Mazda RX-8. Manual — part 18

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION [SJ6A-EL]

05–13–31

05–13

Shift control in active adaptive shift (AAS) mode

•

Shift control is performed according to the shift pattern in AAS mode.

•

When the driver releases the accelerator pedal fully and rapidly, the gear position is maintained at the position
before accelerator pedal was released. Due to this, re-acceleration and vehicle control performance have been
improved. If the accelerator pedal is released slowly, the gears shift up according to the shift pattern.

•

While cornering the vehicle, the gear position is maintained at the position before the vehicle was cornered to
facilitate re-acceleration after the corner. The gears do not shift up if the accelerator pedal is depressed fully
while cornering the vehicle.

Forced cancellation of active adaptive shift (AAS) mode

•

AAS mode is forcibly cancelled under the following conditions:

—

The vehicle speed in the cruise control system is reset.

—

The selector lever is shifted to M range while driving in D range.

Down Slope Mode

•

While the vehicle is being driven on a down slope, the TCM determines that the vehicle is being driven on a
down slope based on the signals and output engine speed from the PCM, and switches the driving mode to the
DOWN SLOPE MODE. Due to this, load to the brake is reduced.

Up Slope Mode

•

When the vehicle is climbing a slope, the TCM determines that the vehicle is being driven on an up slope based
on the signals and output engine speed from the PCM, and switches the driving mode to the UP SLOPE
MODE. Due to this, reduction in traction is prevented.

End Of Sie

0/8

1/8

2/8

3/8

4/8

5/8

6/8

7/8

8/8

TCC OPERATION AVAILABLE

VEHICLE SPEED km/h {mph}

5GR
TCC OFF

6GR TCC OFF

6GR TCC ON

5GR
TCC ON

0

{0}

10

{6.2}

20

{12}

30

{19}

40

{25}

50

{31}

60

{37}

70

{43}

80

{50}

90

{56}

100

{62}

110

{68}

120

{74}

130

{81}

140

{87}

150

{93}

160

{99}

170

{105}

180

{112}

190

{118}

200

{124}

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

2

4

5

2

3

4

5

3

4

3

4

5

6

THR

O

TTLE OPENING

SHIFT UP

SHIFT DOWN

EHU513BS8008

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION [SJ6A-EL]

05–13–32

MANUAL MODE SHIFT CONTROL STRUCTURE [SJ6A-EL]

EHU051318901107

Features

•

The manual mode shift control is activated by moving the selector lever from the D to M range position (selector
lever is shifted over toward driver side).

•

Manual mode shift control with a manual shifting system allowing selection of gear positions by manual
operation of the selector lever forward (–) and back (+) has been adopted. Moreover, engine braking for all
gears in manual mode according to the gear ratio is available.

—

Shifting between 1GR and 2GR when the vehicle is stopped is possible. Moreover, when shifting from the D
to M range while driving, the same gear position is maintained.

—

Consecutive shifting in the M range has been adopted. When shifting down from M range 6GR or 5GR, one
gear can be skipped over by rapidly tapping the selector lever two times in the down-shift (–) direction.

•

Specialized manual mode selector lever position and gear position indicator lights, built into the instrument
cluster, have been adopted. The gear position indicator light displays the selected gear position while in manual
mode.

—

The selector indicator light includes a selector lever position indicator that displays selector lever positions
and, in M range, a gear position indicator light that displays gear positions.

Structure
System diagram

End Of Sie

PCM

TCM

TR SWITCH

TFT SENSOR

M RANGE SWITCH

UP SWITCH

DOWN SWITCH

GEAR POSITION INDICATOR LIGHT

SELECTOR INDICATOR LIGHT

AT WARNING LIGHT

ENGINE

TRANSMISSION

SELECTOR LEVER COMPONENT

UP SWITCH

DOWN SWITCH

STEERING SHIFT SWITCH

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

E5U513ZS5033

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION [SJ6A-EL]

05–13–33

05–13

MANUAL MODE SHIFT CONTROL OPERATION [SJ6A-EL]

EHU051318901108

Manual Mode Shift

•

When the selector lever is shifted over from the D to M range position, the M range switch in the selector lever
component turns on, sending a manual mode command signal to the TCM which activates the manual mode
shift control.

•

When in manual mode and the selector lever is operated in the back (+) direction, the up switch in the selector
lever component is turned on and an up-shift command signal is input to the TCM.

—

The TCM, triggered by the up-shift command signal, carries out shifting by outputting an operation signal to
the shift control solenoid.

