42 GEARS January/February 2007

DDuring the last five years on the ATRA Technical HotLine, I’ve spoken with a lot of really

memorable people, ATRA members and non-members alike, from all around the world. Some days, HotLine calls are pretty typical:

“What does this code mean?”“How do I check this circuit?”“Will this part interchange with

that part?”“Could you fax me a diagnostic

routine and wiring schematic?”All pretty standard fare. But every

once in awhile the HotLine can get pretty interesting.

Just recently I received a request for a “courtesy call” from the member-ship department. A courtesy call is part of ATRA’s member recruitment process where non-members can request tech-nical assistance. Anyone interested in ATRA membership can receive a free tech call prior to joining ATRA.

This wasn’t your typical HotLine call, this call was going to the middle east to a man named Gary Skinner. Gary is a TMP (Transportation Motor Pool) Maintenance Mechanic serving with the US Military in Balad, Iraq. Gary contacted the ATRA Membership Department via email, explaining that he’d heard of ATRA (all the way over in Iraq!) and wanted to know whether we could help him.

Unfortunately, being half-way around the world, it’s very difficult to make contact during normal “busi-ness” hours, so after several attempts to return Gary’s call, the satellites must have finally lined up, allowing the call to go through. Gary said he was in the middle of the Iraqi desert, his crew was constantly under fire, the temperature was closing in on 139º F, and their F350 wouldn’t move out of its own way at the most inconvenient of times.

KEEP THOSE TRANNYS ROLLING

by Pete HuscherATRA: ATRA: Always Here for You …Always Here for You …Even Under Fire!Even Under Fire!

Gary said he was in the middle of

the Iraqi desert, his crew was constant-

ly under fire, the temperature was

closing in on 139ºF, and their F350

wouldn’t move out of its own way at

the most inconve-nient of times.

TMP Maintenance Crew

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44 GEARSJanuary/February2007

Gary was working on a 2004 Ford F350 with a 4R100 transmission that had delayed reverse engagements. He said he’d checked everything and was confident the transmission had an internal problem, but didn’t want to wait two weeks for a replacement transmission.

After walking through Gary’s diagnostic routine, we both agreed he had an internal problem. I asked Gary if he had access to the internet. He laughed: “That’s how you got a hold of me.” Gary was using a laptop with a satellite linkup and internet access. After walking him through the ATRAOnline login, we went to the bulletin search category and found a bulletin related to delayed reverse engagement. Gary down-

loaded the bulletin, and after a brief discussion of the repair procedure, said “thanks for your help,” and he was off to fix his F350.

I called Gary the next day to see how things were going. He said he was able to fix the delayed reverse engagement by removing the spring from the engagement control valve, just as it said in the bulletin. He couldn’t believe the problem could be fixed by simply removing a spring in the valve body. He went on to say, “We couldn’t have done this without you (ATRA); you guys probably saved our lives.”

Gary said he was so impressed with ATRA’s service and the fact that we went out of our way to help that he wanted us to email him membership information. I explained to Gary that ATRA was a team effort, from the Membership Department to the Technical Department, and everywhere in between… including its members, all across the US and Canada. “Helping people is what being part of ATRA is all about,” I told him.

I hung up the phone with a terrific feeling of accomplish-ment, knowing that I was able to help someone else make it through another tough day; maybe tougher than most!

But as I sat at my desk waiting for the next HotLine call, I realized that Gary’s call wasn’t all that different from so many others I’ve taken over the years. Whether I’m talking to a non-member under fire in the middle of the Iraqi desert; a mem-ber in Israel, trying to complete a transmission repair while bombs are exploding nearby; or helping ATRA members here at home through some really tough times after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast last year; I know no matter what’s going on,

ATRA: Always Here for You…Even Under Fire!

He said he’d checked everything and was confi-dent the transmission had an internal problem, but didn’t want to wait two

weeks for a replacement transmission.

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Ford Torqshift Rebuild ProceduresThis book was written by Bill Brayton while he was actually rebuilding one of these trans-missions. Some of the topics covered are: transmission disassembly, overdrive assembly, planetary gear sets, air check locations, and parts updates.

5R55N/S/W Identification, Diagnosis and Testing - Book 1This book, written by Bill Brayton, covers vari-ous identification and diagnosis information for the 5R55N/S/W. Some of the topics in this book include: transmission identification, computer system diagnosis, electrical system diagnosis, hydraulic operations, pressure testing, and much more.

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GEARS January/February 2007 45

Try A Courtesy Call

If you are a non-member and would like more information about

ATRA, please contact membership services at 805-604-2000.

Also if you happen to be having a vehicle that is giving you some

problems, try out our technical services. Contact membership ser-

vices and request a “Courtesy Call”. You will have the opportunity

to get a temporary user name and password for our online sup-

port as well as an opportunity for one of our Technical Advisors to

contact you directly.

ATRA was founded on initiative, shops helping shops, and that

is what gives you the advantage of hundreds and thousands of

years of experience. It’s why we are here…to serve the industry

and help you in your times of need and to support you when

times are good…ATRA is here for you!

ATRA is here for its members. From the BookStore to Membership, from Tech to Accounting, through GEARS Magazine and all the way to the Board of Directors, this is what ATRA is all about: Professionals working together, to make our business better for each and every one of us. And, no matter where you are, ATRA is always just a phone call — or a mouse click — away.

So when somebody asks me what I do for a living, I say “I’m lucky: I work for ATRA. I get to help people for a living.” And you know what? I’m proud to be part of ATRA. So let’s Keep Those Trannys Rolling, and remember: at ATRA, we’re always here for you… even under fire!”

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