About the System

FAIL-SAFE
The A/T control unit has an electronic Fail-Safe (limp home mode). This allows the vehicle to be driven even if a major electrical input/output device circuit is damaged.

Under Fail-Safe, the vehicle always runs in third gear with shift lever position of 1, 2 or D. Customer may say "Sluggish, poor acceleration".

When Fail-Safe operation occurs the next time the key is turned to the ON position, the OD OFF indicator lamp will blink for about 8 seconds. (For diagnosis.)

Fail-Safe may activate without electrical circuit damages if the vehicle is driven under extreme conditions (such as excessive wheel spins and emergency braking immediately afterwards). In this case, turn key OFF for 3 seconds and then ON to recover normal shift pattern.

The blinking of the OD OFF indicator lamp for about 8 seconds will appear only once and be cleared. The customer may resume normal driving conditions by chance.
Always follow the "WORK FLOW"

The SELF-DIAGNOSIS results will be as follows:

The first SELF-DIAGNOSIS will indicate the damage of the vehicle speed sensor or the revolution sensor.

During the next SELF-DIAGNOSIS performed after checking the sensor, no damages will be indicated.

ATF COOLER SERVICE
Flash or replace ATF cooler if excessive foreign material is found in oil pan or clogging strainer.

SR20 engine (RE4F03A/RE4F03V) fin type cooler
Replace radiator lower tank (which includes ATF cooler) with a new one and flush cooler line using cleaning solvent and compressed air.

OBD-II
In accordance with the OBD-II requirements, A/T self-diagnoses have been improved as follows:

^ On the former models, the A/T control unit performed the self-diagnoses for A/T self-diagnostic items, and illuminated the OD OFF indicator lamp to indicate the self-diagnostic results. On this model (A32), the engine control module also receives the A/T self-diagnostic results and illuminates the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) to indicate the results.
The number of self-diagnostic items has increased. Increased items can not be indicated by the OD OFF indicator lamp. For details, refer to the table.

^ The self-diagnostic results indicated by the MIL are automatically stored in the Engine Control Module (ECM) and A/T control unit memories.

The results stored in the memories (of both ECM and A/T control unit) must be erased each time after repairing the malfunctioning part.

^ The following can be used to display the self-diagnostic results indicated by the MIL and to erase the results stored in the ECM and A/T control unit memories. For details, refer to "Self-diagnosis HOW TO ERASE Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC)".

ECM memory A/T control unit memory
CONSULT (Select ENGINE) CONSULT (Select A/T)
Generic Scan Tool (GST) On-board self-diagnosis
Mode selector on ECM

^ As for the malfunctions indicated by the MIL, the relevant data (sensor signals, ECM signals, etc.) obtained at the moment of detection can be verified by Freeze Frame Data.