•

Conversely, when the selector lever is operated in the forward (–) direction, the down switch in the selector lever
component turns on, and a down-shift command signal is input to the TCM.

—

The TCM, triggered by the down-shift command signal, carries out shifting by outputting an operation signal
to the shift control solenoid if the vehicle speed is less than the set speed and the gear position is 2GR or
above.

•

The up/down operation of the steering shift switch is the same as the manual operation of the selector lever.

•

The TCM utilizes a specialized M range automatic shift diagram. Due to this, restriction of manual shift demand
and automatic control of downshifting is carried out, reducing load on the AT, preventing engine over-rev and
ensuring drive stability.

Condition

Shift control

Note

1GR

→

2GR up-shift command,

at low speed

•

To reduce load on the AT, upshifting is
inhibited until vehicle reaches speed possible
for upshifting

—

2GR

→

3GR up-shift command,

at low speed

3GR

→

4GR up-shift command,

at low speed

4GR

→

5GR up-shift command,

at low speed

5GR

→

6GR up-shift command,

at low speed

5GR

→

6GR up-shift command,

low ECT

•

To rapid engine warming-up, upshifting to
6GR is inhibited

6GR

→

5GR down-shift

command, above set speed

•

To prevent engine over-rev, downshifting is
inhibited until vehicle reaches speed possible
for downshifting

•

Gear position indicator light flash to
alert driver

5GR

→

4GR down-shift

command, above set speed

4GR

→

3GR down-shift

command, above set speed

3GR

→

2GR down-shift

command, above set speed

2GR

→

1GR down-shift

command, above set speed

In 6GR deceleration, speed
goes below coast-down set
speed (deceleration down-
shift)

•

To assure drive stability, automatically
downshifts from 6GR to 5GR

—

In 5GR deceleration, speed
goes below coast-down set
speed (deceleration down-
shift)

•

To assure drive stability, automatically
downshifts from 5GR to 4GR

In 4GR deceleration, speed
goes below coast-down set
speed (deceleration down-
shift)

•

To assure drive stability, automatically
downshifts from 4GR to 3GR

In 3GR deceleration, speed
goes below coast-down set
speed (deceleration down-
shift)

•

To assure drive stability, automatically
downshifts from 3GR to 2GR

In 2GR deceleration, speed
goes below coast-down set
speed (deceleration down-
shift)

•

To assure drive stability, automatically
downshifts from 2GR to 1GR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION [SJ6A-EL]

05–13–34

Shift Diagram

End Of Sie

AT WARNING LIGHT FUNCTION [SJ6A-EL]

EHU051321101107

•

The AT warning light illuminates to alert the driver of a malfunction in the automatic transmission.

End Of Sie

Wide open throttle at 175—
210 km/h {109—130 mph} in
6GR

•

To improve acceleration performance, 6GR
to 5GR kickdown occurs

—

Wide open throttle at 40—174
km/h {25—108 mph} in 5GR

•

To improve acceleration performance, 5GR
to 4GR kickdown occurs

Condition

Shift control

Note

4

5

5

6

6

3

4

1

2

2

1

4

3

5

4

3

2

4

5

VEHICLE SPEED km/h {mph}

TCC OPERATION AVAILABLE

THR

O

TTLE OPENING

5GR
TCC OPERATION
OFF

5GR
TCC OPERATION
ON

6GR
TCC OPERATION
ON

6GR
TCC OPERATION
OFF

2

3

1

2

200

{124}

190

{118}

180

{112}

170

{105}

160

{99}

150

{93}

140

{87}

130

{81}

120

{74}

110

{68}

90

{56}

100

{62}

80

{50}

70

{43}

50

{31}

60

{37}

30

{19}

40

{25}

10

{6.2}

20

{12}

0

{0}

8/8

7/8

6/8

5/8

4/8

3/8

2/8

1/8

0/8

4

5

5

2

3

3

4

DOWNSHIFTING IS INHIBITED UNTIL VEHICLE
REACHES SPEED POSSIBLE FOR DOWNSHIFTING
WHEN DECELERATING BELOW SET VEHICLE SPEED,
EXECUTES AUTOMATIC DOWNSHIFTING

UPSHIFTING IS INHIBITED UNTIL VEHICLE
REACHES SPEED POSSIBLE FOR UPSHIFTING
WHEN WIDE OPEN THROTTELE,
EXECUTES KICKDOWN

EHU513BS8004