Ford Falcon. Manual - part 227

307-01-11 Automatic 

Transmission 307-01-11

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

Engine Speed

Solenoids

The engine speed signal is taken from the tachometer

signal line.

Road Speed

The road speed signal is taken from the speedometer

transducer to speedometer line (ABS model only). On

non-ABS models, the speed signal is taken from the

speedometer transducer on the output shaft.

Transmission Sump Temperature

This sensor takes the form of a thermistor located in

the solenoid wiring loom within the transmission.

Above certain temperatures, overheat strategies are

invoked as indicated in the table below.

Temp (

°C)

Overheat Strategy

Item

Description

115

Fan engaged.

1

Exhaust

No driver alert.

2

Line 500

120

In Adaptive mode,

Solenoids Nos. 1 to 6 are mounted in the valve body.

power shift schedule

Solenoid No. 7 is mounted in the pump cover.

is selected.

Solenoids 1 and 2 are normally open ON/OFF

Engine temperature

solenoids that combine with other solenoids to set the

jewel will appear.

selected gear.

PRNDL indicator will

Solenoids 3 and 4 are normally open ON/OFF

flash.

solenoids that combine to control shift quality

125

Torque converter

sequencing. They also combine with other solenoids

lock-up invoked in

to obtain certain gear states.

2nd, 3rd and 4th

Solenoid 5 is a variable pressure solenoid (VPS) that

gears above certain

ramps the pressure during gear changes to control

calibratable shaft

shift quality. It is also used to obtain certain gear

speed points.

states in combination with other solenoids.

135

Vehicle restricted to a

Solenoid 6 is a normally open ON/OFF solenoid that

calibratable constant

sets the high/low level of line pressure.

torque.

Solenoid 7 is a normally open ON/OFF solenoid that

Transmission Range Sensor

controls the application of the converter clutch.

The transmission range TR sensor is incorporated in

Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) Sensor

the inhibitor switch mounted on the side of the

The APP is part of the Electronic Throttle Control ETC transmission case and provides discrete resistance

system. ETC provides direct throttle control by

values indicating the gear selected by the gear shift

eliminating the throttle cable. A spring is contained in

lever.

the APP to proved pedal resistance. The APP

contains three potentiometers: one reverse slope full

ratio, one forward slope full-ratio and one forward

slope half-ratio. This allows an accurate picture of

both the accelerator pedal position and rate of change

to be sent to the PCM, while providing a failsafe

backup if one of the potentiometers fails. The APP is

not serviceable, if faulty replace the APP as an

assembly.

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307-01-12 Automatic 

Transmission 307-01-12

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

Temperature Sensor Location in Solenoid Loom

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307-01-13 Automatic 

Transmission 307-01-13

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

Override Function

Adaptive Shift Strategy

The adaptive shift strategy allows for an immediate

The PCM features an adaptive shift strategy, which is

change to maximum performance shifting when the

controlled by the software within the PCM. By

pedal application is greater than 85%. When the pedal

continuously monitoring the driver’s accelerator inputs

falls below 85%, the adaptive shift level will return to

(via the Throttle Position Sensor - measuring throttle

the level used prior to the 85% pedal application.

position and rate of change, and vehicle speed-VSS),

the PCM determines the driving style being used and

Kickdown Strategy

modifies the gearshift points to suit that style.

A ‘kickdown’, or forced downshift feature, is controlled

The PCM selects from 6 graduated shift maps. The

by the PCM. The PCM reads pedal position, rate of

maps are selected automatically by the PCM

pedal application, engine speed and road speed

dependent on the driving style being used at the time.

signals to determine and select the required gear.

Keep alive memory data retention

The 93/97LE PCM contains a ‘Keep Alive Memory’

capability. When in Adaptive Mode, this enables the

module to maintain a score of various engine/

transmission parameters and optimise the

transmission shift points.
The Keep Alive Memory also stores the fault data for

service technician use in diagnosis. This data is

stored for 40 warm up cycles of the PCM. (Warm =

transmission temp. > 50

°C)

If the power supply to the PCM is interrupted the PCM

may lose the data in the ’Keep Alive Memory’.
The data retention time for the PCM depends on the

The Shift maps are essentially sets of tables which

module temperature during the time that the power

dictate the speeds at which the transmission will

supply is interrupted (e.g. battery disconnected).

change gear, based on vehicle speed and throttle

position.

Engine Idle Up Strategy

Operation

To ensure sufficient pump capacity the PCM controls

the engine idle at different transmission oil

The PCM monitors what pedal position is used for

temperatures.

upshifts and/or downshifts and compiles a composite

score which reflects a particular driver’s behaviour. If

The Shift Pressure Control System

the composite score is higher than the current “library”

score then it will move to the next more aggressive

Variable Pressure Solenoid (VPS) Multiplexing

“shift map”, or vice versa.

