the Most Varied and Intense Technical Training Available ... · Dan Marinucci from Communiqué shows you how to iden-tify, isolate and repair these annoying diagnostic conditions

40 GEARS September 2008

S till on the fence about whether to attend this year’s Expo in Las Vegas? No wonder… I

mean, it’s not like it’s someplace fun… someplace you’d want to go… like…

Wait a minute! It’s Vegas! The ulti-mate destination for fun and entertain-ment anywhere in the world. Fine din-ing… world-class shows… the glam-our and glitz unlike anything you’ve experienced, ever. That alone should be enough of a reason to make it to Expo!

Need more? How about four days of the most intense, comprehensive technical training ever devised for the transmission repair industry? This year’s theme for the technical track is “Get ’em out the Door”; a comple-mentary program for the management track’s “Get ’em in the Door.”

And that’s just what the techni-cal seminars planned for this year’s Expo are designed to do: Provide you with the background and education to handle any technical issues that come your way, so you can get ’em back out the door.

Thursday SeminarThis year, the technical semi-

nars begin on Thursday, October 31st, with a new format seminar program. Thursday’s kickoff seminar is going to be a single, day-long seminar, pre-sented by 10 of this industry’s leading technical experts. These seminar speak-ers bring over 250 years of combined experience to the table, so you can be sure this will be a seminar of epic pro-portions.

ATRA Technical Director Lance Wiggins will open Thursday’s semi-nar with an introduction to diagnostic procedures; not just of the transmis-sion, but the entire powertrain. Learn how to identify problems that mimic transmission failures, and what kinds of additional problems to look for if those powertrain problems aren’t addressed.

Once you have the transmission diagnosed, it’s time to pull it out of the car. Precision International’s John Parmenter will reveal some timesaving techniques for getting today’s transmis-sions from the car to the bench… fast.

You’ve washed the components

Experience the Most Varied and Intense Technical Training Available… at Expo!

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GEARS September 2008 41

thoroughly, using clean solvent. You used fresh assembly lube and transmis-sion fluid. Think your rebuild is spot-less? Think again: Greg Nader from Sonnex shows you just how much dirt is in that rebuild… and it’s a pretty dis-gusting sight! Learn how to remove the dirt you can’t see, to keep your rebuilds on the road.

Stray codes… intermittent per-formance problems… unusual behav-ior with no rhyme or reason… any of these conditions can be related to ground problems. Dan Marinucci from Communiqué shows you how to iden-tify, isolate and repair these annoying diagnostic conditions.

Of course, not every electrical problem can be corrected by cleaning a ground wire. Sometimes you have to dig deeper. Technical Consultant Bob Nuttall will take you on a journey of discovery, as he shows you the ins and outs of reading electrical schematics. Learn how to track down problems that can affect the transmission or transfer case in this unique segment.

Since they first started showing up over a quarter of a century ago, torque converter clutches have been a thorn in many technicians’ sides. Bob Warnke, Sonnax VP of Technical Development, shows you how to isolate hydraulic and electrical TCC problems in many of today’s most common transmissions.

Next, ATRA Technical Advisor Bill Brayton steps up to present the first of the manufacturer-specific pro-grams: common problems and fixes for Ford transmissions. Learn how to diagnose and repair the top ten shift



and lockup prob-lems, identified through ATRA’s new technical database.

Torque converter problems can be difficult to diagnose, but even more important, they can lead to other, more severe problems if you don’t catch

them early. ProTorque’s Joe Rivera explains how to identify those torque converter failures, and take care of them before they become complete transmission failures.

Then ATRA Senior Technician and Surgeon General Randall Schroeder

scrubs in to present exploratory tech-niques for diagnosing Chrysler trans-missions. Learn the whys and where-fores of diagnostic routines, and how they can help you eliminate the things that can’t be wrong, until you find your way back to what is.

Finally, ATRA Service Engineer Steve Garrett takes center stage to give you a glimpse into your future with GM’s new 6T40E transaxle. You’ll get a firsthand look into the belly of the beast (the trans, not Garrett), to learn some of the changes that are com-ing your way. You’ll get a look at the hydraulic and mechanical changes, and you’ll learn some of the basic diagnos-tic strategies that’ll be necessary to fix these units.

