But keep in mind that in most cases if you are having a serious malfunction changing the fluid will not help the transmission problem.

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 are common place in the street racing world.

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.

Supercharger operation

Before I get into exactly how it works I wanted you to know that amazon has many highly rated books about superchargers. Covering both theory and operation as well as installation instructions for mounting and tuning the supercharger upgrade on specific model automobiles.

Superchargers are air pumps directly driven by the engines crankshaft via a serpentine belt. They improve horsepower and torque by pumping extra air into the engine in direct relationship to crankshaft speed.

Forced Induction

As the supercharger assembly compresses the air, the pressurized air begins to increase in temperature. Since cooler and denser air is desired for maximum power, this heated air is routed through an intercooler before it enters the intake manifold.

When the intake valves open on the cylinder head, the air fuel mixture is forced into the combustion chamber by the pressure generated from the supercharger. The difference between a supercharger and a turbo is that no waste gate or boost control is required on supercharged vehicles.

This is because the speed of the supercharger is directly linked to the rotation speed of the crankshaft. The compressing power is limited by the RPM of the engine itself. This way the superchargers output is controlled directly by throttle position.

On a turbocharger controlling the boost can get more complicated. Older turbo models had a waste gate that opened to bleed off any pressure in excess of 14 psi. Modern turbos are controlling the boost by the geometry of the turbo fins. These are called variable geometry turbos. Basically the VGT Turbo controls the total boost by varying the pitch of the turbo fins.

As we can see for the last hundred years superchargers have come and gone and have come back again. The competition between turbocharging vs supercharging will also continue on local racetracks and new car showrooms. Learn what other types of automotive technology you might find on today’s cars.

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.

With the traction control engaged there was almost no wheel spin and I had the ability to leave everybody in the dust as if the street was dry.

How traction control works

The slick part of modern traction control systems is that they use proven automotive technology already deployed on the vehicle. The ABS system is at the heart of most types of this burn out reducing system. Some high line vehicles with fly by wire will actually vary throttle position.

The vehicle’s antilock brake system pumps the brakes when a wheel is going into a locked condition. This same ABS system is used when a drive wheel is sensed to be slipping against the road surface as compared to vehicle speed and the speed of the other wheels. The ATC system will pulse the brake caliper to slow only the slipping wheel down.

Automatic traction control is also very helpful on all wheel drive vehicles and 4×4 off road sport utility vehicles. If one of these types of automobiles looses traction at one wheel this could hamper the drivers over all control. ATC keeps the driver on track without them even realizing it.

Traction Control Off

ATC started out as a sales feature that was offered by dealerships as an advantage of their automobile line-up. As a side benefit the systems have been found to be extremely helpful with overall traffic safety.

As this automotive technology becomes more efficient and less expensive we will see much more of them deployed on automobiles. We may even see the day when they are standard equipment or required by the Government on all vehicles sold in the United States.

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.

Stability control systems can help maintain control of the vehicle during heavy braking, hard acceleration and even coasting.

If the brakes are already applied but over steer or under steer is occurring as reported by the above sensors the fluid pressure to the appropriate caliper is increased to help maintain driver control.

Abs system overview

Abs systems remove brake lockup that greatly increases stopping distances. Remember that a tire that is about to slip produces more friction against the road than one that is locked and in a sliding condition.

tire spinning

Once a tire loses its grip on the road friction is reduced and the vehicle takes much longer to stop.

In many cases this increased stopping distance can be responsible for auto accidents.

Back in the old days driving instructors would teach students to pump the brake pedal to control lock up. Leaving it up to the driver to remain calm and perform this operation effectively during a panic situation was a lot to ask.

This would be the driving force behind the development of Anti lock braking automotive technology.

ABS systems automatically pulse the application of the brakes in a panic stop situation for you. You do have to hold steady force on the brake pedal and steer but the car handles the brake pedal pumping part.

This is accomplished through hydraulic pressure modulation. Basically this is when the electronic control unit meters the fluid flowing to each individual caliper.

The dash mounted abs light is there to notify the driver of a malfunction. It is also a warning to the driver that the anti-lock brake system might not function as expected. Too often I see motorist driving around with this light illuminated.

Often this is due to concerns about repair costs. This is a valid concern but trust me when I say that a traffic accident could cost much more then the needed auto repairs.

If you have some auto repair experience it is possible that you can fix it yourself with diy ABS scan Tools.

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.

Electronic controls are used to activate the shifting in the transmission, eliminate brake lockup in antilock braking systems or ABS. They also improve handling by controlling steering and suspension systems, and even provide a passenger with protection and comfort. The amount of electronics you’re auto repair mechanics are dealing with is increasing with each model year.

Car repair mechanic keeps learning

About 80% of all functions on a vehicle are controlled by electronics. ABS braking systems were once optional on some vehicles, but they are now standard equipment on most. There are automobiles that use 12 or more different computers to control different systems. Separate computers are used to control the engine, the transmission, security systems, instrumentation, climate control, the suspension system, and steering.

The vehicle diagnostic systems now anticipate breakdowns and contact emergency road service and guide technicians through the repair process. We saw the mandate of a third brake light in 1996. The next wave in this automotive technology will be a brake light that increases in brightness and size related to the pressure put on the brake pedal. This will enable following drivers to identify a panic stop situation.

Headlights now have movable reflectors that allow the lights to follow the twists and turns in the road ahead. Automobiles are now available with an infrared system that provides improved vision at night and in bad weather similar to avionic systems.

Auto repair business near future

Many automotive companies are now deploying vehicles with multiple video cameras to view the area all around the vehicle. This will eliminate blind spots and allow seeing below the rear bumper. So you don’t run over the neighbor’s kid when you’re backing out of the driveway.

Intelligent cruise control devices are one of my favorite developing automobile technologies. The vehicles brakes will be automatically applied to maintain a safe distance between the vehicles ahead of you. When the cruise control is engaged this distance will be monitored by a radar system. I’m sure you all share my excitement in this technology. Especially if you have been on a long trip and had to keep disengaging your cruise control in traffic.

Automotive technician of the future

Me, along with my friends in the automotive repair business are going to have to go to school to service these high-tech systems that are not only coming. But in some cases have already been deployed.

So even though I get mad at my boss for sending me on a road call on the Skyway Bridge in the middle of a 60 mile an hour wind and horizontal rain. I do not want to lose sight of the dedication of my car repairing coworkers.