Servicing Hybrid Transmissions
Figure 4: Regulator coolant service is important.
vehicle up to 40 MPH, start the gas have one more surprise when it comes operates electrically, to supply hydrau-
engine, and produce voltage during to what should be a normal service pro- lic pressure when the gas engine is off.
vehicle braking. cedure. It’s about replacing or bleeding This pump is located externally at the
The CVT is sealed for life with brakes: You must have a scan tool that bottom of the bellhousing.
Mercon fluid. Never substitute any can turn the regenerative braking sys- With the pan and filter removed,
other type fluid. A drainplug is located tem off to perform these services. the transmission fill capacity is 11.5
on the bottom of the unit with a fill plug quarts. There’s a fill tube on the right
on the left side. GM Two-Mode Hybrid side of the case. For now, GM hasn’t
The other important service inter- GM designed its hybrid vehicle provided any information for verifying
vals unique to the hybrid Escape and with regular maintenance in mind. The the level or specified fluid.
Mariner is to inspect the battery A/C engine and most of the common com- With any new technology, it’s best
filter every 10,000 miles and replace it ponents are pretty much the same as to take one step at a time to learn the
every 20,000 miles. That’s right: The they are in a standard vehicle. ropes. Unless you’re trained and famil-
batteries are cooled by an extension of The main difference is with the iar with hybrid vehicles, I wouldn’t rec-
the A/C system, and the air inlet has transmission and starter. The function ommend beginning your hybrid service
its own filter. The battery A/C filter is of the starter is now part of the front career trying to fix a hybrid that was
located behind a small access panel at electric drive motor in the transmission. towed into your shop. General main-
the left rear cargo area panel. One of the control devices that allows tenance is probably your best way of
Since the A/C system is so impor- this to work is the Starter/Generator becoming familiar with them.
tant to maintaining the high-voltage Control Module (SGCM) at the right
battery pack, consider recommending rear of the engine compartment.
regular A/C inspection and refrigerant The SGCM unit includes its own
service to your customers. coolant, radiator and pump system to
The Escape and Mariner vehicles regulate its temperature. Another pump
18 GEARS January/February 2010
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