1997 HONDA CIVIC For

Description
The automatic transmission is a 3-element torque converter and a dual-shaft electronically controlled unit which provides
4 soeeds forward and 1 reverse.
Torque Convertel, Geats, and Clutches
The torque converter consists of a pump, turbine and stator, assembled in a single unit. They are connected to the engine
crankshaft so they turn together as a unit as the engine turns. Around the outside of the torque converter is a ring gear
which meshes with the starter pinion when the engine is being started. The entire torque converter assembly seryes as a
flywheel while transmiuing power to the transmission mainshaft.
The transmission has two parallel shafts: the mainshaft and the countershaft. The mainshaft is in Iine with the engine
crankshaft. The mainshaft includes the 1st, 2nd and 4th clutches, gears tor 2nd, 4th, reverse and lst (3rd gear is integral
with the mainshaft, while the reverse gear is integral with the 4th gear). The countershaft includes the 3rd clutch, and
gears for 3rd,2nd, 4th, reverse. 1st and park. The gears on the mainshaft are in constant mesh with those on the counter-
shaft. When certain combinations of gears in transmission are engaged by clutches. power is transmitted from the main-
shaft to the countershaft to provide E, ld, E, and E positions.
Electronic Control
The electronic control svstem consists of the Powertrain Control Module {PCM), sensors, a linear solenoid and four
solenojd valves. Shifting and lock-up are electronically controlled for comtonable driving under all conditions. The PCM is
located below the dashboard, under the front lower panel on the passenger's side
Hydraulic Control
The valve bodies include the main vatve body, the secondary valve body, the regulator valve body, the servo body and the
lock-up valve body through the respective separator plates, They are bolted on the torque converter housang
The main valve body contains the manual valve, the 1-2 shift valve. the 2nd orifice control valve, the CPB {Clutch Pressure
Back-up) valve, the modulator valve. the servo control valve, the relief valve, and ATF pump gears The secondary valve
body contains the 2-3 shift valve. the 3-4 shift valve, the 3-4 orifice control valve, the 4th exhaust valve and the CPC (Clutch
pressure Control) valve. The regulator valve body contains the pressure regulator valve, the torque converter check valve,
the cooler relief valve, and the lock-up control valve. The servo body contains the servo valve which is integrated with the
reverse shift fork, and the accumulators. The lock-up valve body contains the lock-up shift valve and the lock-up timing
valve. The linear solenoid and the shift control solenoid valve Ay'B are bolted on the outside of the transmission housing,
and the lock-up control solenoid valve Ay'B is bolted on the outside of the torque converter housing. Fluid from regulator
passes through the manual valve to the various control valves. The clutches receive fluid from their respective teed pipes
or internal hydraulic circuit.
Shift Control Mechanism
Input from various sensors located throughout the car determines which shift control solenoid valve the PCM will activate
Activating a shift control solenoid valve changes modulator pressure, causing a shift valve to move. This pressurizes a line
to one of the clutches, engaging that clutch and its corresponding gear, The shift control solenoid valves A and B are con-
trolled by the PCM.
Lock-up Mechanism
In ,Dt1 position, in 3rd and 4th. and in E position in 3rd, pressurized fluid is drained from the back of the torque converter
through a fluid passage, causing the lock-up piston to be held against the torque converter cover. As this takes place, the
mainshaft rotates at the same as the engine crankshaft. Together with hydraulic control, the PCM optimizes the timing of
the lock-up mechanism. The lock-up valves control the range of lock-up according to lock-up control solenoid valves A and
B, and linear solenoid. When lock-up control solenoid valves A and B activate, the modulator pressure changes The lock-
up control solenoid valves A and B and the linear solenoid are controlled by the PCM.
(cont'd)
14-3

