A/T System Description - General Operation

General Operation


The automatic transmission is a combination of a 3-element torque converter and triple-shaft electronically controlled unit which provides 5 speeds forward and 1 reverse. The entire unit is positioned in line with the engine.

Torque Converter, Shafts, Gears, and Clutches

The torque converter consists of a pump, turbine, and stator assembly in a single unit. The converter housing (pump) is connected to the engine crankshaft and turns as the engine turns. Around the outside of the torque converter is a ring gear which meshes with the starter pinion when the engine is being started. The entire torque converter assembly serves as a flywheel while transmitting power to the transmission mainshaft. The transmission has three parallel shafts; the mainshaft, the countershaft and the secondary shaft. The mainshaft is in line with the engine crankshaft, and includes the 3rd and 5th clutches, and gears for 3rd, 5th, reverse, and idler. The mainshaft reverse gear is integral with the mainshaft 5th gear. The countershaft includes the gears for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th-5th, reverse, park, and the final drive. The countershaft 4th-5th gear enables the shared use of the secondary shaft 4th gear and the mainshaft 5th gear. The countershaft 4th-5th gear and the countershaft reverse gear can be locked to the countershaft providing the 4th, 5th or reverse gear, depending on which way the selector is moved. The final drive gear is integral with the countershaft. The secondary shaft includes the 1st, 2nd, and 4th clutches, and gears for 1st, 2nd, 4th, and idler. The idler gear shaft is located between the mainshaft and secondary shaft, and the idler gear transmits power between the mainshaft and the secondary shaft. The gears on the mainshaft and the secondary shaft are in constant mesh with those on the countershaft. When certain combinations of gears in the transmission are engaged by the clutches, power is transmitted through the mainshaft, then to the secondary shaft to the countershaft provide drive.

Electronic Control

The electronic control system consists of the powertrain control module (PCM), sensors, and seven solenoid valves. Shifting and lock-up are electronically controlled for comfortable driving under all conditions. The PCM is located in the engine compartment.

Hydraulic Control

The valve bodies include the main valve body, the regulator valve body, and the servo body. They are bolted to the torque converter housing. The main valve body contains the manual valve, the cut B valve, the shift valves A, C, and D, the relief valve, the lock-up control valve, the cooler check valve, the servo control valve, and the ATF pump gears. The regulator valve body contains the regulator valve, the torque converter check valve, the lock-up shift valve, the 1st accumulator, and the 3rd accumulator. The servo body contains the servo valve, the shift valve B, the cut A valve, accumulators for 2nd, 4th, and 5th, and shift solenoid valves for A, B, C, and D. Fluid from the regulator passes through the manual valve to the various control valves. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th clutches receive fluid from their respective feed pipes, and the 1st and the 5th clutches receive fluid from the internal hydraulic circuit.

Shift Control Mechanism

To shift gears, the PCM controls shift solenoid valves A, B, C, and D, and automatic transaxle (A/T) clutch pressure control solenoid valves A, B, and C, while receiving input signals from various sensors and switches located throughout the vehicle. The shift solenoid valves shift the positions of the shift valves to switch the port to send hydraulic pressure to the clutch. The A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valves A, B, and C regulate their respective pressure, and pressurize to the clutches to engage it and its corresponding gear.

Lock-up Mechanism

The lock-up mechanism operates in the D position (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th), and D3 position (1st, 2nd, and 3rd). The pressurized fluid is drained from the back of the torque converter through a fluid passage, causing the torque converter clutch piston to be held against the torque converter cover. As this takes place, the mainshaft rotates at the same speed as the engine crankshaft. Together with the hydraulic control, the PCM optimizes the timing and volume of the lock-up mechanism. When the shift solenoid valve D is turned on by the PCM, shift solenoid valve D pressure switches the lock-up shift valve lock-up on and off. The A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve A and the lock-up control valve control the volume of the lock-up conditions.

Gear Selection - 7-position Automatic Transmission

The shift lever has seven positions; P: PARK, R: REVERSE, N: NEUTRAL, D: DRIVE 1st through 5th gear ranges, D3: DRIVE 1st through 3rd gear ranges, 2: 2nd gear, and 1: 1st gear.

Position Description 
P: PARK Front wheels locked; park pawl engaged with park gear on countershaft. All clutches are released. 
R: REVERSE Reverse; reverse selector engaged with countershaft reverse gear and 5th clutch engaged. 
N: NEUTRAL All clutches are released. 
D: DRIVE
(1st through 5th) 		General driving; starts off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then 5th, depending on vehicle speed and throttle position. Downshifts through 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on deceleration to stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears. 
D3: DRIVE
(1st through 3rd) 		Used for rapid acceleration at highway speeds and general driving, up-hill and down-hill driving; starts off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, then 3rd, depending on vehicle speed and throttle position. Downshifts through 2nd to 1st on deceleration to stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 2nd and 3rd gears. 
2: SECOND Used for engine braking or better traction starting off on loose or slippery surfaces; stays in 2nd gear; does not shift up and down. 
1: FIRST Used for engine braking; stays in 1st gear; does not shift up. 


Starting is possible only in the P and N positions because of a slide-type neutral-safety switch.

Automatic Transmission Gear Position Indicator

The A/T gear position indicator in the instrument panel shows which shift lever position has been selected without having look down at the console.

Gear Selection - 5-position Automatic Transmission

The shift lever has five positions; P: PARK, R: REVERSE, N: NEUTRAL, D: DRIVE 1st through 5th gear ranges, S: DRIVE 1st through 5th gear ranges with S-position automatic shift and sequential shift.

Position Description 
P: PARK Front wheels locked; park pawl engaged with park gear on countershaft. All clutches are released. 
R: REVERSE Reverse; reverse selector engaged with countershaft reverse gear and 5th clutch engaged. 
N: NEUTRAL All clutches are released. 
D: DRIVE
(1st through 5th) 		General driving; starts off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then 5th, depending on vehicle speed and throttle position. Downshifts through 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on deceleration to stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears. 
S: DRIVE
(1st through 5th) 		S-position automatic shift For rapid acceleration at highway speeds and general driving; starts off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then 5th, depending on vehicle speed and throttle position. Downshifts through 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on deceleration to stop. The lock-up mechanism operates in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears. 
Sequential shift Manual gear shift driving; vehicle can starts off in 1st and 2nd gears, and does not upshift automatically. 


Starting is possible only in the P and N positions because of a slide-type neutral-safety switch.

Automatic Transmission Gear Position Indicator

The A/T gear position indicator in the instrument panel shows which shift lever position has been selected without having look down at the console.