Neutral Control

By disengaging the lock-up clutch when the vehicle is stationary and the shift lever is in the drive (D) position, the transmission effectively changes to neutral, reducing torque converter drag losses. This reduces engine load and vibration at idle and enhances fuel economy. If the brake pedal is then released, normal creep force will be generated, enabling smooth starting OFF.

• The C1 clutch is controlled separately by the linear solenoid during neutral control.
• If the vehicle is stopped on an uphill creep force is not generated because the transmission is in neutral when neutral control is active. As such, the B1 solenoid operates to keep the vehicle in the same position so that the vehicle can safely start off even on uphills. This is referred to as hill-hold.
• Neutral control is only available when the engine is warm.
• When driven on a steep hill, neutral control is not available.