Patent ID: 8392080

Claim:
A malfunction detection process for detecting a malfunction in one of an automatic transmission and an automated transmission of a vehicle when a gear is engaged and the vehicle is at most substantially motionless, the process comprising the steps of: when the vehicle is substantially motionless, determining a desired direction of the drive from the transmission which is dependent on an engaged gear in an engaged drive direction; once the vehicle begins to move, sensing an actual rotational direction of a transmission input shaft; once the vehicle begins to move, sensing an actual rotational direction of a transmission output shaft; determining an actual direction of drive from the transmission, depending on the rotational direction of the transmission input shaft and the rotational direction of the transmission output shaft; comparing the desired direction of the drive from the transmission and the actual direction of the drive from the transmission; and generating a signal indicating transmission malfunction when the desired direction of the drive is different from the actual direction of the drive.