Disclaimers Safety, and Warnings

DISCLAIMERS
All information, illustrations and specifications are based on the latest information. The right is reserved to make changes at any time without notice.

SAFETY
TECHNICIAN SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: ENGINES PRODUCE CARBON MONOXIDE THAT IS ODORLESS, CAUSES SLOWER REACTION TIMES AND CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY. WHEN THE ENGINE IS OPERATING, KEEP SERVICE AREAS WELL VENTILATED OR ATTACH THE VEHICLE EXHAUST SYSTEM TO THE SHOP EXHAUST REMOVAL SYSTEM.

Some operations require that hydraulic tubes, hoses, and fittings, disconnected for inspection or testing purposes. These systems, when fully charged, contains fluid at high pressure. Before disconnecting any hydraulic tubes, hoses or fittings, be sure that the system is fully depressurized.
When servicing a vehicle, always wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry such as watchbands or bracelets that might make an inadvertent electrical contact.
When diagnosing a transmission system problem, it is important to follow approved procedures where applicable. Following these procedures is very important to the safety of individuals performing diagnostic tests.

VEHICLE PREPARATION FOR TESTING
Make sure the vehicle being tested has a fully charged battery. If it does not, false diagnostic codes or error messages may occur. It is extremely important that accurate shift lever position data be available to the TCM. The accuracy of any diagnostic trouble code found in memory is doubtful unless the Shift Lever Test, performed on the DRBIII Scan Tool, passes without fail.

SERVICING SUB-ASSEMBLIES
Some components of the powertrain system are intended to be serviced in assembly only. Attempting to remove or repair certain system subcomponents may result in personal injury and/or improper system operation. Only those components with approved repair and installation procedures.

DRBIII SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: EXCEEDING THE LIMITS OF THE DRBIII MULTIMETER IS DANGEROUS. IT CAN EXPOSE YOU TO SERIOUS OR POSSIBLY FATAL INJURY. CAREFULLY READ AND UNDERSTAND THE CAUTIONS AND THE SPECIFICATION LIMITS.

- Follow the vehicle manufacturer's service specifications at all times.
- Do not use the DRBIII if it has been damaged.
- Do not use the test leads if the insulation is damaged or if metal is exposed.
- To avoid electrical shock, do not touch the test leads, tips, or the circuit being tested.
- Choose the proper range and function for the measurement. Do not try voltage or current measurements that may exceed the rated capacity.
- Do not exceed the limit shown in the table





*Ohms cannot be measured if voltage is present. Ohms can be measured only in a non-powered circuit.
- Voltage between any terminal and ground must not exceed 500v DC or 500v peak AC.
- Use caution when measuring voltage above 25v DC or 25v AC.
- The circuit being tested must be protected by a 10A fuse or circuit breaker.
- Use the low current shunt to measure circuits up to 10A. Use the high current clamp to measure circuits exceeding 10A.
- When testing for the presence of voltage or current, make sure the meter is functioning correctly. Take a reading of a known voltage or current before accepting a zero reading.
- When measuring current, connect the meter in series with the load.
- Disconnect the live test lead before disconnecting the common test lead.
- When using the meter function, keep the DRBIII away from spark plug or coil wires to avoid measuring error from outside interference.

WARNINGS
VEHICLE DAMAGE WARNINGS
Before disconnecting any control module, make sure the ignition is "off". Failure to do so could damage the module.
When testing voltage or continuity at any control module, use the terminal side (not the wire end) of the connector. Do not probe a wire through the insulation; this will damage it and eventually cause it to fail because of corrosion.
Be careful when performing electrical tests so as to prevent accidental shorting of terminals. Such mistakes can damage fuses or components. Also, a second code could be set, making diagnosis of the original problem more difficult.

ROAD TEST COMPLAINT VEHICLE
Some complaints will require a test drive as part of the repair verification procedure. The purpose of the test drive is to try to duplicate the diagnostic code or symptom condition.

CAUTION: BEFORE ROAD TESTING A VEHICLE, BE SURE THAT ALL COMPONENTS ARE REASSEMBLED. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, DO NOT TRY TO READ THE DRBIII SCREEN WHILE IN MOTION. DO NOT HANG THE DRBIII FROM THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR OPERATE IT YOURSELF. HAVE AN ASSISTANT AVAILABLE TO OPERATE THE DRBIII.

Road testing is an essential step in the diagnostic process that must not be overlooked. Along with diagnostic information obtained from the DRBIII Scan Tool and the original customer concern, the road test helps to verify the problem and observe operation under actual vehicle driving conditions.
Just as important as the road test is, there are preliminary inspections that should be carried out prior to the road test. Always check the fluid level and condition before going on a road test or performing other tests. Also try to determine the type of fluid being used. Improper fluid can result in problems. Additionally, a variety of complaints can be caused by incorrect fluid level. Some of the conditions caused by incorrect fluid level are as follows:
- Delayed engagement
- Poor shifting or erratic shifts
- Excessive noise
- Overheating
The next step is to verify that the shift linkage is correctly adjusted. If the gearshift linkage is incorrectly adjusted because of wear of incorrect adjustment, a number of complaints can result.
The TCM monitors the Shift Lever Position (SLP) Sensor at all times. If the linkage is incorrectly adjusted, the TCM may sense a shift lever position that is not correct for the gear range chosen by the driver. This may cause diagnostic trouble codes to be set and a possible limp-in situation.
The following complaints may also be the result of an incorrectly adjusted or worn linkage:
- Delayed clutch engagement or erratic shifts
- Vehicle able to drive in Neutral
- Engine not able to crank in Park or Neutral
- Gearshift linkage able to be shifted without the key in the ignition
- Not able to remove the ignition key in Reverse
- Parking pawl not engaging
The shift linkage should also be adjusted when replacing transaxle, repairing the valve body or repairing any component between the shift lever and the transaxle.
Some questions to ask yourself when considering the road test are listed below:
- Is the complaint or concern what you think it is, based on the driver's description of the problem?
- Is the transaxle operating normally, or is there a real problem?
- When does the malfunction occur?
- Is the problem in only one gear range?
- What temperature does the complaint occur?
- Is the transaxle in limp-in mode?

ELECTRONIC PINION FACTOR WARNINGS
The pinion factor must be set for all new transmission control modules. If the pinion factor is not set or if it is set incorrectly, any speedometer, speed control, rolling door locks, and other devices that are operated by the powertrain and body controllers will not function properly.