Pressure Control Solenoid (Force Motor)
Hello Telco,
As a disclaimer … I am neither an engineer nor a transmission expert … the following is based on my understanding of the operation of A4 (4L60E / 4L80E) transmissions and past tuning thereof …
The newest technology transmissions (6L80 / 6L90) are fully electronic. Older transmission (TH350 / 700R4 / 4L60) were controlled by fluid pressure, fluid flow, and mechanical devices.
The 4L60E / 4L80E are pressure / flow based designs that interface with electronic components to allow PCM control - essentially a hybrid design.
D3082 (Force Motor Current - positive) and D3803 (Force Motor Current - negative) were used in 1999 and 2000 OS and were homogenized into D3801 (Force Motor Current) in 2001 and newer LS1-B PCM OS. I would recommend upgrading your project to use a 2001 or 2002 OS.
The Pressure Control Solenoid (Force Motor) is the “bridge” or “Rosetta Stone” between physical line pressure (PSI) and Amps (a measureable PCM input - used to represent actual line pressure).
The PCS / PCM relationship was calibrated by the OEM at the time of production - unless the relationship has become inaccurate - it should not be altered.
Shift pressures should be tuned via D0701, D0702, and D0703 values. For these tables to accurately adjust shift pressures, D3801 (PCS / Force Motor) table values must be accurate.
As an example, if you wished to command maximum shift pressure of the 3>4 shift (D0703) at a given Delivered Engine Torque value, you would enter “96” in the appropriate cell of the D0703 table - this would command a transmission shift pressure of approximately 203 to 223 PSI (maximum of 235 PSI).
The above would only occur if the D3801 (PCS / Force Motor) table values were accurate. If you look at D3801 (or D3802, D3803) the vertical column on the left is Torque Signal Pressure (PSI), while the row at the top is TFT. This table attempts to equate the physical transmission line pressure (oil pressure) with Amps - to afford accurate (or reasonably accurate) PCM controlled shift pressures.
Arbitrarily altering this table (D3801) would cause the PCM to receive inaccurate data with respect to the actual physical transmission line pressure. This would cause the D0701 to D0703 tables also be inaccurate / unpredictable - effectively rendering commanded shift pressure to little more than guess work.
GM service manuals describe a diagnostic procedure to confirm D3801 calibration - by measuring transmission line pressure with a gauge, while using a Scan Tool to cause very small changes in the amps output by the PCS.
I’ll try and attach some images below …
Regards,
Taz
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