Selector lever

SELECTOR LEVER

To select a gear, use the selector lever located on the central console, which comprises a safety button (2) to protect against accidental gear engagements. It is connected to the automatic transmission via a flexible cable, and it acts on the valve unit and on an electrical device through which a coded electrical signal indicating the lever's position (P, R, N, D, 3, 2, 1) is transmitted to the control module.

1. Selector lever
2. Safety button (to prevent accidental gear engagement)
3. Lever position display
4. NORMAL/SPORT button (this is for switching over from NORMAL mode to SPORT mode and vice versa)
5. ICE button (for driving on slippery roads)

The following positions may be set using the selector lever:

TORQUE CONVERTER

The purpose of the torque converter is to hydraulically transmit power from the engine to the gearbox, and to increase the torque when the vehicle is accelerating. The rotary motion is transmitted to the epicyclic gearing through two shafts:

• the gearbox main shaft which engages in the hub of the converter turbine.
• the layshaft which engages on the lock-up clutch;

The converter comprises (see figure on next page) a pump P connected to the crankshaft, a turbine T connected to the gearbox main shaft, and a stator S connected to the gearbox outer casing. The converter is filled completely with oil which, because of the kinetic energy impressed upon it by the pump, permits the transmission of the driving torque.