Transmission Flush

Archive for July, 2010

You keep hearing the term Hybrid Cars lately and been wondering what they are. Here is a list of selected Hybrid car facts that hopefully explains what hybrid cars are:

They are not Sci-fi Sounding cars of Hollywood, but some Celebrities do own them. In light of the ever-rising gasoline fuel cost, car manufacturers have started innovating on Hybrid Cars. And No, hybrid cars are certainly not cars which spring from Sci-Fi movies, but in real life where consumers like you and me have started to be become more aware of.

Even A-List Hollywood Celebrities with the likes of Bard Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio, Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Diaz, Alicia Silverstone own at least one of Hybrid car in their garages..

Less Power But Much More Miles Per Gallon Hybrid cars are believed to typically produce less power. To compensate for this, they are designed and made very light weight. This is also why their aerodynamic characteristics are more prevalent, intended to cut down on drag and wind resistance as well as noise.

Achieves Average of 50 mpg. Hybrid Cars enjoy excellent fuel economy with the 2009 models promising an average of 50 mpg or miles per gallon. Thanks to the constant development of the Hybrid car technology, the mpg achievement has begun to raise eyebrows amongst the most staunch owners of conventional cars.

So What is the Parallel hybrid? Simply put, a parallel hybrid car is one which uses both a fuel tank with gasoline and a set of batteries. Both the engine and the electric motor can turn the transmission simultaneously. The fuel tank and the gas engine connect to the transmission and the batteries and electric motor connect to the transmission separately.

And What is the Series Hybrids? The series Hybrid car has a gasoline engine turns a generator, and the generator either charges the batteries or powers the electric motor that is used to turn the transmission. The gasoline engine is not used to power the vehicle directly. However, all the components eventually connect with the transmission to run the Hybrid engine. Lower Fuel Emissions help to curb the infamous “Greenhouse Effect”, saves the ozone and atmosphere, giving us cleaner air and better environment for our children to breathe and live in.

Truly, The Clever, Cleaner, Comfy Car – The Hybrid. Hybrid Cars are eco-smart, as comfortable as a conventional one and environmentally friendly, in a class of its own, achieving fuel economy, Reduced emissions and hence less pollution, slower depreciation, great savings and more tax rebates, and ultimately causing less reliance on fossil fuels in the future.

And for more reads on Environmentally Friendly Hybrid cars, visit my site.

Car owners are often at a loss when they bring their vehicles to an auto service shop for a diagnostic checkup or car repair, even if it is just for auto AC repair. What more if the problem has anything to do with the brakes, engine or transmission? It would greatly benefit car owners to try to learn about how their vehicles work. This can be done in stages. For a start, here’s an automotive transmission overview from a Tampa mechanic.

The car transmission is a mechanism connected to the back of the car engine, sending power from the engine to the drive wheels. Since a car is either a front wheel drive or a rear wheel drive, there are also two basic types of automatic transmission.

Both types of transmission ensure that power is sent to the drive wheels while keeping the engine at its best RPM (revolutions per minute) range. This is done through several gear combinations.

At the lowest gear the engine is turning faster than the drive wheels. At high gear, the engine loafs while the wheels are speeding. At neutral, the transmission disconnects the engine from the drive wheels. With reverse, the wheels are made to turn in the opposite direction for the car to back up. At park, a latch like a deadbolt is locked on the output shaft to prevent the drive wheels from turning.

In a car with a rear wheel drive, there is a hump on the floorboard beside the gas pedal. Beneath this hump is the transmission. The connection between the transmission and the final drive at the rear axle is called the drive shaft. Power from the engine goes through the torque converter and the transmission to be sent through the drive shaft to the final drive. There the power is split to be sent to the two rear wheels through the rear axle.

In a car with a front wheel drive the final drive is in front, between the two front wheels. The transmission is combined with it and the combination is called a transaxle. The engine is mounted sideways in front of the transaxle. The front axle, on the other hand, is connected to the transaxle. Power from the engine goes through the torque converter and has to pass through a chain that brings it around to the transmission which, in turn, sends it to the final drive. There the power is split to be sent to the two front wheels through the front axle.

Aside from these two basic transmission types which are the most common, there are other variations. In some front wheel drive vehicles, the engine is not mounted sideways but front to back. In the rear wheel drive system used often by Porsche, the engine, transmission and final drive are all mounted in the rear. The new Corvette’s rear wheel drive, on the other hand, the engine and torque converter are in front but the transmission is mounted on the final drive at the rear. A different set up altogether is used on four wheel drives.

