
5L40–E General Information 7E1 – 11
7E1 – 11
4 Transmission Definitions and
Abbreviations
The following definitions and abbreviations are provided to establish a common language and assist the user / technician
in describing transmission related conditions. The use of these terms and / or conditions can be found in the various
parts of the automatic transmission sections of this Service Information, but more particularly, in Section 7E3 Hydraulic /
Mechanical Diagnosis.
Besides the following definitio ns and abbreviations, there are some additional definitions and abbreviati ons used when
describing transmission related cond itions, refer to Section 7E3 Hydraulic / Mechanical Diagnosis,
1.3 Transmission Definitions and Ab breviations, for details.
4.1 Definitions
Accumulator: A component of the transmission that absorb s hydraulic pressure during the apply of a clutch or band.
Accumulators are designed to control the quality of a shift from one gear to another.
Adaptive Learning: Programming within the Transmission Control Module (TCM) that automatically adjusts hydraulic
pressure in order to compensate for changes in the transmission (i.e. component wear).
Applied: An apply component that is holding another component to which it is splined or assembled with. Also referred
to as ‘engaged’.
Apply Components: Hydraulic operated cl utches, servos, bands, and mechanical one–way roller or spr ag clutches that
drive or hold members of a planetary g ear set.
Backing Plate: A steel plate in a clutch pack that is usually the last plat e in that clutch assembly (farthest from the clutch
piston).
Ball Check Valve: A spherical hydraulically operated controlled component (usually made of steel) that either seals or
opens fluid circuits. It is also referred to as a check valve or checkball.
Band: An apply component that consists of a flexible strip of steel and friction material that wraps around a drum. When
applied, it tightens around the drum and prevents the drum from rotating.
Brake Switch: An electrical device that provides signals to the TCM based on the position of the brake pedal. The TCM
uses this information to apply or releas e the torque converter clutch.
Centrifugal Force: A force that is imparted on an object (due to rotation) that increases as that object moves further
away from a centre / point of rotation.
Clutch Pack: An assembly of compone nts generally consisting of clutch plates, an apply plate and a backing plate.
Component: Any physical part of the transmission.
Control Valve Body: A machined metal casting that contains valve trains, and other hydraulically controlled components
that shift the transmission.
Coupling Speed: The speed at which a vehicle is travelling and no longer requires torque multiplicatio n through the
torque converter. At this point the stator free wheels to allow fluid leaving th e turbine to flow directly to the pump.
De-energise(d): To interrupt the electrical current that flows to an electronically controlled device mak ing it electrically
inoperable.
Direct Drive: A condition in a gear set where the input speed and the input torque equals the output speed and torque.
The gear ratio through the gear set is 1:1.
Downshift: A change in a gear ratio where input speed a nd torque increases.
Driver Shift Control: A selector system variant which is configured to be shifted only manually, and allows for engine
braking in first, second, third and fourth gears.
Duty Cycle: In reference to an electronically controlled solenoid, it is the amount of time (expressed as a percentage)
that current flows through the solenoid coil.