Automotive News & Information

Question by chey_harris06: transmission solenoid?
i have a 2004 dodge stratus, and i took it in for an oil change and they told me that i have a leak in the transmission solenoid pack. Do i have to take the transmission out completely in order to install the part??? how does this run to have someone work on my car???

Best answer:

Answer by sprinkles
it external to the transmission, and it takes less than an hour to replace. these are very commonly replaced for leaks. they can be small leaks or very large leaks. it may be covered under your powertrain warranty for a 0 deductible unless you are over 70,000 miles.

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Transaxle tester. Plugs into connector between ECT ECU and solenoids; when the command is sent to the solenoid, the LED on the box lights up and stays on as long as solenoid energized. The observation of the Output Command Tester while correlated with tachometer reading is helpful to determine: •Shift sequence, pattern and timing during acceleration and deceleration; •Torque converter lock-up apply and release; •Time lag between output command to the solenoid and shift itself; •Intermittent problems; •Intermittent shorts or opens in control circuit indicated by flickering LED. This Tester is build exclusively for installation on left-hand driven 87-91 Toyota Camry with 3SFE engine and A140e ECT transaxle, however it could be used for other ECT Toyota transmissions; this will require installation of different plug-in connectors. The information about LED indication and corresponding gear position is summarized in Table 1: LED ON_ SOLENOID ON_ GEAR LEFT S1 FIRST LEFT AND CENTER_S1 AND S2 _ SECOND CENTER S2 THIRD CENTER AND RIGHT_S2 AND SL_THIRD LOCK-UP NONE_NONE_FOURTH (O/D) RIGHT_SL_O/D LOCK-UP Magnetic mount to the hood. Patent pending.
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Question by Roy R: Steel Wheel bent!!!?
Ok, I recently hit a pot hole. The wheel got hit nice and hard. The controll arm seems ok, The ride isn t to shakey, i looked at the steel rim after i swaped it with the doughnut. The steel wheel has a dent, Not too large about 2 inches long and anout 1/2 inch dent inwards.. It doesnt seem to be losing air in the tire though. I was wondering if i can fix the rim with a hammer of some sort. try to bend it stright again. Will this effect the strength of the wheel? Would it be better to replace it? Will the balance be way off? Enough for me to notice? Whats the chances that it through the allighment out of wack? Help me out. Thx

Best answer:

Answer by greg e
would be safer to replace the wheel and tire, both may have hidden damage that could fail and cause an accident.

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Superchips 2950 Cortex Programmer

• Supports wheel, tire and gear swaps
• Easy to install and internet updateable
• Recalibrates speedometer for larger tire size
• Eliminates speed limiter
• Adjusts shift points and eliminates shift firmness

Superchips Cortex Programmer is manufactured to ensure efficient fuel delivery and increase engine output. This sleek, elegant device, in addition to allowing three tuning levels, features diagnostic library which retrieves, displays and clears DTCs. It displays, as well as stores PID data and is backed by a two year warranty.

Rating: (out of 4 reviews)

List Price: $ 429.00

Price: $ 379.99

Question by Matt: How much would a brand new Yamaha baby grand piano cost?
I am looking to buy a Yamaha baby grand piano in my area which I live in the area Central California. I went to this piano store and they told me it was 11,000$ but with tax and all fees included it comes out to 16,000$ for a brand new yamaha grand piano. Is this a good price to pay for a brand new yamaha grand piano? How much would one usually cost? I want to know if it’s a good or bad deal.

Best answer:

Answer by Monkey Bandit
This is a good deal for a brand new baby grand (in Australia they can cost anything from ,000 plus – and that’s for a dodgy one). I guess you have to consider the quality and model. Why don’t you check the Yamaha website for comparison. If you haven’t already, bargain with the dealer (person selling it to you) to see if you can lower the cost a little more – every dollar counts

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Question by jake: Transaxle?
I was hoping someone could e-mail me some pics of a vehicles drivetrian equiped with a trans axle. and if you could an FR car with a transaxle layout. I’ve been lookng but cant find any good pics. Do you know any websites that would have those pics in detail? Thank you guys very much

Best answer:

Answer by Dino
Try this one: http://www.locost7.info/files/suspension/alfa
hope this helps you.

