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Home >> Subaru >> 2008 >> Outback Base, Automatic >> Repair and Diagnosis (Single Page) >> Transmission >> Automatic Trans >> Mechanism & Function -- Automatic Transmission (4AT) >> Transmission Control Module (TCM) >> Shift Pattern Selection Control >> Adaptive Control
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Adaptive Control

This control is performed to improve the drivability of the vehicle by optimizing gear shifts in accordance with the drivers intention to accelerate or decelerate, and driving conditions such as hill climbing and descending, etc.

This control enables selection of the optimum gear speed by automatically switching the shift pattern by estimating driver's intentions and driving conditions through sensor information such as driving resistance, engine speed, acceleration, vehicle speed, and also from calculated values.

Any of the three patterns NORMAL, SPORTS, and SLOPE are continuously and automatically selected under the following conditions.

D range

NORMAL, SPORTS, SLOPE

D range, in sports mode

SPORTS, SLOPE

Normal pattern: covers a wide range from normal driving to high speed driving.

Sports pattern: a shift pattern suitable for driving conditions requiring deep accelerator pedal positions, such as winding road driving.

Slope pattern: this shift pattern controls upshifting to prevent too frequent gear shifting during climbing or descending hills. By combining braking control (in sports mode only) (explained later), engine braking will be positively used when descending hills.

Fig 1: Identifying Shift Pattern Selection Control
G03834435Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.
Fig 2: Identifying Grade Control Pattern
G03834436Courtesy of SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC.

According to the braking force (deceleration) during braking, downshifts are hastened to ensure engine braking effect and obtain a larger driving power for accelerating after braking (operates in sports mode only).