The transmission system is made up of the mechanical planetary gear sets; the hydraulic system that sends the transmission fluid; the torque converter that behaves as the clutch; seals and gaskets that prevent oil leaks; the governor and modulator or throttle cable that determines shifting; and, on newer models, the computer that controls oil flow.

With a general knowledge of your car’s transmission, you will be better equipped in discussing your car’s performance and any of its problems with your Tampa mechanic whenever you drive into your auto service shop.

The 1969 Dodge Charger is another model of performance car based off of the “B” platform created by the Chrysler Corporation. Another muscle car to utilize this frame is the Challenger, also produced by Dodge. The Charger was created to compete with other cars like the Pontiac GTO, Buick Gran Sport and the Oldsmobile 442. Although the company previously had models that were as powerful as the other muscle cars, it didn’t have a body style or image worthy of competing until it produced the Charger. The vehicle would quickly gain popularity, and each subsequent year was made more powerful.

The ’69 Charger was just about entirely overhauled as the company wanted a new image for the car. One of the main purposes was to separate the appearance of this particular vehicle from that of the sibling Coronet. The new design was considered the “double diamond” or coke bottle styling. This names derives from the side profile which is rounded around to meet the front fenders and rear body panels in a way that resembles a coke bottle. The rear was enhance in appearance with what appears to be a kick up towards the mock spoiler. Similar to previous models the headlights were buried a few inches into the grille, making them virtually invisible during the daytime.

The 1969 Dodge Charger was offered with a great assortment of engines and transmissions. Beyond the base trim levels were the, R/T (road / track), Special Edition, Charger 500 and Charger Daytona. Both the 500 and Daytona models were created so that the company would have cars capable of competing in NASCAR competitions. The two packages were not created for the average customer. Another famous adaptation of the Charger is the “General Lee” which gained notoriety in different movies.

Both Special Edition and Charger R/T models came with more interior accessories and accents than any previous model year, which makes these cars highly desirable to collectors. Interior features include leather bucket seats for both the driver and front passenger, specially designed wood grain steering wheels, and wooden accents on the front dash panel. Other unique features to these high end models include deep set wheel covers, brightly trimmed pedals, delayed ignition lighting and special turn signal indicators.

The Charger 500 and Daytona’s body styling was adapted for better performance. Both vehicle’s rear windows were slanted at a more drastic slope so that they set flush with the rear of the body. Their grilles were made flush instead of inset, to allow for easier airflow and speed. There is such a great selection of body styles and equipment available to satisfy any collector’s taste.

Standard on all models was a V-8 (318 cubic inch) engine capable of producing upwards of 230 horsepower. Optional engines for ’69 include the 4 barrel 383 and a 2 barrel 361. Perhaps one of the most important factors to take notice of is the introduction of the infamous Hemi engine for this model year as well. Standard on all cars was a 3 speed manual transmission. Optional equipment included either a 4 speed manual or the Torqueflite 4 speed automatic.

The 1969 Dodge Charger was created as an answer to other muscle cars and quickly became popular. Car enthusiasts and collectors normally can find one of these vehicles at a great price in most parts of the country.

Many vehicle owners do not bother to know about the details of auto service and car repair, even auto AC repair, much less about automotive engines, brakes and transmission systems repair. A responsible Tampa mechanic should, however, make an effort to enlighten the vehicle owner on any diagnostic or car repair work done on the vehicle. Here are some things you should know about automotive transmission repair for your Tampa vehicle.

Minor Transmission In-Car Repair, Adjustment and Accessible Parts Replacement

Some transmission problems need only minor repair or adjustment without having to remove the vehicle’s transmission. For computer controlled transmissions, problems in shifting can often be traced to a faulty sensor sending wrong signals. It may also be a defective solenoid pack or a bad connection preventing the transmission from reacting to the computer command. Problems such as these do not require removal of the transmission nor an overhaul. Necessary adjustments can be done right in the car. This is often seen in late model transmission systems, starting from the Nineties.

For earlier transmission systems that are not computer controlled, shifting problems can often mean that the throttle cable needs adjustment. This problem can only be caused by damage from an accident or by previous incorrect adjustments made during other repair work, and not by wear and tear or normal use of the vehicle. This underlines the need to trust only professional auto service shops for your car repair needs. You will spare yourself from further problems in the future.

