Gears Magazine

Complete April 2008 Issue (32.3 MB)

Here is the April issue of GEARS online.
It is now in the mail. See it here first!

FROM THE CEO: ATRA’s Blue Crystals: Reinventing ATRA to Serve You Better (1 MB)
by Dennis Madden

Last year, GEARS Managing Editor Rodger Bland coined the term “Blue Crystals” as a metaphor for reinventing your business model; moving your business from decline into growth. We’ve continued to use this metaphor in GEARS, and in the What’s Working program at ATRA’s Powertrain Expo last year. The object was to challenge shop owners to rethink how they do business… to find new ways to fulfill the needs of their customers.

FROM THE TECH DIRECTOR: Stop Driving Good Money Down the Road! (1.1 MB)
by Lance Wiggins

With a minimal investment, you can add computer reprogramming to your service schedule.
These days it seems every shop you talk to is looking for new ways to bring more work in the door. Some have begun offering additional services, including maintenance and general repair. In many cases, this involves a large investment in both tools and training. And while it may allow them to sell additional work to retail customers, it often costs them work from wholesale customers, who consider these new offerings as competition. But suppose you could offer a new service that would: • Require only a minimal investment. • Allow you to earn more money. • Enable you to fix more cars.

Essential Hybrid Safety Procedures (3.3 MB)
by Jack Rosebro

An instructor wrote me the other day; he’d just attended an expensive seminar on hybrid vehicle technology. The class was offered by a national parts organization that had licensed hybrid training materials from a knowledgeable author with a good reputation. by of Perfect Sky

KEEP THOSE TRANNYS ROLLING: Quick Fix for a Sluggish Benz (3.1 MB)
by Pete Huscher

I was recently involved in the diagnosis and repair of a 1992 Mercedes Benz 190E that was described as having “poor fuel mileage,” and a “lack of power on acceleration at times.” The vehicle was described as being “sluggish” while accelerating from a stop. Before I could even start to diagnose the problem, I had to become a little bit more familiar with this little Benz.

WIT Transmission Parts
Doing Whatever It Takes to Keep Our Industry Strong and Profitable (1.1 MB)
by WIT

WIT Transmission Parts
Once upon a time, you could walk into a hardware store and someone would be waiting by the door to help you find what you were looking for. You’d stop by the drug store and the druggist would greet you personally, and ask about your family… by name. And the local gas station wasn’t just there to fill your tank; you could depend on having your oil levels and tire pressures checked and your windshield cleaned.

Street Smart: Avoid Erasing DTCs Before You Read Them on the Toyota A340 (2.8 MB)
by Mike Brown

We all know how difficult it can be to diagnose today’s computer control systems. That’s why manufacturers include Diagnostic Trouble Codes, or DTCs: To help you identify system troubles, and point you in the right direction for diagnosis.

Playing To Win: Memoirs of a Madman; Part 1 (532 kb)
by Thom Tschetter

Earlier this week I was speaking with Rodger Bland, managing editor of GEARS Magazine, about my 30-year career in the transmission industry. Rodger is good at asking probing questions that lead to great conversations. He’s also a great listener, which, for those of you who know me, makes for a dangerously potent mixture: Questions to get me started and a good listener to keep me going. I’m surprised we aren’t still talking!

A Look at the 6L80; Part 3 of 3, Internal Transmission Diagnosis (1.1 MB)
by Steve Garrett

Over the last few issues, we’ve taken a look at GM’s 6-speed, rear wheel drive transmission. We did a complete overview of its systems and operation, and went over the scan data that’s available through an up-to-date scan tool. In this issue, we’ll close out our series by looking over some of the more unusual aspects of diagnosis and service for this transmission.

Introduction to Another 6-Speed Volkswagen! (2.1 MB)
by Dave Skora

VW recently began seeing a new 6- speed automatic transmission in some Beetle and Passat vehicles. Built by Aisan, this transmission uses the Leppeletier planetary design. All shift timing and feel is controlled by a separate transmission computer. The transmission model is identified as the 09G or 09M. In this issue of GEARS, we’re going to introduce this unit; in later articles we’ll discuss the internal assemblies. We’ll start with an overall look at the unit. Later we’ll dig into the mechanical and hydraulic operation. We’ll follow that with a look at the clutches and solenoids, and finally we’ll see if you have what it takes to diagnose, service, and rebuild or repair these units.

What's Working: Focusing on Your Next Customer (536 kb)
by Rodger Bland

This year’s theme for our management track at Expo is Get ’em in the Door, with the focus on how to create new customers for your businesses. To that end, ATRA has been very busy gathering valuable data that we’ll be sharing with all those who attend this year’s event.

Making It Work: Getting a Buy In from Your Employees (456 kb)
by Dennis Madden

Over the past year we’ve talked about different ways to examine your business, based on the needs of your customers. We’ve discussed how to collect data and improve the efficiency of your business. We’ve covered various processes to analyze your business, and combined these tools to help you develop a plan for improving your profitability. If you’ve been following these articles, attended ATRA’s Powertrain Expo last year, or participated in ATRA’s What’s Working forum, you’ve probably gotten so excited that you wanted to jump right in and start making changes.

Keeping Up: Understanding Transmission Solenoids (2.4 MB)
by Steve Bodofsky

Long, long ago, in a galaxy… well actually, right about here, where we are now… transmissions operated hydraulically. A governor varied shift timing by controlling pressure based on road speed, and a TV system altered the shifts based on load. And everyone lived in joy and contentment.

It's Doing What? Definitions for Common Terms Used to Describe Shift Issues (540 kb)
by ATRA Technical Staff

We see these terms in every issue of GEARS… every ATRA Technical Seminar. Terms such as harsh shifts or soft shifts… chatter… slide-bump. We’ve come to take them for granted… we all know what they mean… or do we? When we talk about a slip shift, are you thinking about the same thing we are? Maybe… maybe not. There’s no way to be sure, since no one has ever laid out a clear set of definitions and descriptions for each of these terms. Until now.

Long-Time ATRA Member C&R Transmission Rises from the Ashes for a New Beginning (5.2 MB)
by Steve Bodofsky

It was December 9, 2005; less than three weeks before Christmas. Things were really busy for longtime ATRA Member Custom Transmission — too busy to give their newly-painted floors a full three days to dry; general technician Larry Minor pulled a car into the bay to check a fuel pump problem.

5 Closes of Transmission Repair (492 kb)
by Steve Bodofsky

As any good salesman will tell you, the most important part of any sales pitch is the “close” — that moment when you go from “here’s why you need to buy this,” to “will that be cash or charge?” The close is when you’re effectively asking for a decision: Will you or won’t you? Yes or no? Do you want fries with that? (Okay, maybe that last one isn’t really a close, but it is a sales technique, just the same.)

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS: Not Everyone Can Be an ATRA Member! (964 kb)
by Kelly Hilmer

Every day the ATRA Membership Department receives new applications for Rebuilder membership. Many shops are aware of the Association and the benefits it offers, and want to become part of ATRA. What they don’t realize is that ATRA has some very stringent standards for membership. Quite simply, not everyone can become a Member.

ATRA News April 2008 (652 kb)
by ATRA

The Latest with ATRA.

Power Industry News April (1.6 MB)
by ATRA

The Latest that's happening in the industry.

Shoppers-Classified April (3.7 MB)
by ATRA

Classified April (1.1 MB)
by ATRA

List of Advertisers (1.1 MB)
by ATRA