Russian motorists are familiar with the Jatco JF414E automatic transmission from cars such as the Lada Granta. This four-speed transmission has become popular among small car owners. It all started in 2012. Everything about this automatic transmission: troubleshooting the torque converter, proper operation, as well as the opinions of supporters of this transmission - will be told to the reader further.
A little history
In 1970, the Japanese Automatic Transmissin Company (Jatco) was founded and successfully produced automatic transmissions for Nissan and Mazda. Until 1999, it was part of the Nissan concern. For greater freedom in sales, Jatco management decided to take a step towards separation from the automaker. Since it was necessary to compete with only two automatic transmission manufacturers - Aisin from Toyota, and the German ZF, nothing threatened the further development of the company.
Today Jatco sells automatic transmissions at several hundred thousand a year. According to reviews, Jatco automatic machines easily compete among other manufacturers, producing budget but reliable products.
Immediately after being separated from Nissan, Jatco released a CVT, thereby winning first place in the world. Even such auto giants as BMW and Volkswagen began to use its products, successfully equipping cars with automatic transmissions and CVTs with a volume of up to 3.5 liters.
Jatco automatic transmission designation system
The set of letters and numbers in the names of the boxes seems incomprehensible only at first glance. In fact, it is simple and informative:
- the letters R and F indicate the drive (R - rear - rear-wheel drive car; F - forward - front-wheel drive);
- the presence of the letter E indicates electronic control - electronic, L - hydraulic;
- the first digit is the number of speeds;
- the last number and the letter after it indicate the modification number.
In the case of a CVT, the number of gears is indicated by the number 0.
Installation of a Jatco automatic transmission on a VAZ
In 2010, it was decided to mass produce cars with automatic transmission. The equipment of these cars had to be of high quality and financially accessible to the average buyer. Since the previous attempt with the KATE automatic transmission was unsuccessful, the plant management began to cooperate with the Jatco company.
The proposal to install a compact Japanese “automatic” on a low-volume Lada Granta or Lada Kalina looked quite acceptable.
Russian car enthusiasts were eagerly awaiting this radical decision. Driving a car with an automatic transmission is much easier. In the absence of offers from domestic manufacturers, many had to buy used foreign cars on the secondary market.
Automatic transmission Jatco
The JF414E “automatic” is designed on the basis of a 4-speed manual transmission, which was released in 1980. Over 30 years, the manual transmission has improved and changed, catching up with global trends. Finally, by 2012, it was transformed from mechanical to automatic and gained great popularity among fans of small cars.
Installing a Japanese automatic transmission on a VAZ was a little more difficult and expensive than a manual transmission or a robot. Accordingly, it is also inferior in the cost of repairs and maintenance.
Jatco begins to assemble Lada Granta in 2012. It took a year and a half to adapt the new box to the Granta design. The joint efforts of AvtoVAZ and Jatco engineers were crowned with success. Austrian specialists from AVL were brought in for the final setup. They had to make the automatic transmission more dynamic.
To combine the automatic transmission with the engine, the designers made changes to some components of the car. Due to the greater mass of the box, the front suspension had to be strengthened. The crankcase became cast (and not stamped, as in previous versions). The pan was attached directly to the torque converter, thereby increasing the rigidity of the structure. As a result of all the manipulations, the clearance decreased by 20 mm.
Features of automatic transmission maintenance
Jatco transmissions do not require close attention. They are easy to maintain.
Automatic transmission parts are similar to its relatives:
- RE4F03A;
- JF403E.
This makes it cheap to repair. The design characteristics are simplified as much as possible, since it is installed on budget cars.
The oil change in a Jatco automatic transmission can be done by the car owner himself or by specialists at service stations.
Checking the oil level and condition in the Jatco automatic transmission
You can use any lubricant for automobile automatic transmissions. In addition, analogues such as Dexron 6 can be poured into it.
Checking the presence of transmission fluid in the Jatco automatic transmission is done using a dipstick when the engine is warm. Some experts advise checking the level and condition of the oil using the overflow tube by removing the plug from the bottom of the pan.
After traveling 200 thousand kilometers, experts recommend installing an external fine filter. This is done in order to avoid small debris from entering the valve body, which appears due to wear of the clutches. Since the metal mesh, which is an internal filter, will not be able to contain these particles.
