by Bill Brayton
FUN WITH TRANSMISSIONS
Sleuthing the
Intermittent
Computer Glitch
I
In the last installment of Fun With
Transmissions we got into this new
automatic 5-speed from Honda and
the shifting problems customers have
reported. This time we’ll be taking a
look at what may be causing this “mys-
tery downshift” from the inside of the
transmission and learn what may be
causing this downshift to occur.
Honda Motor Company has
extended the warranty on this transmis-
sion, and Honda claims they’ve
redesigned it. But we’ve already taken a
few calls on the ATRA HelpLine from
shops that have changed the case due to
accidents. Once this happens the war-
ranty is out the window, and the shop
that did the work becomes responsible
for the transmission and all of its
defects.
I believe that this downshift condi-
tion is actually an external problem and
has nothing to do with the inner work-
50
ings of the transmis-
sion at all. First, let’s take a look at
some of the electrical inputs and out-
puts that the computer uses to control
the transmission. Then we’ll go into
what the transmission would have do to
shift from 5th to 2nd gear.
The computer inputs, for all practi-
cal purposes, remain the same as those
we have come to know and love. The
TPS, Baro sensor, transmission range
switch, etc., should all be familiar by
now. The inputs that you may not be
familiar with yet are the 3rd clutch and
4th clutch pressure switches. The late
model Accord 4-speed also used 2nd
and 3rd clutch pressure switches. These
switches open and close at a specified
setting to provide a shift timing signal
to the computer. The computer uses this
signal to control clutch apply and
release rate.
The solenoid on–off pattern shown
(figure 1) closely
resembles that of the 4-speed Honda
transmission, which we discussed in the
August, 2002 edition of GEARS. The 5-
speed version has an additional clutch
pressure control (CPC) solenoid.
This is the Honda 5-speed sce-
nario: The vehicle is cruising down the
road at, say, 65 MPH in 5th gear. Then,
without warning (as reported by many
Honda/Acura owners), the car down-
shifts from 5th gear to 2nd gear. This
transmission doesn’t have a 2nd gear
sprag, so when it downshifts into 2nd
gear, it’s the same as shifting a manual
transmission from 5th to 2nd at freeway
speeds — scary and dangerous!
Now put on your detective hat and
follow along as we investigate, using
the information provided, to recreate a
5th-to-2nd-gear downshift, and possi-
bly get to the bottom of this heinous
crime!
GEARS April 2003
Sleuthing the Intermittent Computer Glitch
FIGURE 1: Electronic Control System
The PCM turns on the shift solenoid valves A, B, and C to control shifting transmission gear.
The combination of driving signals to shift solenoid valves A, B, and C are shown in the table below.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
What does it take to for this 5-
speed transmission to downshift this
way? First let’s take a look at what takes
place in 5th gear. The solenoid pattern
for 5th gear is (Figure 2):
A — On
B — Off
C — On
The 5th clutch is applied; the 1st
clutch is also applied, but not effective
because the low sprag is overrunning.
For 2nd gear the only difference is the
second clutch applied. The solenoid
pattern for 2nd gear is (Figure 3):
A — On
B — On
C — Off
Right here you can see that the
computer must manipulate the sole-
noids for a gear change to occur.
In the valve body, two different
valves must move to apply these indi-
vidual clutches, which are fairly far
apart in the valve body. This eliminates
the likelihood of crossleaks causing
valves to move at the wrong time. The
point is that a lot must happen inside
the transmission to shift from 5th to 2nd
gear without the transmission actually
52
being commanded to do so.
Here’s where the diagnosis gets
tough: One of the biggest challenges in
this business is isolating intermittent
problems that only occur while the cus-
tomer is driving under certain condi-
tions. The key to solving these prob-
lems is recreating the complaint and
getting a feel for what the customer is
actually talking about. Once you can
duplicate the problem, you can use your
scan tool to determine what the vehi-
cle’s computer is actually commanding
the transmission to do, using either live
data, or recorded data in the form of a
“snapshot” or movie. This is probably
the best way to track down this Honda
downshift problem: Having a scan tool
connected to the vehicle when the mys-
tery downshift occurs, to capture live
data for review.
Most scan tools will show all the
critical inputs the computer uses to con-
trol upshifts and downshifts. When
looking for problems with these inputs,
the actual numbers often aren’t as criti-
cal as they seem. For example, suppose
the countershaft speed sensor is reading
1500 RPM. The transmission falls to
another gear quickly then back
again. Did you see the speed
change in the countershaft sen-
sor signal? Take the car out for
a drive again and arm the movie
on your scan tool: When the car
shifts quickly again, hit the
record button. Then drive back
to the shop and watch the
movie you captured. Let’s sup-
pose that, in this example the
countershaft speed signal went
from 1500 to 1000 RPM for
those few seconds.
Remember, the counter-
shaft is connected to the input
shaft: When the transmission
downshifted, the countershaft
should have sped up, not
slowed down. That momentary
drop-off in the countershaft
speed sensor signal indicated to
the computer that vehicle speed
had dropped dramatically, so
the computer responded by
downshifting to 2nd — a per-
fectly proper response to the
information it was receiving.
Unfortunately, that information
was wrong, and in this case, it caused
the dramatic — and unwanted — down-
shift.
This is just one hypothetical situa-
tion in which the movie feature could
help you diagnose an intermittent prob-
lem. What you’re looking for is a
change in the inputs at the precise
moment of the problem. This is why the
movie feature on your scan tool is so
valuable: A glitch in the computer sys-
tem often comes and goes so quickly
that you won’t be able to see it on your
own. And the movie feature allows you
to examine several signals concurrently,
all at the precise moment of the failure:
Exactly what you need to get a clear
picture of the specific failure you’re
experiencing.
The movie feature: It’s your secret
weapon for hunting down intermittent
problems in the computer system.
By successfully tracking down
intermittent problems, you too can
count on having more fun with trans-
missions!
GEARS April 2003