Course Outline for Automotive Technology 202
Automotive Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles

Effective: Fall 2022
SLO Rev: 03/03/2021
Catalog Description:

ATEC 202 - Automotive Automatic Transmissions and Transaxles

117.00 Hours

May be repeated 99 time(s)
Automotive Automatic Transmission fundamentals including: Diagnosis, inspection, repair, and adjustment of automatic transmission/transaxle assemblies, torque converters, friction materials, hydraulics, gear trains, manual and electronic controls. This course is free and students may repeat this course until mastery of the skills is met. This course is a noncredit course that is equivalent to the ATEC credit course of the same title. Both options cover the same content and students will be enrolled in the same class at the same time. If a student chooses to move from noncredit to credit courses, please meet with ATEC faculty to discuss assessing equivalency and credit by exam. This course is part of a Certificate of Completion. Available Certificates can be found in the Chabot College Catalog.
Prerequisite: ATEC 250 or ATEC 50 (same as APAU 9724) or equivalent (may be taken concurrently)
0948.00 - Automotive Technology*
Pass/No Pass/Satisfactory Progress
Type Hours
Lecture 27.00
Laboratory 90.00
Total 117.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. identify and interpret transmission/transaxle concern, assure proper engine operation, and determine necessary action;
  2. diagnose unusual fluid usage, level, and condition concerns, and determine necessary action;
  3. perform pressure and stall tests, and determine necessary action;
  4. perform lock up converter system tests, and determine necessary action;
  5. diagnose electronic, mechanical, hydraulic, vacuum control system concerns, and determine necessary action;
  6. diagnose transmission/transaxle gear reduction/multiplication concerns using driving, driven, and held member (power flow) principles;
  7. inspect, adjust or replace throttle linkages or cables, and check gear select indicator (as applicable);
  8. service transmission/transaxle, perform visual inspection; and replace fluids and filters;
  9. inspect and replace external seals and gaskets;
  10. inspect, leak test, flush, and replace cooler, lines, and fittings;
  11. diagnose electronic transmission control systems using the appropriate tool; determine necessary action;
  12. disassemble, clean, and inspect transmission/transaxle and reassemble;
  13. check torque converter and transmission cooling system for contamination;
  14. inspect, measure, and reseal oil pump assembly and components;
  15. measure endplay or preload, and determine necessary action;
  16. inspect, measure, and replace thrust washers. bearings and bushings;
  17. inspect oil delivery seal rings, ring grooves, and sealing surface areas, roller and sprag clutch, races, rollers, sprags, springs, cages, and retainers, and determine necessary action;
  18. inspect and measure planetary gear assembly, case bores, passages, bushings, vents, and mating surfaces and determine necessary action;
  19. inspect transaxle drive, link chains, sprockets, gears, bearings, and bushings, and perform necessary action;
  20. inspect, measure, repair, adjust or replace transaxle final drive components;
  21. inspect clutch drum, piston, check balls, springs, retainers, seals, and friction and pressure plates, and replace as needed;
  22. measure clutch pack clearance, and adjust as needed;
  23. air test operation of clutch and servo assemblies;
  24. inspect bands and drums; adjust or replace as needed.
Course Content:

Course Content (Lecture):

  1. Automotive safety and shop practice 
  2. Proper care and manipulation of basic hand and specialty tools
  3. Fundamentals, operating and servicing principles of automatic transmissions/transaxles, and CVT transmissions
  4. Diagnostic, inspection, and repair principles of mechanical, hydraulic and electronic systems
  5. Torque converter fundamental principles and servicing
  6. Friction materials, planetary gear systems, mechanical principles
  7. Hydraulic control systems, fluid principles and servicing
  8. Electronic control systems, principles and servicing
  9. Overhaul and adjustment techniques
  10. Hazardous waste handling
  11. Hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel safety
  12. Hybrid, electric, and alternative fuel applicable systems awareness
  13. Soft Skills

Course Content (Laboratory):

  1. Demonstrate proper shop safety and working practices, including tools and equipment, and hazardous waste handling
  2. Diagnose operation of an automatic transmission, including electronically controlled transmissions
  3. Disassemble, inspect, repair, reassemble, and test an automatic transmission 
  4. Perform normal periodic maintenance of an automatic transmission
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Demonstration
  3. Guest speakers
  4. Laboratory
  5. Field Trips
  6. Distance Education
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Read chapter on Torque Converters.
  2. Complete review quiz at end of chapter.
  3. Complete laboratory assignments using service information, lecture materials, and text.
  1. Class Participation
  2. Projects
  3. Homework
  4. Quizzes
  5. Midterm Examination
  6. Final Examination
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. perform and air pressure leak test on the applicable clutch packs in an automatic transmission;
  2. service transmissions; perform visual inspection; replace fluids and filters;
  3. check fluid level in a transmission or a transaxle equipped with a dip-stick;
  4. measure endplay/pre-load determine necessary action.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Halderman, James (2018). Automatic Transmissions & Transaxles (7th). Pearson.
  • Safety glasses
  • Shop/safety clothing
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Automotive Automatic Transmission fundamentals including: Diagnosis, inspection, repair, and adjustment of automatic transmission/transaxle assemblies, torque converters, friction materials, hydraulics, gear trains, manual and electronic controls. This course is a noncredit course that is equivalent to the ATEC credit course of the same title. Both options cover the same content and students will be enrolled in the same class at the same time.
Prerequisite: ATEC 250 or ATEC 50 (same as APAU 9724) or equivalent (may be taken concurrently)