Apparatus and method for controlling automatic transmission for motor vehicle, with anti-squat shifting arrangement

摘要

A method and an apparatus for controlling a vehicle automatic transmission which has a plurality of selectively established gear positions and is shifted to and temporarily held in a predetermined one of the gear positions other than the lowest-gear position, upon operation of a shift lever from its neutral position to one of drive positions, if a predetermined condition is satisfied within a preset time period after the shift lever operation. The transmission is generally shifted down to the lowest-gear position after it is held in the predetermined one gear position. This anti-squat shifting of the transmission responsive to the shift lever operation from the neutral position, contributes to reduction in the shifting shock and prevention of squatting of the tail or stern of the vehicle when the shift lever is moved from the neutral position to a drive position such as DRIVE, SECOND or LOW, in which the transmission is selectively placed in the two or more gear positions (e.g., 1st-gear, 2nd-gear, and 3rd-gear positions).