Operation CHARM: Car repair manuals for everyone.

3RD Gear




Transaxle Operation
Transaxle Operation Overview Transaxle Operation Overview
Park Position
Reverse Position
Neutral Position
1st Gear Above 6 km/h (4 mph)
2nd Gear
3rd Gear (below)
4th Gear
5th Gear
6th Gear Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) Applied
5th Gear Failsafe

3rd Gear






Mechanical Operation

Apply components:

- Forward (1, 2, 3, 4) clutch
- Direct (3, 5, R) clutch

Planetary Gearset Operation

Front planetary gearset driven components:

- Planetary carrier
- Ring gear

Center planetary gearset driven components:

- Sun gear
- Planetary carrier
- Ring gear

Rear planetary gearset driven components:

- Sun gear
- Planetary carrier
- Ring gear

Front planetary gearset held components:

- Sun gear

Center planetary gearset held components:

- None

Rear planetary gearset held components:

- None

3rd Gear Clutch Application Chart





For component information, refer to Mechanical Components and Functions Mechanical Components and Functions.

Power Flow





Hydraulic Operation

Line pressure hydraulic circuits:

- Line pressure from the pump is supplied to the main pressure regulator valve, low reverse/456 regulator valve, manual valve, solenoid regulator valve and control pressure regulator.
- Line pressure is controlled by the position of the main pressure regulator valve.
- The position of the main pressure regulator valve is controlled by varying pressure from the LPC solenoid through the VBS LINE circuit.

Torque converter circuits:

- Regulated line pressure from the main pressure regulator valve is directed to the TCC control valve through the CONV FD hydraulic circuit.
- When the TCC is released, CONV FD pressure is directed to the TCC RELEASE circuit by the TCC control valve. Pressure from the TCC RELEASE circuit releases the TCC.
- Fluid from the TCC RELEASE returns to the TCC control valve through the TCC APPLY circuit.

Cooler and lubrication hydraulic circuits:

- The TCC control valve directs fluid from the TCC APPLY circuit (return circuit from the torque converter when the TCC is released) to the COOLER FD circuit.
- In the COOLER FD circuit, transmission fluid flows through the transmission fluid cooler or the thermal bypass valve to the LUBE circuit in the input shaft to supply lubrication to the transaxle.

Solenoid hydraulic circuits:

- The LPC solenoid applies varying pressure to the main pressure regulator valve through the VBS LINE hydraulic circuit. The LPC solenoid regulates line pressure by controlling the position of the main pressure regulator valve.
- SSA applies pressure to the 1234 regulator and latch valves to apply the forward (1, 2, 3, 4) clutch.
- SSC releases pressure to the 26 regulator and latch valves to release the intermediate (2, 6) clutch.
- SSB applies pressure to the 35R regulator and latch valves to apply the direct (3, 5, R) clutch.

Clutch hydraulic circuits:

- Line pressure is supplied to the 1234 regulator valve by the manual valve in the DRIVE and LOW position. To apply the forward (1, 2, 3, 4) clutch, SSA supplies varying solenoid pressure to the 1234 regulator and latch valves. As the regulator valve moves, it supplies the forward (1, 2, 3, 4) clutch and latch valve with regulated line pressure through the C1234 circuit. The 1234 latch valve directs the regulated line pressure to the opposite side of the 1234 regulator valve through the C1234 FDBK circuit for gradual forward (1, 2, 3, 4) clutch engagement.
- Solenoid pressure from SSC is removed from the 26 regulator and latch valves which positions the valves to block line pressure and release the intermediate (2, 6) clutch.
- Line pressure from the pump is directed to the clutch control bypass valve by the manual valve through the DRIVE hydraulic circuit. The clutch control bypass valve directs the pressure to the 35R regulator valve through the TCC regulator valve, DRIVE 2 circuit, DRIVE 2/C35R FD shuttle ball and DRIVE 2/C35R FD circuit. SSB applies varying solenoid pressure to the 35R regulator and latch valves. As the regulator valve moves, it supplies the direct (3, 5, R) clutch and 35R latch valve with regulated line pressure through the C35R circuit. The 35R latch valve directs the regulated line pressure to the opposite side of the 35R regulator valve through the C35R FDBK circuit for gradual direct (3, 5, R) clutch engagement.

For additional hydraulic circuit and information, refer to Hydraulic Circuits Hydraulic Circuits.

Electrical Operation

Solenoid operation:

3rd Gear Solenoid Operation Chart





NC = Normally closed

NH = Normally high

NL = Normally low