A2 Automatic
Transmission
A transmission slips in every range when hot and has a whine that rises with engine speed. Line pressure is low in all ranges at idle and at wide-open throttle. Which of these could be the cause?
A transmission was serviced with a fluid not listed for the vehicle. Technician A says the wrong friction modifier can cause converter clutch shudder. Technician B says fluid color identifies the correct type. Who is right?
A cooler flow test is run at idle in Neutral. The cooler returns 9 ounces in 15 seconds against a specification of 32 ounces. This indicates a:
A transmission is slow to engage Reverse but engages every forward range promptly. Which of these is the LEAST likely cause?
A transmission fluid pressure switch reports to the TCM:
A transmission slips under acceleration. The scan tool shows commanded line pressure of 180 psi while measured line pressure is 95 psi. What is the MOST likely cause?
Valve body fasteners are being installed after service. The correct method is to:
Technician A says clearing codes with a scan tool sets all monitors to ready. Technician B says the transmission monitor may require a specific drive cycle before it reports ready. Who is right?
A vehicle has a heavy clunk from the transaxle during rapid throttle changes and a rattle over bumps. Fluid level and shift quality are normal. Which of these could be the cause?
A vehicle is driven at 35 mph in third gear. The scan tool shows output shaft speed of 0 rpm and the transmission will not upshift. Which of these could be the cause?
Any of these could cause a vibration felt only above 50 mph EXCEPT:
In a torque converter, the turbine is driven by:
A valve body is being inspected. Technician A says a solenoid within its resistance specification is confirmed to work mechanically. Technician B says a scored valve bore can cause a valve to stick after cleaning. Who is right?
A TCM was replaced and programmed. The transmission now shifts harshly at light throttle, stores no codes, and holds correct line pressure. What is the MOST likely cause?
A shift solenoid ground circuit is being checked for excessive voltage drop. The meter leads are connected:
A vehicle accelerates normally from a stop but lacks power above 45 mph, and the transmission overheats. Fluid level and line pressure are correct. Which of these could be the cause?
A transmission pan contains a thin gray film and several bright steel chips that stick to a magnet. Which of these is the LEAST likely source?
End play is measured during transmission assembly with the results shown. The cause could be a:
| Measurement | Specification | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Input shaft end play | 0.008–0.029 in. | 0.052 in. |
| Output shaft end play | 0.010–0.025 in. | 0.018 in. |
| Converter hub runout | 0.000–0.005 in. | 0.002 in. |
Technician A says a lip seal should be installed dry. Technician B says the seal lip faces away from the fluid being retained. Who is right?
The serial data link between the TCM and the ECM is used to:
A transmission was installed and a loud grinding noise starts the moment the engine cranks. The converter bolted to the flexplate without resistance. What is the MOST likely cause?
Fluid pump gear-to-crescent and gear-to-body clearances are measured with:
A transmission has erratic shift timing and intermittent solenoid circuit codes. Which of these is the LEAST likely cause?
A transaxle has a howl that varies with vehicle speed in every forward range and Reverse, but is quiet in Neutral while coasting. Which of these could be the cause?
Technician A says a converter clutch that will not release can stall the engine at a stop. Technician B says converter clutch apply is verified by a small drop in engine rpm at steady speed. Who is right?
Reading Your Results: A2 Automatic Transmission, Test 2
This test comes at the same content areas from the bench and the wiring harness rather than the driver's seat. There are more questions about how a measurement is taken, what a scan tool value actually proves, and what a pan full of debris is telling you, so the questions you missed here point somewhere different than Test 1's would.
If you missed the questions about what a scan tool value proves
Several questions on this test turn on the difference between what the module commanded and what the transmission actually did, and that gap is where most modern transmission diagnosis lives. Commanded line pressure of 180 psi against a measured pressure well below it means the module is asking correctly and the hydraulic side is not delivering, which sends you to a gauge rather than to a wiring diagram. Output shaft speed reading zero while the vehicle is moving at 35 mph is an impossible value, so the sensor or its circuit is the fault rather than the transmission. A solenoid that measures within its resistance specification is proven electrically and proven nothing hydraulically, since a solenoid can pass a resistance check and still fail to move. When you miss one of these, check whether you trusted a value instead of asking what the value was capable of proving.
If you missed the questions with a measurement and a limit
Three questions here give you numbers and a specification, and each is only valid under a condition the question expects you to know.
If you missed the procedure questions
Three questions here are about doing the job in an order that will not create a new problem. Valve body fasteners are torqued in sequence to specification because the body is a stack of machined surfaces and separator plates that will warp or cross-leak if it is drawn down unevenly. A voltage drop test on a solenoid ground is taken across the section being evaluated with current flowing, since a reading taken with the circuit off will always look perfect no matter how bad the connection. Lip seals are installed with the lip facing the pressure they are meant to hold, and lubricated rather than dry, because a dry lip rolls under and tears as the shaft goes through it. On the exam these questions are asking whether you know what the step is protecting against.
If you missed the EXCEPT and LEAST likely questions
There are four on this test, and the method is the same one that works on the real exam. Identify what the three real causes share before you look for the odd one out. On the pan debris question, the material you find tells you which family of parts is wearing, so three answers come from that family and one does not. On the vibration-above-50-mph question, three answers are speed-related rotating faults and one is not. Naming the shared trait first is faster and far more reliable than working through four options one at a time.