Patent ID: 8591381

Claim:
A method for controlling a powertrain in a motor vehicle, the powertrain having an engine and a transmission with an accumulator and a plurality of torque transmitting devices operable to provide at least a plurality of gear speeds, the method comprising: determining a vehicle status; discharging the accumulator based on the vehicle status; commanding the transmission to provide a gear speed of the plurality of gear speeds; engaging only one of a first and a second torque transmitting device of the plurality of torque transmitting devices required to provide the commanded gear speed; starting the engine; setting an engine timer to a zero value incrementing the engine timer; calculating a time threshold based on a requested power demand to the powertrain; engaging both the first and the second torque transmitting devices to provide the commanded gear speed if the engine timer is greater than the time threshold; and engaging both the first and the second torque transmitting devices to provide the commanded gear speed if a second, higher gear speed than the commanded gear speed has been subsequently commanded.