Whew! That’s a lot of learnin’! And that’s just Thursday; the individual seminars don’t start till Friday. And that’s bright and early, 7:30 Friday morning, so don’t stay up too late at the tables. You’ll want to be fresh for the first set of Friday morning seminars.

Friday and Saturday’s seminar schedules are broken into three ses-sions:

• 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM• 9:20 AM to 10:40 AM• 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM

And there are two coffee breaks; one between each seminar session.

Friday SeminarsWe hit the ground running with

three must-see Friday morning semi-nars:

ATRA’s Peter Huscher delivers his “keep-it-simple” approach to diagnos-ing and repairing today’s 4-wheel drive systems. More and more cars and light trucks are showing up with 4-wheel drive; if you aren’t versed in them, you could be missing out on a substan-tial segment of the transmission repair market.

ATRA’s Dave Skora gives you a

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firsthand look at today’s and tomor-row’s medium duty truck transmissions. Get a heads-up on what’s different and what’s not on these new transmissions, and discover some of Dave’s own tips and tricks for diagnosing and repairing this growing segment of the transmis-sion repair market.

And Dan Marinucci of Communiqué will be delivering the first of his two-part series on electrical testing. Most transmission problems today are at least partially due to an electrical circuit fault. Learn how to perform critical electrical circuit tests to make your job easier. Part two will follow immediately afterward in the second session.

After a 20-minute break to get a cup of coffee and a chance to unwind, it’s back to the books for the next set of seminars.

Dan Marinucci takes center stage again with the second part of his two part series on electrical testing. Learn about the different types of circuits and their individual characteristics, and take a firsthand look at advanced electrical testing procedures, including voltage drop and current tests.

Bob Warnke of Sonnax presents the 3C’s of diagnosis and repair in his seminar, Complaint-Cause-Correction. Learn how to take your diagnostic challenges through a logical diagnos-tic procedure, from beginning to end. Bob will be focusing on the 55/50SN, JF506E, 5L40E, 722.6, Honda TCC/CPC control, AX4N/AX4S, 5R110, and the 4R100.

And a special seminar from the ATRA Technical Department: An intro-duction to the Mercedes 722.7. This is the new, 7-speed Mercedes transmis-sion that’s just started showing up in the field. Chances are you haven’t seen one yet, but rest assured, you will. And this seminar will give you that leg up for the day when one of these very special transmissions finally does find its way to your shop.

We’ll break again at 10:40, and pick up 20 minutes later for the last of the Friday sessions.

Sean Boyle, associate professor from Southern Illinois University, will be presenting a new seminar on two of

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the late model Honda transaxles: the Honda CRV and the Accura RVX. See what’s new in these units, and learn some high-tech diagnostic strategies that’ll be useful for diagnosing these and other transmissions, and driveabil-ity issues.

ATRA’s Randall Schroeder may be known as the Doctor, but Friday he’ll be more of a geneticist, as he presents Chrysler’s RFE family of transmissions and shows you how those units have changed and adapted. He’ll take you all the way up the family tree to the new 68RFE that made its debut just this year. Along the way, he’ll cover the tests and rebuild procedures that’ll make your job a lot easier.

Last but surely not least, Joe Rivera from ProTorque will present his seminar on torque converters. He’ll show you what’s new and how these torque converters are supposed to work (the Good); what can go wrong with them (the Bad); and what can happen to your rebuilds if you miss one of these critical issues (the Ugly). This presentation was created in cooperation with the Torque Converter Rebuilders Association (TCRA).

By the end of these seminars, cof-fee won’t be nearly enough. You’ll want lunch. Fortunately, that’s when the Raybestos Luncheon takes place. And after a sumptuous meal and their always surprising entertainment, you’re ready to head over to the opening of the show floor.

That’s it for the technical seminars on Friday, but there’s plenty more on Saturday, once again beginning bright and early at 7:30 AM. And, just like on Friday, the schedules are broken into three sessions: 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM, 9:20 AM to 10:40 AM, and 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. And there are two cof-fee breaks; one between each seminar session.