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Attention! It is recommended to do the first change of transmission fluid in JF414E automatic transmissions after driving 80 thousand kilometers. And the subsequent ones - after 60 thousand kilometers.
Replacing transmission fluid in a Jatco automatic transmission
If the owner decides to change the oil himself, then below are instructions on the correct procedure for changing the transmission fluid.
- Unscrew the transmission fluid drain plug “JF414E”.
- Place a container to drain and wait until the oil is drained.
- Remove sixteen pan mounting bolts.
- Using napkins, clean the inside of it from old oil.
- Remove the oil filter.
- Clean the filter element.
- Reassemble the pallet in the same sequence and put it in place.
- Pour 1.5 liters of transmission fluid into the place where the dipstick is inserted.
- Insert the dipstick. Start the engine.
- Drive the car until the oil warms up to 80 degrees Celsius.
- Drive onto a level area and check the level.
- If necessary, add oil.
Reviews of Jatco automatic machines
Reviews of the Jatco JF414E automatic are divided. Some car owners were glad to see an affordable car with an automatic transmission, while others found disadvantages and shortcomings. There were debates about equipping the box with hydromechanical control, which is considered reliable, but already outdated. Electronic controls are becoming more common in modern cars. But its presence significantly increases the cost of the entire machine.
After the Lada Granta left the assembly line, test drives and reviews were carried out by both official media and amateurs. Car owners shared their impressions in reviews and on forums, drawing up an overall picture of the operation of the Jatco automatic machine on the Grant.
Those who pay great attention to aesthetics and practicality complained about the lack of any protection against accidental range switching. The slot for the lever is absolutely straight, without stoppers. Although the mode indicator is displayed on the dashboard, many would like to have backlit symbols on the gear selector.
However, engineers have provided protection for the automatic transmission itself from unauthorized switching. Even if the driver accidentally switches the lever into reverse mode R while driving, the box will not react to this action in any way until the conditions for this mode arise (for example, stopping).
Fans of fast driving were pleased with the dynamic acceleration of the Lada Granta. The connection between pressing the gas pedal and engine operation is very good. The motor responds immediately, without delays when switching speeds.
4th gear is configured so that the low gear ratio is maintained during smooth driving (for example, on the highway, to save gasoline). But when you press the gas pedal slightly, the torque on the wheels increases as if there was another - intermediate - speed value.
In general, the operation of the automatic transmission is invisible. She smoothly upshifts and downshifts without pause.
The box has an “Overdrive” function, which prevents the automatic from going into 4th gear. This is convenient when overtaking to increase the dynamics of the car. Ranges of forced limitation of the first two gears are provided. They are useful when driving on rough terrain or going uphill.
The main disadvantage of the automatic transmission is considered to be high gas consumption, especially in urban areas. When running a new car, it reaches 17 liters per 100 km, then decreases, but not lower than 13 liters per 100 km in mixed mode.
Automatic transmission diagnostic methods
To calculate the transmission problem, it is necessary to conduct computer diagnostics. Since this model of gearbox most often does not remember errors that occurred in it while using the car.
Service station specialists often use a trick to avoid having to go around with the owner looking for troubleshooting. They drive it onto the lift so that the wheels hang freely in the air and start the engine. And then they start looking for problems.
Electronic control system
The electronic control system rarely fails. If the firmware fails, then the technicians reflash the computer unit of the automatic transmission.
Mechanical and hydraulic part
The check occurs visually:
- If, when checking the oil, the owner found many black specks, this means that the friction linings have become unusable. Therefore, the sooner the car is sent to a service station, the lower the chance of a complete automatic transmission replacement.
- A jammed pan cover can damage the transmission's mechanical parts and cause oil loss.
- reading codes that appear on the dashboard. The explanation of fault codes is in the manual for this transmission model.
Installation of a Jatco automatic transmission on a Kalina
After the Grant sedan was equipped with an automatic transmission, engineers put the production of Kalina with the same gearbox on the production line. Here, buyers had a choice of body styles, since both the hatchback and station wagon were equipped with an automatic transmission.
