Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Hill Start an ATX?

I'd ask Click and Clack but the're not taking my calls. Now understand I would never try this as it sounds like one of those things that might work while trashing the transmission but is it theoretically possible to hill start an automatic transmission given enough speed?

No.

Older transmissions for RWD had two pumps in the transmission, one on the input (as does ours) that spins with the engine and one on the output shaft that spun the same speed as the driveshaft. The idea was that as the speed of the vehicle increase, the additional pressure of the second pump would help keep clutches and bands engaged. These transmissions, if you pushed the car fast enough good develop the hydraulic pressure needed to engage the clutches/bands.

Transmissions nowadays do not use the output shaft pump, probably to increase efficiency. So no matter how fast you push our car, there will be no hydraulic pressure to engage a clutch/band to so the motor will spin.

I am not aware of any automatic transmissions today that have dual pumps. The dual pumps were phased out in the 60's.

Many thanks for the informed response. I guess I'm old enough to have heard whispered rumors of this but never knew for sure. You just saved me many fruitless experiments.

Peter-