If you are not satisfied with any aspect of operation of your automatic or dual-clutch gearbox, we can help. Does it shift too soon or too late; is it slow to shift, or maybe too aggressive; have you tuned the engine and now the gearbox can’t deal with torque…? We can help with all of these and more.
Operation of an automatic transmission is controlled by an electronic transmission control unit (TCU) that has complicated software which uses a lot of different information to determine perfect shift times, harshness and speed, redline location, different modes, launch control settings, torque limiters and more in various driving conditions.
The sheer scope of jobs these TCUs have should be enough to explain to you how different your vehicle can feel after transmission tuning. We can improve performance, remove downsides, do away with things like unwanted upshifts, or hesitating downshifts and more.
Here are a few points that make TCU tuning a very good idea:
This one is especially important if you have already tuned the engine. Gearbox can limit torque delivery if it measures higher values at Canbus and thus reduce the effects of tuning. If that happens, we increase the allowed torque levels for transmission and unleash the full performance potential.
Of course, this change in torque limitation is done within safe margins and the gearbox will not be under any stress that could cause problems.
Many drivers feel that their automatic transmission shifts when they would not. In some cases it keeps the revs too high, in others it drowns the engine by keeping the revs too low. This is most often the case in gasoline cars in which the transmission is set up to keep the revs low to improve efficiency.
This usually keeps it under the turbo spool which means that the torque is not used efficiently.
Whatever your desire for automatic transmission tuning may be, we are here to tailor the shift points according to your desires.
Many gearboxes are designed to have delays in shift speed. Even though we are talking about fractions of a second, a faster shift can make your car feel more powerful even without engine tuning. The two combined make a big difference. Of course, no safety limit will ever be crossed and we also make sure that shifts do not become too harsh and uncomfortable.
Some automatic transmissions are a bit jerky when they shift. This is often the case with some dual-clutch systems at slow speeds, although other transmissions can have the same problems. We can change the way these shifts are done and greatly improve their smoothness.
This tuning can save you a lot of money! When you tune your car heavily, such as with Stage 3 tuning projects, (LINK TO TUNING STAGES 123) the clutch can start slipping because its stock clamping pressure was not intended to deal with such torque. In many cases it will start slipping which looks like the engine is too powerful for the transmission and many owners opt for expensive aftermarket transmissions.
However, in some cases, the slippage happens only due to the limited clamping pressure. Increasing the clamping pressure electronically lets you use your OEM gearbox even after tuning, provided it is capable of withstanding the newly gained power.
Believe it or not, many cars that do not have Launch Control mode actually have it as an option, but it is not activated. One of the reasons for this is that manufacturers can offer Launch Control as an optional feature, or with a higher trim level, even though the gearbox is the same in all trim levels. In some cars, Launch Control is offered, but it has a limited number of launches allowed. Similarly, in some cars it is limited by factors such as steering wheel position, or if the ESP is turned on.
We can activate the Launch Control feature in these vehicles.
Most cars have the Launch Control set up well, but in some cases there may be a better place in the rev range. We can change this.
Moreover, even with the perfect stock setup, after your engine is tuned, perfect revs for launch control are not at the same place. We can make them perfect again.
This feature is usually not available on cars with automatic transmissions. When you keep your right foot on the throttle and you press the brake pedal with your left foot, the throttle goes off automatically. We can change this and keep the throttle open so that you can enjoy improved reaction times and better lap records.
The so-called Manual Mode in many automatic transmissions is notoriously limited. The transmission shifts automatically even when you are in the Manual Mode. This often happens when you are in high revs and you want to stay in the same gear, but the transmission decides it should shift. We can deactivate this override and give you full control.
Another notoriously annoying feature of the Manual Mode is the delay in shifts. We can adjust this and make the manual shifting feel far more immediate.
Different modes have different rev limits. We can adjust these to suit your desires. Each transmission mode can be adjusted separately.
If you are in need of this feature, we are here for you.