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Volkswagen Pressure Plate: for Better Holding Power

In 1933, Adolf Hitler specifically asked Ferdinand Porsche a car that could carry about five people, cruise up to 62mph, return 33mg and costs only 1000 Reich Marks. And not to forget, it must be inexpensive. This also became an opportunity for Porsche to realize his idea of producing a small car. This is how the first Volkswagen (people’s car) was created. The first design was originally designated by Porsche as the Type 60 but it was later changed to V1. V2 was the convertible version, which was also requested by Hitler. By 1935, which was already way past the deadline, three cars were already produced including the VW3. And in 1936, these cars undergone rigorous testing to meet the standards that Hitler expected. Today, Volkswagen has reached the mark of becoming the largest automaker in Europe, still producing the Volkswagen quality that people across the globe has grown to love. Increased holding power and the ability to deal with increased heat are the highest advantages of a superior clutch system. The two primary improvements to be obtained from high-performance clutches The Volkswagen pressure plate is responsible for the holding power. At the same time, holding power can also be increased with greater spring tension but it would also add pedal pressure. The Volkswagen pressure plate is one of the three main friction components of your Volkswagen clutch system. Its main function is to to apply the clamp load to squeeze the clutch plate firmly between the pressure plate and the flywheel. The pressure plate, when coupled with clutch disc and flywheel, makes and breaks the flow of power from the engine to the transmission. The Volkswagen pressure plate contains a clutch plate, heavy release springs, sheet metal cover and release fingers. This subassembly bolts to the flywheel, with the clutch disc sandwiched in between. As of today, there are three main types of pressure plates available in the market. These types are the the long style, the Borg & Beck, and the diaphragm. The diaphragm, however, is the most common and believed to be the best best plate for street use. But it is important to note that all three types of pressure plates each offer different benefits and advantages. The Long style is famous for its three thin fingers that engage the release bearing. These fingers usually identify the long pressure plate and the pressure plate cover is a series of nine coil springs.The Borg & Beck style is almost the same as the Long style and in fact dubbed as the street version of the Long style pressure plate. But unlike the Long style, Borg & Beck style has wider three fingers that release plate pressure by compressing the coil springs found under the pressure plate “hat.” The Borg & Beck uses rollers inside the cover that are forced to the outside under centrifugal force to increase the plate load with rpm.The diaphragm pressure plate utilizes a large Bellville-style spring to load the pressure plate and this has interesting advantages of its on. First, it loads the pressure plate evenly since the pressure is equally applied to the entire plate assembly. Second, as the Bellville spring is compressed, it reaches a point where the pedal effort decreases when the spring over-centers therefore makes holding the clutch pedal in at a stoplight much easier than a coil spring type pressure plate. A broken Volkswagen pressure plate can cause different symptoms. One of which is clutch clatter that may be caused by a damaged pressure plate release lever. Clutch slippage is another cause of a broken pressure plate. Clutch drag, on the other hand, can be caused by damage pressure plate fingers. It is best to have your Volkswagen pressure plate checked by a professional mechanic every once in a while to prevent costly damages and repairs. Proper maintenance is still the best way to go.

Borg Warner VM115 Transmission Vacuum Modulator

Rating: (out of reviews)

List Price: $ 34.37

Price: $ 9.55

The stories behind the names on your cars
By Larry Printz, Virginian-Pilot Thursday, September 2, 2010 We see their names every day — Ford, Toyota, Dodge, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Honda — but rarely do we think of them as more than chrome letters on your car. They are, though, the names of actual people. Now, meet those whose family name graces your car. David Dunbar Buick: America’s oldest surviving marque was founded in 1899 by the man …
Read more on St. Petersburg Times

China’s Auto Industry Embraces Green
General Motors and its China partner SAIC showed the GM EN-V and the SAIC Yez (nee Leaf) side by side at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. | August 31, 2010 | General Motors Corporation
Read more on Edmunds Inside Line

‘Vettes That Blow Their Tops
CHRYSLER minivans with air-conditioning problems and Corvette convertible tops that tear at high speed are the subjects of some of the latest technical service bulletins.
Read more on Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Question by brandon_w12390: Changing transmission fluid on Audi A4 CVT, car must be level, having trouble with jack stands.?
I have the front of the car on wheel ramps and I’m trying to jack up the back two wheels with the jack provided with the car and then place it on jack stands. The jack only goes up to a certain point but it is still not level with the front of the vehicle. I have a standalone hydraulic floor jack that I tried as well. Any suggestions? Is there a specific type of jack I’m supposed to buy?
Bill: there isn’t a dipstick like a conventional transmission. I know a pain in the rear end right??!
The reason the car has to be level is that there is just a check hole. Using the computer system you monitor the temperature of the fluid via the sensors. When it reaches a certain temp there is supposed to be only a little fluid dripping out. If there isn’t you add, if there is a lot of fluid flowing out you wait until there is less. If the car isn’t level then obviously this won’t work and having too much fluid will make it foam, too less and it can cause damage.

Best answer:

Answer by Bill M
You have to jack up the car to take the pan off and drain the fluid, but can’t you lower it and then pour in the new fluid?

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