“Kalina” with a Jatco “automatic”, according to reviews, was no different from “Granta”, with the exception that car owners were worried about the engine sump, made of aluminum. A blow from the bottom could lead to cracks and deformation of this protection element. Therefore, when buying a new car, it was recommended to immediately replace the pan.
Repair and warranty service
I officially decided not to repair the automatic transmission, but to replace it with a new one. This is due to the fact that the Jatco automatic transmission is a new, untested unit for this production. AvtoVAZ simply does not have the opportunity to train the mechanics of each dealership to repair such a complex unit.
Any breakdown may cause a recall of the entire batch of cars. Therefore, each failed machine is sent to the factory to determine the breakdown and maintain statistics.
The warranty period of the automatic transmission coincides with the warranty period of the car itself.
Signs of a Jatco automatic transmission failure
Frequent malfunctions of the Jatco automatic transmission are:
- oxidation of solenoid contacts. The latter quickly fail if the owner ignores the advice on installing an external filter;
- violation of wire insulation. The electrical part of the automatic transmission is afraid of voltage surges and therefore the electrical board often burns along with the wires if it is not properly “lit” from the battery;
- rupture of wires and connecting clamps.
The hydraulic unit may also fail. This happens mainly due to the fact that when changing the oil, the pan was not cleaned of old transmission fluid or low-quality cheap oil was filled in.
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The main cause of oil leakage in a Jatco automatic transmission can be old rubber gaskets. Therefore, it is recommended to change oil seals and gaskets in a timely manner, preventing them from drying out or aging. Since this will cause the problem of low transmission fluid level. And oil starvation can damage the bushings.
End of production of Lada with automatic transmission
2015 was a turning point in the history of AvtoVAZ. Sales of Lada Granta and Lada Kalina cars began to fall. And the point is not in the reviews of the Japanese Jatco automatic transmission (they were still positive), but in the fact that the plant remained the only customer of the 4-speed automatic transmission from the Japanese manufacturer. In this regard, the price of an automatic transmission began to rise, pulling with it the cost of cars equipped with it.
The management of AvtoVAZ decided to remove Granta and Kalina with automatic transmission from production.
What cars was it installed on?
It was the Jatco automatic that AvtoVAZ chose in 2012 for the Lada Granta manufactured by that time.
The gearbox can be seen on the following car models:
- Lada "Granta";
- Lada "Kalina2".
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The reader, of course, will be interested in what other foreign brands of cars, besides the Russian Grant and Kalina, are equipped with the Jatco JF414E automatic transmission.
The following is a list of Japanese car models:
- Datsun On-Do;
- Datsun Mi-Do;
- Nissan March;
- Nissan Almera;
- Nissan Ad Van.
Recently, Jatco has been producing V-belt variators in addition to automatic transmissions. Cars with such a transmission are not afraid of snow and dirt. An example is the Nissan Xtronic CVT on the Xtrail model.
Robotic manual transmission
The new gearbox was designed on the basis of the domestic manual transmission 2180 with the addition of electric actuators (speed shift mechanism) from the German company ZF.
The low cost of the unit is due to the fact that it is assembled on the same assembly line as a standard 5-speed gearbox. The result is a completely domestic-made car at a very reasonable cost. For comparison: equipping a Kia Rio or Volkswagen Polo with a “robot” will cost twice as much as a Lada.
Reviews of the work of the “robot” AMT
It is difficult to compare reviews of the Jatco automatic transmission and the new Russian-German “robot” assembly, since these are completely different units, their operation is significantly different from each other.
In terms of dynamics, the “robot” is significantly inferior to automatic transmission. Having a single-plate clutch, it responds rather slowly to the gas pedal. Even the built-in function of adjusting to each person's driving style does not help. From the manual box he got not only a characteristic hum during operation, but also a simplicity of the device with proven reliability.
Electric actuators are an untested part of the box. According to the ZF manufacturers, they are guaranteed to last 10 years, but how long they will work on Russian roads is still unknown.
Actuators cannot be repaired, only replaced. The cost of the unit itself and its installation will cost about 60,000 rubles. Whether this is a lot or a little depends on the car owner’s expectations. Replacing the same unit with a foreign car can reach 100,000.
