The ingenious thing about these gearboxes is the way they shift. To do this, the gears are not disconnected or connected, and the gear change is carried out by holding or releasing parts of the planetary gear set. Those. switching is carried out without interruption of the power flow. Holding and releasing are provided in practice by hydraulically actuated brakes or clutches.
When the shift occurs is determined by the electronic control of the gearbox. The electronic control unit is located on the right at the passenger's feet next to the driver. It receives information from the switches and sensors about the transmission oil temperature, the position of the switches, the number of revolutions of the gearbox, and from the engine control unit - information about the state of the load on the engine.
To get a four-speed gearbox with reverse gear, three planetary gear sets were connected in series. The gear sets are coordinated by the gearbox control.
If necessary, the driver can choose three different programs:
Sport or economy driving mode, as well as start-up assistance on roads covered with snow or ice. If start assist is activated, the vehicle starts in third gear. This program is automatically deactivated at speeds above 80 km/h if the driver forgets to deactivate it manually. The injection system and the electronic control of the gearbox are mutually correlated: for example, after a gear change, the engine torque is reduced for a short time by automatic repositioning of the ignition timing. As a result, gear shifting is smooth and comfortable. In addition, the gearbox has an automatic shift to a neutral position, which is activated if, in a stationary car, in the position of the ga-selector lever «D» the foot brake is activated. As soon as the gas pedal is pressed or the foot is removed from the brake, the car drives as usual.
Emergency mode and self-diagnosis are not forgotten either. In the event of electronic failures, the vehicle retains its ability to move. The self-diagnostic system stores information about defects in its memory, simultaneously by flashing a control light on the display «Triple-Info» or indicator «Automatik Getriebe» on the multifunction information display indicates to the driver that there is a malfunction. The workshop has a reader that plugs into a socket under the center console. In this way, indication of failures in the system operation is carried out.
Torque Converter
Between the engine and the automatic transmission, there is no traditional friction clutch that we know from a manual transmission. Moreover, a hydraulic torque converter was used here, in which the engine torque is transmitted to the paddle wheels. When the engine is running, the pump wheel connected to it rotates the liquid (ATF) in the converter and throws it to the outside on the converter case. In this case, the liquid collides with the so-called guide wheel, which directs the flow of ATF in a given direction. In this case, the turbine wheel connected to the gearbox is also driven into rotation. Because If the planetary gears are constantly engaged and the fluid in the converter, driven by the running engine, continuously seeks to drive the gearbox and therefore the drive gears, the Vectra will crawl at idle and must be held by a foot or hand brake.
To avoid slippage (what does loss mean), the gear torque converter is equipped with a lock-up clutch that takes effect in 3rd and 4th gear at higher speeds. There is a rigid connection between the engine and gearbox
Tip: If a Vectra with an automatic transmission won't start, neither pushing nor towing will help. The hydraulic torque converter cannot create a connection between the power unit and the transmission when the engine is not running. Only starting with an auxiliary wire will help.
Checking the automatic transmission
The automatic transmission leaves little room for the amateur to take initiative. But targeted checks can help to localize a malfunction, which may be of interest when buying a used car:
- In case of malfunctions, first of all, you need to check the ATF level in the gearbox (see chapter on lubrication system).
- If the ATF smells burnt, then the gearbox is severely damaged. In this case, the brake bands and clutch plates are damaged
- During a test drive, you can check the shift points.
- This also includes the evaluation of the gear change process.
Visitor comments