Torque converter locking/unlocking.

Steep grade in 4th at 30mph?

 

padlling at any given opportunity

 

Never, I row my gears........brain to left foot to right hand to right foot...Sounds complicated but its not

 

+1

It's a fluid coupling (turbine/stator with ATF) between the engine and transmission that is locked-out (to make a solid connection to the engine) when not needed. It's what allows the engine to turn but not the transmission, i.e. when stopped and still "in gear." It also allows increased engine RPMs without shifting gears. It's a substitute for most of the clutch's function. Older cars only locked their torque converters above 50MPH or so (way older cars didn't lock it at all). Honda locks the Fit's in all gears. It has to unlock before shifting but will also unlock when more torque is called for before/without actually shifting. It's controlled only by the PCM (but your actions influence it). It creates waste heat when not locked (and thus a drop in efficiency) so it's ideally locked most of the time. Most of the time the lock/unlock is so subtle you won't notice it.

 

been rowing since the 80s... I'm fancy paddling now

 

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Interesting info (also Steve's elaboration). As far as trying to go up a steep grade at 30 in 4th gear, I agree that that is a poor idea (I assume you are saying it should be in 3rd). So this is kind of the point to my question in a way - here I was trying to do something poor (mostly just from unfamiliarity with the paddles), forcing it to stay in a high gear, but it seemed to take control some itself, and I was unsure if this was my imagination or possible even without it being able to downshift. So it seems the answer is yes, via this torque converter lock/unlock.<br />
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Thanks very much guys!

 

Yeah, was kind of hinting at that, you know to be in 3rd haha.

Your fuel and car will thank you

 

Yup, it is begging me to drive correctly. But I only have 300 miles on it and haven't driven an AT in many years and never been paddled! Give me some time.

Meanwhile I edited that earlier reply just to fix some of thetypos and it riddled it with html breaks as pure text. Very odd. Gives whole new meaning to give me a break.

 

Responding to an old post, but....

You really missed out not using the paddles in your Evo.

S-Sport, manual with asc off was the only way to fly.

I found myself chugging along way too slow in auto, I also sold my nav cuz it distracted me too much and made the car feel too much like a Camry.

So I may be a tad different then the usual driver.

I'm eventually planning to make the move back to an Evo and will definitely consider getting another MR and think if you got the paddles why not use em.

 

A question about the paddles.
When in 5th gear at, lets say 60 mph, and put the pedal down, does the trans stay in 5th gear? Does the converter unlock?

 

If you're in drive and haven't been messing with the paddles, it will kick down to 4, maybe 3 on its own.

If you've been messing with paddles, I think it will remain in 5th depending on how long since messed. If you're in S mode it will stay in 5th.

In all cases the torque converter will engage (unlock).

Bases don't come with paddles and have a bit more conservative shift profile when left on their own. Maybe someone with a Sport can chime in.

No, I don't have paddle envy.

 

That answers a question I had too - whether the torque lock/unlock thing was only something that happened in S mode or also in D mode. I suspected that it operated in both modes, but wasn't positive. That clears it up for me. Thanks, Steve.

 

The Fit I'm going to be picking up has them but I don't plan on using them. I just traded in my manual vw I've owned for the past 12 years so I am looking forward to letting the transmission do the work for a change. My gf had a GTI with paddle shifters and it was fun messing around with it for a day or so but you soon realize it's nothing like driving a true stick shift.