Some vehicles do not have a throttle cable but have a vacuum modulator instead. In some modulator designs, the vacuum modulator can be adjusted using an adjustment screw. The mechanic has to first ensure, however, that there are no vacuum leaks and that the engine is at its peak running efficiency. Sometimes, problems that seem to be transmission-related are in fact traceable to the engine and are resolved after an engine tune up or repair. Again, having a highly skilled mechanic will save you time and money.

Slipping, or engine racing during transmission shifts from one gear to another, is solved by adjusting bands in older transmissions.

Sometimes, transmission parts need to be replaced. It is much cheaper to replace accessible parts without having to remove the transmission from the vehicle. Removing the oil pan allows access to many control and electrical parts. A major drawback to this is that many auto service shops do not want to give warranties on such external warranties since they cannot be sure whether or not there are other internal transmission problems that they have not seen. Building a solid relationship with a reputable auto service shop and its mechanics will give you the assurance that the best service is being given for your vehicle, though.

Transmission Resealing

Transmission resealing is done to solve external leaks of transmission fluid. This is usually done after red spots of oil are observed on the ground or parking slot under the vehicle even if the transmission has been performing well. The vehicle is placed on a lift for inspection. Leaks found in any of the external seals or gaskets can be repaired by resealing without removing the transmission from the vehicle. If inspection shows that the front seal needs to be replaced, however, access to it can only be done by removing the transmission. This is a much more expensive procedure.

It is not very difficult to familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s requirements. Learning about automotive transmission repair from your Tampa mechanic is just one step in the right direction. There is more to learn but you can do so with small and easy steps at your own pace.

Due to the rising cost of fuel and the environmental damage it causes to our planet, many car owners or buyers are looking for an alternative way to save money. Let’s face it, fuel supply is finite and the prices of gas is only going to rise higher and higher. That is where a hybrid car has its advantages

Hybrid cars have been gaining in popularity in recent years. With lower cost of production and new hybrid car technology being developed, owning a hybrid car is becoming affordable to everyone.

Hybrid Cars Saves Gas

The obvious advantage of using hybrid cars is that it saves gas. Combining the cleaner energy of an electric motor with the long range capacity of a gasoline engine allows a hybrid car to save as much as 30 miles a gallon. One feature of hybrid cars is that the gasoline engine is shut off automatically when the car stops. This also helps in saving fuel. That is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet why it is stationary. The gasoline engine is automatically turned on when you step on the accelerator pedal.

Hybrid Cars Are Environment Friendly

Hybrid cars emit lower toxic emissions compared to conventional gasoline-powered cars due to less gasoline being burned. It is environmentally friendly, causes less pollution and releases less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If you do not know, carbon dioxide is one of the primary reasons for rising global warming. For example, the Toyota Prius can reduce tailpipe emissions by up to ninety percent and the greenhouse gas emissions by as much as fifty percent.

Tax Incentives For Hybrid Cars

Due to world political pressures around the world to reduce greenhouse emissions, President Bush signed an agreement in 2005 to provide huge tax relief to hybrid car buyers. The tax incentive varies by model and are based on two factors

1. How fuel efficient the hybrid car is compared to a conventional car in 2002 with the same weight class.

2. How much gasoline the hybrid car can save in its lifetime compared with an equivalent conventional car

For example, a Honda Accord hybrid car have reduced tax credits of $600 while a Toyota Prius has a tax credit of $3150. Do note that the tax credits do expire after 2010 for most hybrid cars.

Hybrid car manufacturers are continually researching for more ways to reduce fuel consumption and better fuel efficiency. Also as more hybrid cars are being adopted, the cost of hybrid cars will reduce making it more affordable for everyone.

Automotive transmission repair can be very expensive. It may actually be the most expensive type of repair you will need for your vehicle. If you do not know anything about automotive transmission repair, you could end up spending even more. A vehicle owner should, therefore, learn as much as possible about car repair from an auto service, including the repair of automotive engines, brakes and transmission systems and even basic auto AC repair. You are in luck if you happen to have a dependable Tampa mechanic who is not only an expert in diagnostic services and car repair but is also able to give you the information you need in clear layman’s language.

The least expensive types of vehicle transmission system repair do not need to have the transmission system taken out of the vehicle. Some minor transmission repair or adjustments can be accomplished this way. Among the problems that do not need transmission system removal or overhaul are shifting issues that occur in computer controlled transmissions. These could be traced back to problematic sensors that do not send accurate signals, a defective solenoid pack or problematic connections that obstruct the commands sent by the vehicle computer to the transmission system. These are commonly found in transmission systems manufactured from the late 90s onwards.