Jatco box design
The design of the Jatco automatic transmission, like other transmissions, consists of:
- torque converter;
- planetary part;
- valve body
Torque converter
The torque converter is both the clutch and the fluid coupling of the Jatco box. It converts torque from the engine and transmits it to the input shaft.
Planetary gear
Planetary gear includes:
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- sun gear;
- satellites that are attached to the planetary carrier;
- clutch;
- band brake.
Clutches and steel discs
The automatic transmission's clutches and steel discs serve as elements for engaging the clutch and transmitting torque. Essentially, friction clutches are steel discs, only friction tape is glued onto them. Pressing against the steel discs, the clutches connect the two rotating shafts of the automatic transmission.
All this is controlled by a computer, and the hydraulic unit presses on the pistons of the drums, squeezing the clutches in shifts.
Hydraulic unit
The automatic transmission valve body of the 414 e model is reliable and rarely fails. Most often, the owner has to replace solenoids. They are a consumable element of the transmission.
Operation of the AMT “robot” on a Lada
A robotic gearbox is the same “mechanics”, only its control is entrusted to the electronic device of the car, and not to the driver.
How does this device work? What skills are required from the driver?
The transmission is equipped with four modes: A - automatic mode - gear shifting occurs using an actuator unit; M - mechanical - the driver can independently increase (+) and decrease (-) gears; N — neutral position without the “parking” function; R - reverse movement.
To start the engine, two conditions must be met: the gearshift lever must be in neutral and the brake pedal must be depressed. Only after this the motor will start working. Otherwise, the electronics will not give a signal to start; indicators of the neutral position N or “foot on the brake pedal” will appear on the on-board computer screen. So the designers provided a safety system to prevent the car from starting in gear.
Since the box is not equipped with a torque converter, it will not move without pressing the gas pedal. Therefore, after the engine is started, the driver needs to release the brake pedal and press the gas.
Gear shifting in automatic mode occurs with a slight delay. This is due to the fact that the gearbox is still mechanical. The electronic unit first needs to disengage the clutch, then change gear and re-engage the clutch. This feature also causes noticeable shocks during acceleration.
AMT engages the next gear only when the engine speed has reached its minimum value. Conversely, a gear can be downshifted only at the maximum speed for the previous one. Therefore, on steep climbs or when overtaking, the driver can turn on the manual mode and downshift himself.
Engine braking is smooth. Gear shifting occurs only when the speed drops to idle.
Switching between ranges while driving, just like with a Jatco automatic transmission, is protected. The driver can put the lever in the reverse position R or move it randomly, the “robot” will not react to this in any way.
If the car breaks down, it can be towed on a soft hitch by switching the selector position to neutral mode. When the battery is discharged, the engine can be started with the wheels. To do this, you need to move the lever to the N range, accelerate the car in tow and turn on mode A. The controller will determine the wheel speed and start the engine.
Tips for use
But no matter how unpretentious this transmission may be, it is necessary to operate it, like any other thing, correctly.
There are certain rules that any owner of a car with a Jatko automatic must adhere to:
- Checking the level and changing the oil.
- Correct driving.
- Proper towing.
Proper driving with Jatco automatic transmission
The Jatko automatic transmission is reliable and durable. The key feature is the ease and smoothness of gear shifting. But in any case, it is recommended to warm up the car before driving in winter. And in the summer - cool.
No need to pull the shift knob. The automatic transmission itself adapts to your driving style. The driver only needs to enjoy the ride with this transmission. And also the automatic does not like long driving at high speed.
Towing a car
In order to tow a car with a Jatco automatic, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Tow for a distance of no more than 40 km.
- Do not exceed the speed when towing – 35 km/h.
- Move the transmission rocker to the neutral position.
- Avoid jerking when towing. This may render the Jatco automatic transmission unusable.
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Shift modes: gear shifter
As with all cars with an automatic transmission, Jatco has the following rocker positions:
- P – parking;
- N – neutral;
- D – forward movement;
- R – backward movement;
- 1 – movement only at first speed;
- 2 – start moving in 1st gear, then automatically switch from first to second gear. The automatic transmission will not accelerate the car beyond 2nd gear.
The model is also equipped with “M” mode – mechanical. The driver will be able to independently increase or decrease gears. And it has “A” - automatic mode. Switching will occur using an actuator block.
