Honda Civic. Manual — part 169

pressure switches the lock-up shift valve lock-up on and off. A/T clutch pressure
control solenoid valve A and the lock-up control valve control the volume of the
lock-up conditions.

Gear Selection

The shift lever has seven positions; P: PARK, R: REVERSE, N: NEUTRAL, D:
DRIVE 1st through 5th gear ranges, D3: DRIVE 1st through 3rd gear ranges, 2: 2nd
gear, and 1: 1st gear.

SHIFT LEVER GEAR POSITION

Position

Description

P: PARK

Front wheels locked; park pawl
engaged with park gear on
countershaft. All clutches are released.

R: REVERSE

Reverse; reverse selector engaged with
countershaft reverse gear and 5th
clutch engaged.

N: NEUTRAL

All clutches are released.

D: DRIVE (1st through 5th)

General driving; starts off in 1st, shifts
automatically to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then
5th, depending on vehicle speed and
throttle position. Downshifts through
4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st on deceleration
to stop. The lock-up mechanism
operates in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th
gears.

D3: DRIVE (1st through 3rd)

Used for rapid acceleration at highway
speeds and general driving, up-hill and
down-hill driving; starts off in 1st,
shifts automatically to 2nd, then 3rd,
depending on vehicle speed and
throttle position. Downshifts through
2nd to 1st on deceleration to stop. The
lock-up mechanism operates in 1st,
2nd, and 3rd gears.

2008 Honda Civic LX

2006-08 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Civic (Except Hybrid)

Starting the engine is possible only in P and N because of a slide-type neutral-safety
switch.

Automatic Transmission Gear Position Indicator

The A/T gear position indicator in the gauge control module shows which shift
lever position has been selected without having look down at the shift lever.

Clutches and Gears

The five-speed automatic transmission uses hydraulically-actuated clutches to
engage or disengage the transmission gears. When hydraulic pressure is introduced
into the clutch drum, the clutch piston moves. This presses the friction discs and the
steel plates together, locking them so they do not slip. Power is then transmitted
through the engaged clutch pack to its hub-mounted gear. Likewise, when the
hydraulic pressure is bled from the clutch pack, the piston releases the friction discs
and the steel plates, and they are free to slide past each other. This allows the gear
to spin independently on its shaft, transmitting no power.

2: SECOND

Used for engine braking or better
traction starting off on loose or
slippery surfaces; stays in 2nd gear;
does not shift up and down.

1: FIRST

Used for engine braking; stays in 1st
gear; does not upshift.

2008 Honda Civic LX

2006-08 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Civic (Except Hybrid)

Fig. 17: Section View Of Clutches And Gears
Courtesy of AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.

1st Clutch

The 1st clutch engages/disengages 1st gear, and is located at the right end of the
secondary shaft, opposite the end cover. The 1st clutch is supplied hydraulic
pressure by a circuit connected to the internal hydraulic circuit.

2nd Clutch

The 2nd clutch engages/disengages 2nd gear, and is located at the middle of the
secondary shaft. The 2nd clutch is joined back-to-back to the 4th clutch, and is

2008 Honda Civic LX

2006-08 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Civic (Except Hybrid)

supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within the secondary shaft.

3rd Clutch

The 3rd clutch engages/disengages 3rd gear, and is located at the middle of the
mainshaft. The 3rd clutch is joined back-to-back to the 5th clutch, and is supplied
hydraulic pressure by a circuit connected to the internal hydraulic circuit.

4th Clutch

The 4th clutch engages/disengages 4th gear, and is located at the middle of the
secondary shaft. The 4th clutch is joined back-to-back to the 2nd clutch, and is
supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within the secondary shaft.

5th Clutch

The 5th clutch engages/disengages 5th gear, as well as reverse gear, and is located
at the middle of the mainshaft. The 5th clutch is joined back-to-back to the 3rd
clutch, and is supplied hydraulic pressure by a circuit connected to the internal
hydraulic circuit.

Gear Operation

Gears on the mainshaft:

3rd gear is engages/disengages with the mainshaft by the 3rd clutch.

5th gear is engaged/disengages with the mainshaft by the 5th clutch.

Reverse gear is engaged/disengaged with the mainshaft by the 5th clutch.

Idler gear is splined with the mainshaft, and rotates with the mainshaft.

Gears on the countershaft:

Final drive gear is integral with the countershaft.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, and park gears are splined with the countershaft, and rotate with
the countershaft.

4th-5th gear and reverse gear rotate freely from the countershaft. The reverse
selector engages 4th-5th gear and reverse gear with the reverse selector hub.
The reverse selector hub is splined to the countershaft so 4th-5th gear and

2008 Honda Civic LX

2006-08 TRANSMISSION Automatic Transmission - Civic (Except Hybrid)