by Andrea L. White
Motorheads Performance
As an active member of MerchantCircle, Guy Algar and I receive automotive questions from members looking for help, and we're happy to answer those that are within our area of knowledge and expertise. When answering a question this morning, it made me realize how much of a problem terms or expressions can be. We all experience this in our everyday life. Someone refers to something in an unfamiliar way, and we can miss the entire meaning, or worse. When dealing with automotive issues, it occurs to me that this can be especially problematic. Take today's question,
"What is a dead "miss" in the transmission?"
Manasquan Transmission & Clutch responded correctly that there is no such thing as a "dead miss" in a transmission. I went on to reply:
"A 'dead miss' does usually refer to an engine event. A 'dead miss' is basically a cylinder that does not fire. It is not an intermittent miss or a weak cylinder, but rather a complete 'miss' in the firing sequence...no action at all....pretty much a 'dead' cylinder.
A dead miss can affect the way your transmission shifts because your transmission shifts according to how much throttle it receives. If your engine has a dead cylinder (there are several reasons this could be happening including bad spark plug, bad spark plug wire, bad distributor cap or rotor, bad coil pack, or even if your firing order is off) you'll need to use more throttle (gas pedal) to obtain normal power. With a 'dead' cylinder you will also probably be getting poor mileage and lack horsepower. All the gas going into the dead cylinder comes out the tail pipe because it's not getting burned. If you pull each spark plug out you'll see that one will be black and fouled, and this will be the cylinder with the dead miss. You will want to buy new plug wires and spark plugs at a minimum, and you may need to consult with a shop that performs quality tune-ups for your year truck.
All that being said, the 'man' (you didn't mention whether you took your truck to a transmission shop, general repair shop, or a friend!) may have been referring to your transmission 'missing a shift', in which case it would indicate a transmission problem. Let's say you have a three speed transmission and when you shift from first, it skips second and goes directly into third gear. This would indicate that your transmission is 'missing a shift', and repairs can be performed to fix this.
You should ask for more details on what precisely is meant by 'dead miss' in your transmission, and what he is recommending as the remedy; transmission rebuild, replacement, or repair. If you cannot get answers that make sense to you, get a second opinion.
Motorheads Performance specializes in cars and trucks of the 1920's through 1970's. Answers provided are based on our experience with these vehicles. We wish you luck with your repair."
We have to realize that not everyone uses the same language when it comes to labeling a problem. They may not even use the same terminology when explaining what can be done to FIX the problem! As much as we all try, we're bound to make mistakes that can confuse others. With everything going viral, and information on just about everything available on the Internet, we're bound to run into problems every now and then. Regional dialects, slang terms, industry jargon, verbiage and just plain errors can cause confusion.
In the case of the truck owner who asked the transmission question, this could very well be what lead to his needing to ask more questions. We, as responsible specialists, should take the time to make sure that our customers understand their problem as well as the repair we are suggesting and why we're suggesting it!
My best advice to consumers is to keep asking questions until the answers make sense to you. Find a mechanic or technician who seems knowledgeable in the area of trouble you are having. Ask if they have dealt with this before, and how often they encounter it. If it is a large repair, consider seeking a second opinion. Do research on the problem using the terminology they've given you, but keep in mind that there is also a lot of mis-information on the Internet, and not everything you read is accurate or true. If you're dealing with a newer vehicle, consider diagnosis by a dealer (usually for a small fee), even if you do not end up having the work done there. Half the battle is proper diagnosis - the other half is fixing the problem correctly the first time!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea L. White is co-owner of a classic car performance and restoration design shop in Leesville, Texas. Motorheads Performance specializes in repairs, maintenance, performance upgrades and restorative work on cars and trucks from the 1920’s through 1970’s. Her business partner Guy L. Algar is a Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years experience. He holds 5 ASE Certifications from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence and has been working on old cars and trucks for over 37 years. Together they share their passion for old cars and trucks with other enthusiasts from around the country.
The MerchantCircle Circle of Excellence honors businesses recognized for outstanding service. Motorheads Performance has received significant compliments and great reviews from customers, neighbors and businesses throughout the MerchantCircle community, and just earned the MerchantCircle's Circle of Excellence!