Description
(cont'dl
Gear Selection
The shift lever has six positions: E PARK. E REVERSE, N NEUTRAL, E 1st through 4th gear ranges, E 1st through 3rdgear ranges, @ 2nd gear.
Starting is possible only in E and E positions through the use of a slide-type, neutral-safety switch.
Automatic Transaxle (A/f, Gear Position Indicator
The Ay'T gear position indicator in the instrument panel shows which gear has been selected without having to look downat the console.
Clutch€s
The four-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 andsteel plates together, locking them so they don't slip. Power is then transmitted through the engaged clutch pack to itshub-mounted gear. Likewise, when the hydraulic pressure is bled from the clutch pack, the piston releases the friction discsand 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.
lst Clutch
The 1st clutch engages/disengages 1st gear, and is located at the end of the mainshaft, just behind the right sroe cover.The 1st clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within the mainshaft.
2nd Clulch
The 2nd clutch engagegdisengages 2nd gear, and is located at the middle of the mainshaft. The 2nd clutch is joined
back-to-back to the 4th clutch. The 2nd clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure through the mainshaft by a circutr connect-ed to the internal hvdraulic circuit,
3rd Clutch
The 3rd clutch engages/disengages 3rd gear, and is located at the end of the countershaft. The 3rd clutch is suooliedhydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipe within the countershaft.
ilth Clutch
The 4th clutch engages/disengages 4th gear, as well as reverse gear, and is located at the middle of the mainshaft. The4th clutch is joined back-to-back to the 2nd clutch. The 4th clutch is supplied hydraulic pressure by its ATF feed pipewith in the mainshaft.
\-a
PositionDe3cription
E PARK
E REVERSE
N NEUTRAL
E DRIVE
{1st through 4th)
Ei DRtvE('lst through 3rd)
B SECOND
Front wheels locked; park pawl engaged with pa* on countershaft. All clutches released.
Reverse; reverse selector engaged with countershaft reverse gear and 4th clutch locked.
All clutches released.
General driving; starts off in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, 3rd, then 4th, depending on vehiclespeed and throttle position. Downshift through 3rd, 2nd and 1st on deceleration to stop. The lock-upmechanism comes into operation in @ position in 3rd and 4th gear.
Use for rapid acceleration at highway speeds and general driving; up-hill and down,hill dfiving; stansotf in 1st, shifts automatically to 2nd, then 3rd, depending on vehicle speed and throttle position.
Downshifts through 2nd to lst on deceleration to stop. The lock-up mechanism comes into operationin 3rd gear,
Use for engine braking or better traction starting off on loose or slippery surfaces; stays in 2ndgear, does not shift up and down.
14-4

Description
Power Flow (cont'd)
El Po3ition
1, Hydraulic pressure is switched by the manual valve to the servo valve, which moves the reverse shift fork to thereverse position. The reverse shift fork engages with the reverse selector, reverse selector hub, and the countershaftreverse gear.
Hydraulic pressure is also applied to the 4th clutch. Power is transmitt€d from the mainshaft reverse gear via thereverse idler gear to the countershaft reverse gear.
The rotation direction of the countershaft reverse gear is changed via the reverse idler gear,
Power is transmitted to the final drive gear, which drives the final driven gear.
TOROUE
MAINSHAFT
COU TERSHAFT
REVERSE SELECTORHUBREVERSE SETICTOR
REVERSE SHIFTFORK
REVERSE IDLER
14-12
FINAL ON|VEN GEAR

