Ford Motor Company Limited

John A Cushing

Peter John Grutter

Matthew John Gerhart

Alexander Y Gopp

Gerald G Stock

Matthew J Gladd

A method and system for controlling gear ratio changes of a transmission operating in a powertrain with an internal combustion engine controlled by an engine throttle and having a device, such as traction assist system, that alters engine torque from that corresponding to the position of the throttle. The control substitutes a synthetic throttle position for actual throttle position during a traction assist event. Gearshifts occur with reference to a schedule relating the desired gear, vehicle speed, and synthetic throttle position.

Automatic transmission gear shift control during power reduction

An exhaust gas oxygen sensor downstream of a catalytic converter is used to control a closed loop air/fuel ratio control system. A measured limit cycle frequency at various engine speed/load conditions is compared to stored benchmark limit cycle frequencies as functions of engine speed/load conditions. If the measured frequency is higher, the catalytic converter is considered to be degraded.

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Taylor, MI, United States of America

John A Cushing