System

There are two parameters that the adaptive shift

Friction element shifting pressures are controlled by

routine continuously monitors to determine the best

the variable pressure solenoid No. 5. Line pressure is

suited “shift map” to suit the driver’s driving

completely independent of shift pressure.

behaviour.

VPS pressure is supplied continuously to the

Parameters monitored are as follows:

converter clutch regulator valve and is multiplexed to

the clutch and band regulator valves during timed

1. Shift Scoring

gearshifts.

The "Shift Scoring" parameter is used to record and

The multiplexing is carried out by two normally open

monitor the position of the pedal at the start of a shift.

on/off solenoids. These on/off solenoids act via a

The PCM does this using the APP signal.

plunger to apply either VPS outlet pressure or Line

500 reference pressure to one end of the regulator

2. Launch Scoring

valve. The other end of the regulator valve is fed with

The “Launch Scoring” parameter is used to record

band or clutch feed-back pressure.

and monitor the pedal position each time the vehicle

Except when in Auto 1st , Manual 1st or RLO gear

is accelerated from rest. The PCM does this using the

state, under steady state conditions the band and

pedal position sensor and vehicle speed sensor (APP

clutch regulator valve solenoids are switched off. This

vs VSS).

applies full Line 500 pressure to the plunger and

because Line 500 pressure is always greater than S5

pressure, it squeezes the S5 oil from between the

regulator valve and the plunger. The friction elements

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307-01-14 Automatic 

Transmission 307-01-14

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

are then fed oil pressure equal to Line 500 multiplied

hence controls the shift pressures. It is also

by the regulator valve amplification ratio. When a

utilised to obtain Auto 1st, Garage 1st and 3rd

gearshift is not in progress the VPS current is set to

Limp Home.

200 mA which gives a pressure of approximately 450

S7 - Lock up solenoid LUS switches converter

kPa.

clutch on or off, solenoid on applies the clutch.

When a shift is initiated the required on/off solenoid is

Variable Pressure Solenoid (VPS) Operation

switched on cutting the supply of Line 500 oil to the

plunger. At the same time the VPS pressure is

Solenoid S5 is a proportional or variable pressure

reduced to the ramp start value and assumes control

solenoid that provides the signal pressure to the

of the regulator valve by pushing the plunger away

clutch and band regulator valves thereby controlling

from the valve. The VPS then carries out the required shift pressures.

pressure ramp and the timed shift is completed by

A variable pressure solenoid produces an oil pressure

switching off the on/off solenoid and returning the

inversely proportional to the current applied.

VPS to the standby pressure.

During a gearshift the PCM applies a progressively

This system enables either the band or clutch or both increasing or decreasing (ramped) current to the

to be electrically selected for each gearshift. The

solenoid. Current applied will vary between a

multiplexing arrangement also increases transmission minimum of 0.2 amps and a maximum of 1.275 amps.

reliability since it requires both the VPS and one on/off

Increasing current decreases output (S5) pressure.

solenoid to fail before a friction element burn-up can

Decreasing current increases output (S5) pressure.

occur.

Line 500 pressure, 480 kPa, is the reference pressure

The converter clutch regulator valve is permanently

for the VPS.

connected to the VPS but its regulated outlet pressure

S5 output pressure has a maximum value of

is only fed to the torque converter when the lock up

approximately 450 kPa.

solenoid LUS S7 is activated.

When the VPS is on standby (i.e. no gearshift is

The VPS has been fitted with nose filters to prevent

taking place), the VPS current is set at 0.2 amps

the ingress of contaminants resulting in solenoid

giving maximum output pressure. This current may be

stiction and hence further increase the overall system

lower when the lockup clutch is applied in high

reliability.

performance vehicles.

Solenoid Shifting Sequence

Solenoid Valve Symbols (On/Off Solenoids)

Tables 1 and 2 outline the usage of solenoid numbers

The solenoid symbol shown adjacent to each solenoid

S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S7 in each gear position and

on the hydraulic system schematics indicates the

during gear shifts.

state of the oil flow through the solenoid valve with the

In brief:

power On or Off.

S1 & S2 - determine static gear position by

Both halves of the symbol are identical, only the

operating the shift valves.

spring end is labeled.

S3 - Switches the clutch regulator valve off or on. In the example illustrated:

It is also utilised to obtain Reverse, RLO, Manual

POWER ON Line 500 port is closed. The S1 port

1st, Garage 1st and 2nd No Engine Braking.

is open to exhaust at the solenoid valve.

S4 - Switches the band regulator valve off or on. It

POWER OFF The exhaust port is closed. The S1

is also utilised to obtain Auto 1st, Garage 1st and

port is open to Line 500.

3rd Limp Home.
S5 - Variable pressure solenoid VPS provides the

signal pressure to the clutch, band regulator and

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