AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DESCRIPTION

2.2

The vehicle is equipped with automatic transmission which regulates and controls the automatic engagement of the gears.

An electronic control unit manages a complex operating logic that allows the use of the gearbox in both sequential conditions, in which the driver manages the engagement of the gears using the lever and, in automatic mode, where the management of the gear changes is delegated to the electronic system.

The presence of the transmission control unit makes available the following set of operating modes and specific operational functions:

- basic operating mode;

- ability to adapt to operating conditions;

- functions designed to improve comfort and fuel consumption.

In manual operating mode, the driver may select the gears by pressing the gear lever to the left. At this point the lever may be pushed up (towards +) to shift up or pushed down (towards -) to shift down a gear.

Its ability to adapt to operational condtions allows the vehicle to adapt to the driver''s driving conditions and/or road conditions. The most important are as follows:

- up & down slope: this function allows the vehicle to recognise road slopes (upward and downward) and modify gear shift points to achieve the best possible compromise at all times between the driver''s needs, the road conditions and the vehicle situation (speed and engine speed).

- Fast off: automatic transmissions normally shift from one gear to the next when the driver raises his foot from the accelerator. This function inhibits this gear shift when the foot is raised quicklyl from the accelerator, limiting the number of gear shifts and increasing driver comfort.

- Cornering: this function inhibits gear shifts when the vehicle is cornering in order not to jeopardise vehicle safety.

The functions designed to improve comfort and fuel consumption allow vibrations and pulses felt by the driver to be reduced:

- Neutral control: after the vehicle has been parked with the gear shift lever in position D for a few seconds (e.g. waiting at a green traffic light), this function is activated. It releases the hydraulic clutch inside the transmission to reduce the resistant torque in the torque converter and thus save fuel while reducing the vehicle''s vibration level when idling.

- Self-learning to minimise the pulses perceptible to the driver during gear selector operation with the car parked (i.e. shifts from N-R and N-D), it is possible to apply the self-learning procedrue to set the band and clutch activation pressures to ensure smoother operation;

The control unit has its own diagnostic signal used for the continuous monitoring of the entire device.

See E8010 DIAGNOSTIC MULTIPLE CONNECTOR