DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

THREAD REPAIR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 CLEANING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 INSPECTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .220 ASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 SCHEMATICS AND DIAGRAMS

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - BRAKE

CABLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 ADJUSTMENTS - GEARSHIFT CABLE. . . . . . 261

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 ASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274

DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 CLEANING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276 INSPECTION

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 STANDARD PROCEDURE - OIL PUMP

VOLUME CHECK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 CLEANING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 INSPECTION

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282

REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 ADJUSTMENTS - PARK-INTERLOCK CABLE . 284

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 CLEANING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 INSPECTION

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300

DESCRIPTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 REMOVAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302 DISASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 CLEANING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 INSPECTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .306 ASSEMBLY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307

The 45RFE automatic transmission is a sophisti- cated, multi-range, electronically controlled transmis- sion which combines optimized gear ratios for responsive performance, state of the art efficiency features and low NVH. Other features include driver adaptive shifting and three planetary gear sets to provide wide ratio capability with precise ratio steps for optimum driveability. The three planetary gear sets also make available a unique alternate second gear ratio. The primary 2nd gear ratio fits between 1st and 3rd gears for normal through-gear accelera- tions. The alternate second gear ratio (2prime) allows smoother 4-2 kickdowns at high speeds to provide 2nd gear passing performance over a wider highway cruising range.

The hydraulic portion of the transmission consists of the transmission fluid, fluid passages, hydraulic valves, and various line pressure control components.

\u2022Three multiple disc input clutches
\u2022Three multiple disc holding clutches
\u2022Five hydraulic accumulators
\u2022Three planetary gear sets
\u2022Dual Stage Hydraulic oil pump
\u2022Valve body
\u2022Solenoid pack

The TCM is the \u201cheart\u201d or \u201cbrain\u201d of the electronic control system and relies on information from vari- ous direct and indirect inputs (sensors, switches, etc.) to determine driver demand and vehicle operating conditions. With this information, the TCM can cal- culate and perform timely and quality shifts through various output or control devices (solenoid pack, transmission control relay, etc.).

Transmission identification numbers are stamped on the left side of the case just above the oil pan sealing surface (Fig. 1). Refer to this information when ordering replacement parts. A label is attached to the transmission case above the stamped numbers. The label gives additional information which may also be necessary for identification purposes.

1st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1 2nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.67:1 2nd Prime. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50:1 3rd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00:1 4th. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75:1 Reverse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1

The 45RFE offers full electronic control of all auto- matic up and downshifts, and features real-time adap- tive closed-loop shift and pressure control. Electronic shift and torque converter clutch controls help protect the transmission from damage due to high tempera- tures, which can occur under severe operating condi- tions. By altering shift schedules, line pressure, and converter clutch control, these controls reduce heat gen- eration and increase transmission cooling.

To help reduce efficiency-robbing parasitic losses, the transmission includes a dual-stage transmission fluid pump with electronic output pressure control. Under most driving conditions, pump output pressure greatly

exceeds that which is needed to keep the clutches applied. The 45RFE pump-pressure control system mon- itors input torque and adjusts the pump pressure accordingly. The primary stage of the pump works con- tinuously; the second stage is bypassed when demand is low. The control system also monitors input and output speed and, if incipient clutch slip is observed, the pres- sure control solenoid duty cycle is varied, increasing pressure in proportion to demand.

A high-travel torque converter damper assembly allows earlier torque converter clutch engagement to reduce slippage. Needle-type thrust bearings reduce internal friction. The 45RFE is packaged in a one- piece die-cast aluminum case. To reduce NVH, the case has high lateral, vertical and torsional stiffness. It is also designed to maximize the benefit of the structural dust cover that connects the bottom of the bell housing to the engine bedplate, enhancing over- all power train stiffness. Dual filters protect the pump and other components. A pump return filter is added to the customary main sump filter. Indepen- dent lubrication and cooler circuits assure ample pressure for normal transmission operation even if the cooler is obstructed or the fluid cannot flow due to extremely low temperatures.

The hydraulic control system design (without elec- tronic assist) provides the transmission with PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, SECOND, and THIRD gears, based solely on driver shift lever selection. This design allows the vehicle to be driven (in \u201climp-in\u201d mode) in the event of a electronic control system fail- ure, or a situation that the Transmission Control Module (TCM) recognizes as potentially damaging to the transmission.

The TCM also performs certain self-diagnostic functions and provides comprehensive information (sensor data, DTC\u2019s, etc.) which is helpful in proper diagnosis and repair. This information can be viewed with the DRB\ue002 scan tool.

CAUTION: Before attempting any repair on a RFE automatic transmission, check for Diagnostic Trou- ble Codes with the DRB\ue001 scan tool.

\u2022Poor engine performance
\u2022Improper adjustments
\u2022Hydraulic malfunctions