Earlier manufactured transmission systems of vehicles that do not have computers usually experience problems in shifting that are caused by defects in the throttle cable. Such damage is not due to normal wear and tear. It could only be caused by accidents or by improper adjustments made during earlier repairs. This is one of the reasons why you should only patronize trustworthy auto service shops for all your car repair needs.

Some vehicles do not have a throttle cable. They have a vacuum modulator instead. Some vacuum modulators are designed in such a way that problems are often fixed simply through an adjustment screw.

Before checking on the vacuum modulator, make sure your mechanic first checks and rules out vacuum leaks. He should also ensure first that the engine is running efficiently. Some problems that are often thought of as transmission related are usually discovered to be actually engine related instead and can be taken care of by engine tune up or engine repair.

Some transmission repair jobs involve parts replacement. Even if you have to replace parts, though, you still spend less if this can be done without taking the whole transmission system out of the vehicle. You can access several control and electrical parts, for instance, by merely removing the oil pan.

Some auto service shops, however, refuse to give job warranties for such external transmission repairs. They argue that they cannot guarantee the absence of other possible transmission problems in internal areas that they have not been able to check on. You can avoid this problem if you are dealing with a trusted mechanic from a car repair shop with which you have established a long term professional relationship.

Transmission resealing is required when your transmission system is leaking transmission fluid. You will be warned of this by oil spots on the ground or parking lot floor beneath your vehicle. Leaks springing from external seals and gaskets can be resealed even without taking out the transmission system from the vehicle. Leaks from the front seal, however, can only be repaired by first lifting out the transmission system from the vehicle.

Armed with enough knowledge on the various types of automotive transmission repair for your vehicle, you are better prepared to discuss your needs with your auto service mechanic in Tampa. This could also mean considerable savings for you.

There are many design concepts being considered for maximum public exposure and benefits on the drawing board of car designers today that look to the future hybrid car needs and considerations that will serve the public well in the course of the next century. Many of these hybrid car designers are taking past and proven sales performers and have begun reworking their designs from the ground up.

Instead of a front wheel drive platform, there are automobile designers that are building on a rear platform design for one of the nation’s best selling and widely recognized car frames in America and worldwide. The hybrid car designs of the future are including sports car models that have been all-time favorites with the world in the past and are now being revived with the brand new hybrid engine in mind.

There is an aggressive training program in place at one of Americas largest car manufacturing companies that is preparing their technicians to repair the growing styles and variations of hybrid cars that are emerging onto the automobile market.

With the extreme difference in battery features and dramatic variance in voltage levels, there is a void that needs to be filled by someone who is equipped with the necessary battery cabling devices that can handle 270 volts instead of the normal 12 volt battery systems. Regular car technicians are typically capable of handling battery recharging requirements, but with the futuristic applications that are applied in hybrid battery design, the best service these car technicians can provide at present is that they can still provide oil changes and tire rotations should the need arise.

With a mindset of grasping and expanding the propulsion features that are somewhat limited in today’s hybrid car designs, there are retro styling efforts that are focusing on providing hybrid cars with optional V8 engine capacities.

There are considerations in place to use solar cells in the framework of hybrid automobiles. The electrical power will be produced through the boot lids and bonnet placement of these solar cell modules. Through the use of solar cells it will then be possible to utilize the battery charging capabilities when the car is not turned on or in motion to replenish batteries that have been depleted through the use of air conditioning or through continuous operation when the hybrid automobile is delayed in traffic jams at different times of the day. This lightweight body structure design would benefit the energy savings to the consumer and make the car more manageable on the highway.

There is an effort in hybrid car design that is turning the out of the ordinary hybrid vehicle into a replica of what is parked in the driveway every day of our life. This blending in effect is meant to bring the hybrid full circle into the acceptable graces of the American public.

The future hybrid car will need to focus more on greenhouse gases that negatively effect the environment as well as a hybrid car that will be even more fuel efficient. Without these changes, the production and sales of any type of vehicle will not be possible due to the degradation of our atmosphere.

There are many views about hybrid cars in the futures that will change its fuel source from the heavy duty batteries in use today, to hydrogen-power fuel cell. This will take away the need for hybrid cars to have to use gasoline completely in order to transverse down the major highways.