GEAR in Drive Mode

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Mercury Grand Marquis and 2009 Ford Crown Victoria. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The output state control function is used to test the transmission gear changes. The advantage of using output state control for changing gears is to allow the technician to easily test a specific gear and/or upshift or downshift that has been identified as the customer complaint. When using output state control to command a shift change, the PCM should command the correct or normal pressure for that shift. The transmission will remain in the gear that output state control has commanded until output state control commands another gear or output state control is cancelled.

The output state control functions for the GEAR_OSC parameter allow the technician to choose the following options:

1 - Directs PCM to command 1st gear
2 - Directs PCM to command 2nd gear
3 - Directs PCM to command 3rd gear
4 - Directs PCM to command 4th gear

The vehicle requirements must be met when sending the output state control command for GEAR_OSC. If the vehicle requirements are not met when sending the output state control command, the command will be cancelled. If after sending the output state control command the vehicle requirements are no longer met, the output state control command will be cancelled.

It is recommended to use the TCC# parameter in output state control to first turn OFF the TCC when testing the transmission gear changes. This will allow the technician to evaluate just the gear changes. If the TCC is not turned off, then the PCM may command the TCC to lock during a shift. This could make it more difficult for the technician to determine whether a bad shift is the result of the torque converter engaging or the actual gear change.

The vehicle requirements for sending a GEAR value is as follows:

Engine is running
Selector lever is in Overdrive (O/D)
Vehicle speed is greater than 3 km/h (2 mph)
Vehicle speed must be lower than 48 km/h (30 mph) to command a downshift to 1st gear
Vehicle speed must be lower than 97 km/h (60 mph) to command a downshift to 2nd gear
Vehicle speed must be lower than 145 km/h (90 mph) to command a downshift to 3rd gear
Vehicle speed must be greater than 48 km/h (30 mph) to command an upshift to 4th gear