Electronic Control SYstem
The electronac controt system consrsts of a Powertrain control Module (PcM), sensors, a Iinear solenoid and four solenoid
valves, shifting and lock-up are electronically controlled for comfortable driving under all conditions The PCM is located
below the dashboard, under the front lower panel on the passenger's side
PGM-FIControl Sy3tem
A/T Control SYstom
Shift Control
Lock-uD Control
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Description
Electronic Control System (cont'd)
Shift Control
The PCM instantaneously determines which gear should be selected by various signals sent from sensors, and actuatesthe shift control solenoid valves A and B to control shifting. Also. a Grade Logic Control System has been adopted to con-trol shifting in E position while the vehicle is ascending or descending a slope, or reducing speed.
PoshionGearShift Control Solenoid
Vslve A
Shift Control Solenoid
Valve B
8,tr
1stOFFON
2ndONON
3rdONOFF
E4thOFFOFF
tr2ndONON
E-ReverseONOFF
*See page 14-31 for reverse inhibitor control description.
Lock-up Control
From sensor input signals, the PCM determines whether to turn the lock-up ON or OFF, and activates lock-up controlsolenoid valve A and/or B accordingly. The combination of driving signals to lock-up control solenoid valves A and B andthe linear solenoid pressure is shown in the table below.
Lock-up ConditionsLock-up Control
Solenoid Valvo A
Lock-up Control
Solenoid Valve B
Linoar Solonoid
Prggguro
Lock-up OFFOFFOFFHigh
Lock-up, HalfONDuty operation
OFF * ONLow
Lock-up, FullONONHigh
LOCK-Up
during decelerationONDuty operation
OFF - ON
a
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Description
Electronic Control System {cont'dl
Ascending Control
When the PCM determines that the vehicle is climbing a hill in E position, the system oxtends the sngagement area of2nd gear and 3rd gear to prevent ths transmission from fr€quently shifting between 2nd and 3rd gears, and between 3rdand 4th gears, so the vehicle can run smooth and have more power when needed. There are two ascending modes withdifferent 3rd gear driving areas according to the magnitude of a gradient stored in the pCM.
NOTE:
. The PCM memory contains shift schedules between 2nd and 3rd gears, and between 3rd and 4th gears that enable thePCM's fuzzy logic to automatically select the most suitable gear according to the magnitude of a gradient. Fuzzy logic is a form of artificial intelligence that lets computers respond to changing conditions much like a humanmind would,
Dssconding Control
When the PCM determines that the vehicle is going down a hilt in E position, the shift-up speed from 3rd to 4th gearwhen th€ throftle is closed becomes faster than the set speed for flat road driving to widen the 3rd gear driving area.This, in combination with engine braking from the deceleration lock-up, achieves smooth driving when the vehicle isdescending. There are two descending modes with different downshift (4 - 3) schedules according to the magnitude of agradient stored in the PCM. When the vehicle is in 4th gear, and you are decelerating on a gradual hill, or when you areapplying the brakes on a steep hill, the transmission will downshift to 3rd gear. When you accel6rate, the transmission willthen return to 4th gear.
ASCENDING MODEDESCENDING MODE
4TH SHIFTING
L.
F
CHARACTERISIICSCONTROL AREA
ff.1"11", vehicr. 3pe€dff;Tlr., vohicre speed
GRADUAL ASCENOINGCONTROL AREA
Docel6ration Control
When the vehicle goes around a corner. and needs to first decelerate and then accelerate. the rcM sets the data for decelerationcontrol to reduce the number of times the transmission shifts. When the vehicle is decelerating from speeds above 26 mph(41 km/h), the rcM shifts the transmission from 4th to 2nd earlier than normal to cope with upcoming acceleration.
14-16

Description
Hydraulic Control (cont'dl
Regulator Valve
The regulator valve maintains a constant hydraulic pressure from the ATF pump to the hydraulic control system, whitealso furnishing fluid to the lubricating system and torque converter. The fluid from the ATF pump flows through B and 8,.The regulator valve has a valve orifice. The fluid entering from B flows through the orifice to the A cavity. This pressure ofthe A cavity pushes the regulator valve to the right side, and this movement of the regulator valve uncovers the fluid portto the torque converter and the relief valve. The fluid flows out to the torque converter, and the relief valve and regulatorvalve moves to the left side. According to the level of the hydraulic pressure through B, the position of the regutator vatvechanges and the amount of the fluid from B' through D and c also changes. This operation is continued. maantaining theline pressure,
NOTE: When used. "|eft" or "right" indicates direction on the illustration betow.
ENGINE NOT RUNNING
TOROUE CONVERTER
ENGINE RUNNING
To TOROUE CONVERTER Lubrication
Stator Roaction Hydraulic Prossur6 Control
Hydraulic pressure increases according to torque, are performed by the regulator valve using the stator torque reaction.The stator shaft is splined with the stator in the torque converter, and its arm end contacts the regulator sprang cap. whenthe vehicle is accelerating or climbing (Torque Convert€r Range), the stator torque reaction acts on the stator shaft, andthe stator arm pushes the regulator spring cap in the direction of the arrow in proponion to the reaction. Jne stator reac-tion spring compresses, and th€ reoulator valve moves to increase the line pressure which is regulated by the regulatorvalve. The line pressure reaches its maximum when the stator torque reaction reaches its maximum.
STATOR SHAFT ARM
REGULATOR VALVE
14-22
STATORATOR SHAFT ARM
SPRING CAP

\
Servo Body
The servo body is located on the secondary valve body. The servo body contains the servo valve which is integrated with
the reverse shift fork, and the accumulators
2NO ACCUMULA
SERVO BODY
1ST ACCUMULATOR
3RD ACCUMULATOR
SERVO VALVE/SHIFTFORK SHAFT
NoTE: The illustration shows the'96 - '98 models; the '99 - 00 models are similar'
14-23