Saturday Seminars

Saturday morning starts out bright and early with something a little differ-ent: ATRA’s Bill Brayton is offering a seminar on computer reprogramming. Many technicians have shied away from this level of repair, preferring to send computer reprograms to the dealer. Bill shows you just how easy computer reprogramming can be, and how it can help you with difficult transmission and performance problems. This is a must-attend for anyone considering adding

reprogramming to their repertoire. Also in the first session, Jack

Rosebro of Perfect Sky is presenting a seminar on the new Toyota hybrid transaxles. With the price of gas rising to record levels, hybrids are becoming a more familiar sight on the roads… and that means it won’t be long before they become a familiar sight in your service bays. Learn how to service and repair these new transmissions today… before they start appearing at your front door.

ATRA Service Engineer Steve Garrett will be presenting an in-depth look at the new 6T40, from Beginning to End. This is an expanded look at this new, 6-speed transaxle, covering its mechanical and hydraulic operation, and an overview of its electronic con-trol system. You’ll learn basic diagnos-tic strategies, along with updates that’ll keep these transmissions working like new.

After these seminars you’ll get a few minutes to unwind over a cup of coffee before dropping into the second


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session seminars:ATRA’s Mike

Brown will be pre-senting a new take on diagnostic proce-dures for the Toyota U250E, found in upscale Toyotas.

Mike will show you how to analyze and evaluate the pressure test results on these units, and the difference between circuit codes and performance codes. And you’ll learn how to service the valve bodies, including a complete look at checkball locations.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that valve body problems are among the most common… and are often the most difficult to correct. Longtime industry technical specialist Steve Younger of RatioTek and Transel Inc. will show you what to look for when working on today’s valve bodies, and how to correct those problems for flawless performance.

Bob Nuttall is back for an extended round of his Thursday seminar, show-ing you the ins and outs of reading electrical schematics, and how to use them to diagnose today’s transmission systems. Learn how to use component

locators and other valuable diagnostic strategies. And then Bob will show you how to make a few simple tools that could save you a bundle of time… and money.

One final coffee break, and we’re off and running with the final seminar session for Saturday.

John Parmenter, a shop owner from Long Island, NY, and technical advisor for Precision International, will bring his experience front and center, to present his Tips and Tricks from the Builder’s Bench. Discover John’s real-world approach to diagnosis and repair as you go over the 55-50 SN, JF506E, and look into the changes in the 4L60, 4L65 and 4L70 series.

Stevie Lavallee sends his unique view of tech to the fore as he presents his Fix It Right the First Time semi-nar. This seminar will center on Ford transmissions, covering advanced diag-nostic strategies and repair techniques. You’ll learn about the latest diagnostic tools, how to find OEM information on the internet, and how reprogramming can correct many problems that seem unsolvable.

Having trouble earning your ATRA Certification patch? Long time techni-

cian, writer and course developer Steve Bodofsky will present a crash course on transmission technology, covering electrical, computer, hydraulic and mechanical principles that will “prob-ably” make their way into the ATRA Certification test. This class will be moving at breakneck speed; pregnant women or folks with heart conditions should probably skip this one!

ATRA’s Certification test will begin immediately as this class ends, so make sure you come with a couple sharp pencils, and let’s get ready to get certified!

Sunday Seminars

So far, we’ve heard about a lot of terrific seminars; problem is, many of those seminars were going on at the same time. That means you may have had to choose which ones to attend… and which ones to miss.

So Sunday is “Second Chance Day”: We’re going to give you a second chance at some of the most sought-after seminar programs, so you don’t have to miss anything.

What are we looking at?

Is it safe to touch? How do we go about

diagnosing and repairing it?



• Randall Schroeder will be reprising his Updates in the RFE Familyfrom Friday’s third session.

• Bill Brayton will give you a second look at his seminar on com-puter reprogramming techniques from Saturday’s first session.

• Dave Skora gives an encore performance on medium duty truck transmissions from Friday’s first ses-sion.

• Pete Huscher takes a second look at four wheel drive diagnosis and repair from Friday’s first session.

• And Steve Bodofsky will give you a second chance to earn your cer-tification stripes with his certification prep, followed by a do-over on the certification test.

Wow! That’s about a lot of train-ing in just four days. And that’s just the technical program. There’s an entire management seminar program going on at the same time, right across the hall. And it all takes place in America’s fun-land for adults: Las Vegas. Makes you wonder how anyone who calls himself

a transmission professional could miss it.

What? You don’t have your tickets yet? Well there’s still time, but you have to act fast! Reserve your place today, and make this the year you turned your business around.

There’s no time to wait… the clock is counting down. Make your reserva-tions today… and we’ll see you in Las Vegas!



