AUTOMAKERS & INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS HAVE REACHED A NEW AGREEMENT Groups representing automakers and independent repair shops say they have an reached agreement the week of July 10. This agreement includes the much fought over vehicle data and telematics which are required to perform certain repairs requiring information that was formerly forbidden by the original […]

Autonomous Driving Legal and Regulatory Issues Will Rear Their Ugly Heads as Level 3 Driving Looms Closer    As autonomous driving leaps from Level 2 to Level 3 this year with the introduction of  Mercedes Benz model equipped with their Drive Pilot system, which is a Level 3 system, regulators are scrambling to enact laws […]

Ford Motor Company is recalling 252,936 2020 to 2022 Explorers with 10R80 transmissions and all engines as well as hybrid models for the possible danger of a rollaway threat. The recall includes Explorers, Explorer Hybrids, Police Interceptors and Explorer Plug-In Hybrids. The defect that causes the threat is caused by a rear axle horizontal mounting […]

As the debate between legislators and aftermarket auto repair shops heats up, it has been a common occurrence for the original equipment manufacturers to claim “only we can properly repair your vehicle because we have factory support”. In addition to this old story, a new argument has arisen, now the O.E.s claim “only we can […]

 One theory of how Jeep got its name comes from its use in the military during WWII when during development and testing the now famous vehicle was referred to as the GP which stood for General Purpose. When WWll soldiers started using these vehicles GP quickly became Jeep and so it stuck until now.  Since […]

Just when you thought AM radio was a thing of the past, as various automakers are eliminating an AM radio from their vehicles, U.S. lawmakers want to bar automakers from doing that very thing.  Reuters and Automotive News reports that a group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to prevent automakers from eliminating the AM […]

This ATSG Ford / Lincoln 8F35 TechTran Manual will guide you in the complete teardown and assembly of the 8F35 transmission with many diagnostics included as well. The Ford 8F35 introduced for the 2019 model year is an eight speed front wheel drive or all-wheel drive transmission that was co-engineered with the GM 9T50. Ford […]

If you have ever said to yourself, “someday I’m gonna buy one of those”, I wouldn’t wait a whole lot longer. I’m referring to Dodge muscle cars which according to Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis is nearing the end of production as the Stellantis group member transitions to electrification by the end of this year.   […]

A few years ago, I created an article in a trade magazine about a new innovative transmission called the Zero Shift. The design of this transmission was based on a bicycle part called a “derailleur” which would allow a multi-speed bicycle to seamlessly shift up and down through the gears, said Wayne Colonna of ATSG.  Zero […]

2021 and 2022 Hyundai models Elantra N, Kona N, Santa Cruz, Seta Fe, Sonata and the Veloster N have a defect that could cause a total loss of movement. Hyundai filed a recall with NHTSA over an issue with a fail-safe malfunction in the transmission oil pump. The recall affects 53,142 vehicles spread across six […]

When it comes to electric cars, the battery is arguably the most important component. After all, it’s the battery that powers the car. Electric car batteries typically last for over 10 years and can last up to 20 with proper care. Replacing a battery is expensive, so it’s important to factor that into your overall budget. […]

Smartphone Tool Improves Technician Efficiency It’s a proven fact that technicians that are pulled away from the vehicle they are working on to seek service or repair information creates a work stoppage for the period of time that the technician spends at a computer. In other words, when the tech puts his or her tools […]

Ford Recalls 3 Million Vehicles for a Transmission Rollaway Condition Ford Motor Company recently recalled approximately 3 million light vehicles which include the 2013 – 2018 Escape with all engine applications and the 6F35 transmission, the 2013 – 2018 C-Max with the 2.0 liter engine and CVT transmission, the 2013 – 2016 Fusion with all […]

It’s been discovered that transmission in Ford’s F-150 can suddenly go intro neutral. Over 47,000 pickup trucks from the 2021 model year are included in the recall. Vehicles Recalled: Some 2021 Ford F-150 pickup trucks built between July 28, 2021 and December 20, 2021. The Problem: Because of a problem with the transmission software, the […]

Nearly 127,000 Kia vehicles and 358,000 Hyundai vehicles are affected by this recall.   Engine compartment fires due to hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) module malfunction and anti-lock brake system (ABS) module malfunction are causing Kia and Hyundai to issue recalls, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).   Kia is recalling certain […]

  Just when you think you have the automotive industry figured out, another curveball comes your way.    The automotive industry continues to change and evolve at an alarming rate. In order to be successful in this industry,  you have to roll with the changes. If you don’t update, you will evaporate.   Some of […]

Ford Knew About Defective Transmissions for Years Ford’s DPS6 transmission, also called the Ford PowerShift transmission, is a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. It has been used in the Fiesta from 2010-present, the Focus from 2012-present, and several other cars during that same period. The Detroit Free Press launched an investigation that revealed that Ford knew […]

The cyber-secure vehicle is here. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) introduced the Secure Gateway Module into roughly half of their 2018 product line and nearly 90 percent of their 2019 vehicles. The Secure Gateway Module, which FCA refers to as the SGW, is essentially a firewall providing moderated access to the in-vehicle network diagnostic services. The […]

New 8-speed and 10-speed Automatic Transmissions (Direct Shift-8AT & Direct Shift-10AT) Toyota has developed two new automatic transmissions―the 8-speed Direct Shift-8AT and the 10-speed Direct shift-10AT. For both, various measures were taken to minimize energy loss and heighten transmission efficiency. Gear tooth surfaces were processed using a new technique for a lower coefficient of friction […]

Toyota owner’s of 2018 models or newer may find that one morning there car or truck will not start remotely when using the key fob. That’s because a lot of late model Toyota owners are not aware of the fact that the remote start feature is a subscription service and that their free trail time […]