Patent ID: 8162796

Claim:
A method of operating an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle, the automatic transmission having at least five shift elements, at least three of which are engaged to transfer one of torque or force in any forward gear and reverse gear, and in a neutral position of the automatic transmission, at least one of the three shift elements that are engaged in the forward or the reverse gear is completely disengaged to prevent undesired transfer of one of torque or force flow, the method comprising the steps of: completely disengaging when the automatic transmission is in the neutral position, a first one of the three shift elements that are engaged in the forward or the reverse gear; partially filling a second one of the three shift elements that are engaged in the forward or the reverse gear such that the second one of the three shift elements essentially transfers no torque; and engaging a third one of the three shift elements that are engaged in the forward or the reverse gear.