Mitsubishi Eclipse. Technical Information Manual (1994) - part 38

POWER TRAIN 

 Automatic Transaxle

 <FWD   

TFA0540

1. Damper clutch

2. Torque converter

9. Transfer idler gear

10. Rear cover

3. Oil pump

11.

4. Front clutch

Input shaft

5. Kick-down brake

12. Transfer drive gear
13. End clutch

6. Rear clutch

14. Transfer shaft

7. Low/Reverse brake

15. Transaxle case

8. Planetary gear set

16. Differential

POWER TRAIN 

 Automatic Transaxle

 <AWD   

2 3

4   5 6

1. Damper clutch

2. Torque converter
3. Oil pump
4. Front clutch
5. Kick-down brake
6. Rear clutch
7. Low/Reverse brake
8. Planetary gear set
9. Transfer idler gear

10. Rear cover

11. Input shaft

12. Transfer drive gear
13. End clutch
14. Transfer driven gear
15. Center differential
16. Viscous coupling
17. Center shaft
18. Front output shaft
19. Front differential
20. Driven bevel gear
21. Drive bevel gear

11

12
13

14

15

T F A 0 9 2 8

POWER TRAIN   Automatic Transaxle

CONSTRUCTION AND FUNCTION 
Transaxle

r

I

 

 switch

assembly

9321-415

l

The transaxle consists of the torque converter,

l

oil pump, gear train and valve body.

The gear train consists of three sets of multiple

l

The torque converter incorporates the damper

disc type input clutch, two sets of multiple disc

clutch and is of the 

 single stage,

type holding clutch and one set of Simpson

 type.

type planetary gear set.

OPERATING ELEMENTS IN SELECT LEVER POSITIONS

Select lever position

P 

 

N

D

2

L

Speed

 

1st 2nd 3rd

4th (With OD switch

turned 

ON)

1st 2nd 1st

Underdrive

clutch

Input clutch

O v e r d r i v e

clutch

Reverse clutch

2-4 clutch

Holding

clutch

Low/Reverse

clutch

.

.

NOTE

 Low/Reverse clutch is operated at P and N to provide smooth shift to D or 

POWER TRAIN 

 Automatic Transaxle

Turbine

Solenoid

 Identification

TORQUE CONVERTER
Torque converter clutch operation is controlled by the TCM
through the solenoid assembly and valve body as mentioned.
The clutch lining material is not bonded to either the piston
or the torque converter cover in the 

 transaxle, it is

free floating.
When the clutch is not engaged, pressure is directed through
the center of the input shaft to the front side of the piston.
This pressure pushes the piston rearward and allows oil to
flow around the outer edge of the piston. The oil exits the
torque converter between the input shaft and the reaction shaft.

When the torque converter clutch engages, the pressure that
was directed to the front side of the piston through the input
shaft is shut off and the circuit is vented. The pressure on
the back side of the piston pushes the piston forward and
connects the turbine to the converter housing. The piston has

no outer seal. The friction disc provides the seal between the
piston and the housing. As mentioned the friction disc is 

floating and is not bonded to either the piston or the housing.
When the torque converter clutch is engaged, fuel economy

is improved, engine noise is reduced, and the transaxle and

fluid operating temperature is lowered.

CASE

The 

 transaxle uses an aluminum cast case with a

stamped steel oil pan. The transfer gears on the end of the
transaxle and differential assembly towards the back of the
transaxle are under stamped steel covers. This transaxle is
a single sump design. That is it uses only one fluid for both
the transmission and differential areas. The transaxle case

is vented through the top of the manual shaft.