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10 Commandments 
     of Transmissions

Some Transmission Warning Signs

Watch for these warning signs that tell you your vehicle may need Transmission service:

• "Check Engine" or "Service Engine" light
• O/D Light On or Flashes
• Winding Sound
• Hard Shifts
• Slipping
• Load Noises
• Neutralizes
• Lack of Power
• Fluid is Discolored

The old-fashioned diagnistics used to be done "by ear," but this isn't possible with computer-controlled transmissions. There are many sensors in your car. A complete diagnostic check, followed by a professional service, should be performed at recommended intervals or when ever your car shows any of the above warning signs.

To illustrate the complexity and importance of computers, consider that a Lexus LS 400 has 14 on-board computers. There are 8 computers on-board in the average new car. In fact, a new car today has more computer power than the "Eagle" that landed on the moon 28 years ago.

What is the computer?

The "computer" in your car doesn't have a screen, keyboard or disk drives. But it does have a lot of connections.

Your car's on-board computer doesn't look anything like the kind that's used on a desktop. The "computer" is a small box called an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), often mounted under the seats or in the kick panel. The ECU controls all the essentials of engine operation: spark timing, fuel delivery, emissions, and in some cases even the air conditioning or the automatic transmission. Keeping all these systems in tip-top shape is no simple job; it requires complex test equipment and advanced diagnostic skills.

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