System Outline

Within this system, the operating signal of the shift lever is sent to the hybrid vehicle control ECU to control the hybrid motor, which changes the shift position (R, N, D, B) electronically. When the shift lever is put in the P position, the transmission control ECU receives an operating signal from the hybrid vehicle control ECU and electronically activates the parking lock.

1. Shift Range Change Function 

   The gear can be shifted to any shift range when the vehicle can drive except when the reject function is in operation. When the vehicle cannot drive and the power SW is IG ON, the gear can only be shifted to the P and N position.

   When vehicle cannot drive and the power SW is ACC ON, the gear can only be shifted to the P position.

   When the power SW is OFF, the gear cannot be shifted to any position.

   If main SW is operated when the vehicle has stopped after starting the hybrid system, the gear is automatically changed to the P position from any other gear position and the power supply is turned off.

2. Reject Function 

   Changing gears may not actually change the shift position under certain vehicle conditions. Under such conditions, the warning buzzer in the combination meter sounds to show the rejection and call for the driver's attention. Following are shift operations and shift position conditions under which the reject function will be activated.

   * When the gear is shifted from the P position to another other position without applying brake pedal, in this case the gear stays in the P position.

   * The main SW cannot put the gear in the P position while driving but instead changes to the N position.

   * A shift change forward or backward while driving changes the gear to the N position.

   * When the gear is changed from a position other than the D position to the B position, in which case the gear is changed to the N position automatically.

3. Combination Meter Indication 

   The combination meter shows the present shift position. Shift positions other than the D or B position are not shown in the combination meter. This is to avoid unnecessary shifting operations to the B position from other shift positions except the D position.

4. Operation of Parking Lock 

   The operation signal from/to the P position is sent from the main SW or power SW to the transmission control ECU via the hybrid vehicle control ECU. At that time the transmission control ECU operates the P CON MTR relay, activates the parking lock actuator with an appropriate control of electric current, and lights up the main SW when the shift is in the P position. If the system has an abnormality in the parking lock operation, it informs the driver of the system abnormality by lighting up the master warning light on the combination meter, displaying a warning of the system abnormality on the multi-display, and blinking the indicator light of the main SW.

5. Operation at Electric Power OFF 

   If the electric power is OFF, transmission control ECU receives a signal from the power source control ECU by multi-communication, and sends the shift position information to the hybrid vehicle control ECU. The hybrid vehicle control ECU then sends a signal to the power source control ECU to tell whether it is correct or not to turn off the electric power. Accepted conditions for the electric power OFF are as follows;

   * When the hybrid vehicle control ECU is not sending request signals for the parking lock release and the shift lever is in the P position.

   * With the shift position is in a position other than P, and the hybrid vehicle control ECU is outputting signals that the hybrid system is not running or is requesting signals for a parking lock.

   * When the motor is not running because of an abnormality, the paring lock is in operation, the hybrid system is not running and the parking brake is being applied.