Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission having a first neutral with a first combination of engaged clutches and a second neutral with a second combination of engaged clutches. The second neutral has more engaged clutches than the first neutral. A vehicle controller is programmed to, in response to a request to shift from the first to the second neutral and a failed-on clutch being detected, inhibit the shift to remain in the first neutral.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline includes determining, for current vehicle operating conditions, an initial engine output torque, at which the driveline meets predetermined structural criteria, establishing a factor that varies with torque converter slip, determining an engine torque limit by multiplying the factor corresponding to a current torque converter slip by the initial engine output torque, and limiting torque produced by an engine connected to the driveline to the engine torque limit.

Abstract: A method of controlling lash crossing in a hybrid electric automotive powertrain. During deceleration while the powertrain is operating in electric only mode, an input is slowed to a first speed lower than an idle speed of an internal combustion engine. Lash crossing is delayed until the input has slowed to the first speed. When the first speed is zero, lash crossing is delayed until receipt of an acceleration request.

Abstract: A method of adapting transmission controls to locate synchronizer touch points in an automated layshaft transmission. This method may include actuating a motor to move a shift drum along a layshaft at an essentially constant speed; measuring a feedback current as the motor moves the shift drum; detecting a first spike in feedback current adjacent to a second spike in feedback current for a gear; determining a shift drum angle for the first spike; and adjusting a transmission controller to set a synchronizer touch point at a shift drum angle adjacent to the first feedback current spike for the gear.

Abstract: A method of downshifting an automotive transmission. An on-coming transmission element is stroked while pressure for an off-going element is reduced. Pressure for the stroked on-coming element is increased to be sufficient to carry torque. Pressure for the off-going element is reduced below a torque transmitting amount once the stroked on-coming element has a sufficient torque carrying capacity. Torque capacities for the elements are determined from transmission output torque and acceleration and transmission input torque and acceleration. Feed forward or feedback terms for off-going and on-coming element torque capacities may be calculated using the transmission output torque, transmission input acceleration, and transmission input torque.

Abstract: A vehicle control method for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine coupled to a torque converter is described. In one embodiment, the engine air flow and spark are adjusted to control torque converter operation. The method can improve vehicle response to driver accelerator commands.

Abstract: A method of downshifting an automotive transmission. An on-coming transmission element is stroked while pressure for an off-going element is reduced. Pressure for the stroked on-coming element is increased to be sufficient to carry torque. Pressure for the off-going element is reduced below a torque transmitting amount once the stroked on-coming element has a sufficient torque carrying capacity. Torque capacities for the elements are determined from transmission output torque and acceleration and transmission input torque and acceleration. Feed forward or feedback terms for off-going and on-coming element torque capacities may be calculated using the transmission output torque, transmission input acceleration, and transmission input torque.

Abstract: An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.

Abstract: An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.

Abstract: A method of controlling lash crossing in a hybrid electric automotive powertrain. During deceleration while the powertrain is operating in electric only mode, an input is slowed to a first speed lower than an idle speed of an internal combustion engine. Lash crossing is delayed until the input has slowed to the first speed. When the first speed is zero, lash crossing is delayed until receipt of an acceleration request.

Abstract: A method of controlling a start-stop vehicle transmission pump, includes: assessing how long an engine has been turned off; and when the engine has been turned off for longer than a predetermined threshold and the vehicle is on, priming the transmission pump.

Abstract: A method for controlling cylinder pressure producing piston displacement for actuating a control element of an automatic transmission during a gearshift, includes (a) applying boost pressure to the to the control valve controlling the piston, provided one of the following conditions is present a boost phase is unexpired, cylinder pressure is less than a desired pressure, and piston displacement exceeds a desired displacement; (b) applying stroke pressure to the cylinder provided piston displacement away from control element plates occurs; and (c) increasing stroke pressure provided piston displacement away from clutch plates has not occurred.

Abstract: A method of controlling a start-stop vehicle transmission pump, includes: assessing how long an engine has been turned off; and when the engine has been turned off for longer than a predetermined threshold and the vehicle is on, priming the transmission pump.

Abstract: A method for controlling cylinder pressure producing piston displacement for actuating a control element of an automatic transmission during a gearshift, includes (a) applying boost pressure to the to the control valve controlling the piston, provided one of the following conditions is present a boost phase is unexpired, cylinder pressure is less than a desired pressure, and piston displacement exceeds a desired displacement; (b) applying stroke pressure to the cylinder provided piston displacement away from control element plates occurs; and (c) increasing stroke pressure provided piston displacement away from clutch plates has not occurred.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline having a power source and a transmission clutch includes using a difference between two spaced locations in the subject vehicle driveline to determine driveline twist speed due to applied torque, using a product of driveline twist speed and a sampling interval to produce an estimated driveline twist from the sum of incremental changes in driveline twist that are between predetermined upper and lower magnitudes, producing, in response to a demanded wheel torque, a first signal that controls torque transmitted from the power source to the clutch during a lash crossing using the estimated driveline twist and the current driveline torque; and producing a second signal that controls clutch torque capacity such that clutch slip is produced during the lash crossing.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle powertrain during launch includes controlling slip across a first clutch that transmits engine torque through the first clutch and the current gear while a transmission operates in a current gear other than a launch gear, disengaging the first clutch, engaging the launch gear, and controlling slip across a second clutch that transmits engine torque through the second clutch and the launch gear.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle driveline includes determining, for current vehicle operating conditions, an initial engine output torque, at which the driveline meets predetermined structural criteria, establishing a factor that varies with torque converter slip, determining an engine torque limit by multiplying the factor corresponding to a current torque converter slip by the initial engine output torque, and limiting torque produced by an engine connected to the driveline to the engine torque limit.

Abstract: A method for controlling an input clutch of a vehicle transmission during a tip-in includes using a current gear and rate of change of transmission input speed to determine a first torque modifier, if a peak or trough occurred in input speed, using the current gear and a difference between measured input speed and expected input speed to determine a second torque modifier, and changing a torque capacity of the clutch using said modifiers.

Abstract: A method of adapting transmission controls to locate synchronizer touch points in an automated layshaft transmission. This method may include actuating a motor to move a shift drum along a layshaft at an essentially constant speed; measuring a feedback current as the motor moves the shift drum; detecting a first spike in feedback current adjacent to a second spike in feedback current for a gear; determining a shift drum angle for the first spike; and adjusting a transmission controller to set a synchronizer touch point at a shift drum angle adjacent to the first feedback current spike for the gear.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle powertrain during launch includes controlling slip across a first clutch that transmits engine torque through the first clutch and the current gear while a transmission operates in a current gear other than a launch gear, disengaging the first clutch, engaging the launch gear, and controlling slip across a second clutch that transmits engine torque through the second clutch and the launch gear.