What Caused the Transmission to Fail?Lance Wiggins, ATRA Technical DirectorUnderstand the Powertrain components outside the transmission that can cause the transmission to fail.

Tips and Tricks for the R&R TechJohn Parmenter, Precision Int’l Tech AdvisorTime saving tricks that work and some new tools available to aid the R&R technician.

Fluid Contamination and The Dirty SecretGregg Nader, SonnaxResults of testing transmission fluid in rebuilt transmissions and how contamination affects wear and durability.

Check the GroundsDan Marinucci, CommuniqueVital ground checks that techs should know on common computers, sensors and actuators.

Mitsubishi Electrical Systems, A Little of This, A Little of ThatBob Nuttall, Technical Training ConsultantReading and using wiring diagrams to diagnose transmission and transfer case shifting prob-lems.

Isolating TCC and Valve Body ConcernsBob Warnke, Sonnax V.P. Tech DevelopmentProcedures used to isolate TCC and Hydraulic problems.

Ford Transmission Problems and the Quick FixesBill Brayton, ATRA Technical AdvisorShift concerns, Engagement, TCC and various other problems & fixes will be discussed.

Torque Converters ….The Good The Bad and The Ugly Joe Rivera, Pro Torque OwnerLearn about real world torque converter issues and how to diagnose if the torque converter is the problem.

The Chrysler Doctor is in the HouseRandall Schroeder, ATRA Senior TechnicianDealing with troublesome Chryslers and under-standing the diagnostic routine.

GM’s 6T40, A New Breed of Front Wheel Drive Steve Garrett, ATRA Service EngineerLearn the mechanical, hydraulic and the diag-nostic procedures for the electronic control system.

Diagnosing Today’s Domestic Four Wheel Drive SystemsPete Huscher, ATRA TechnicianPete’s “keep it simple” approach to diagnosing four wheel drive system problems will surely save you time and money. Pete will also share some of the “Quick Fixes” gathered from your calls to the ATRA Hot Line. So be sure to bring your thinking caps because participation is always encouraged.

Knowing How To Fix Modern Medium Truck Transmissions Will Keep You GREENDave Skora, ATRA TechnicianThis program on medium duty truck transmis-sions will give you a “Heads Up” on what to expect when one of these rolls into your shop. Along with this information, will be the latest hints and tips to save you time and money.

Experience



Late Model Hondas and High-Tech DiagnosticsSean Boyle, Associate Professor at Southern Illinois UniversityCome learn about the new Turbocharged Acura RDX and its 3-shaft 5-speed transaxle along with the new Honda CRV transaxle.

Introduction to Toyota Hybrid TransaxlesJack Rosebro, Perfect Sky, Founder• How the P111 and P112 hybrid transaxles work • How to service the Lubrication and Cooling systems • Special Tools and equip-ment for hybrids

U250E: Performance vs. ElectricalMike Brown, ATRA TechnicianLine pressure test: how to understand and get the proper evaluation of pressure tes. Understanding per-formance codes vs. circuit codes, valve body assembly overhaul and check ball locations.

Valve Body Techniques and ComplaintsSteve Younger, RatioTek & Transel Inc. Owner & PresidentAssembly and disassembly, what exactly are we fixing! Valve body diagnosis with proven resto-ration tech.

Get Ready to Get Certified!Steve Bodofsky, Technical Writer, Course DeveloperThese classes are intended to help you under-stand the test taking process as well as prepare you for the test. Steve will address any questions you may have and also cover portions of the prep-test. Get ready to pass the test!

“Fixing It Right The First Time” - Strategy Based Procedures and Diagnostic Routines for Late Model Ford Powertrain SystemsStevie Lavallee, President of TEST ResearchStay ahead of the competition! Learn

methodology to quickly and accurately diagnose late model Ford transmissions including 4F50N, 5R55N/S/W, 5R110W, 6F50, 6R60, and the AW-F21. Discussion to include recommended electronic tools and equipment, OEM reference materials easily found via the Internet, the importance that flash reprogramming files have in resolving many electronic strategy concerns and more. You won’t want to miss this presentation!

the Most Varied and Intense Technical Training Available… at Expo!


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the Most Varied and Intense Technical Training Available ... · Dan Marinucci from Communiqué shows you how to iden-tify, isolate and repair these annoying diagnostic conditions