Automatic ("automatic") Jatco: reviews

The Japanese company Jatco is the largest manufacturer of automatic and robotic gearboxes. Its products are very popular among automakers: Nissan is equipped with Jatco variators, Infiniti with 7-speed automatic, Renault with 6-speed automatic transmissions.

A bit of 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 concern Nissan. For greater freedom in sales, the management of Jatco decided to take a step toward secession from the auto concern. Since it was necessary to compete only with two manufacturers АКПП - Aisin from "Toyota", and German ZF, the further development of the company was not threatened.

Today Jatco sells automatic transmissions at several hundred thousand a year. According to reviews, "automatic" Jatco easily compete with other manufacturers, releasing a budget, but reliable products.

Immediately after disconnecting from Nissan, Jatco released a variator, thereby gaining the first place in the world. Even such auto giants as BMW and Volkswagen began to use its products, successfully equipping the automatic transmission and variator cars with a volume of up to 3.5 liters.

Jatco automatic transmission system

A set of letters and numbers in the names of boxes only at first glance seems incomprehensible. In fact, it is simple and informative:

• The letters R and F denote 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 variator, the number of gears is indicated by the number 0.

Installation of the "automatic" Jatco at the WHA

In 2010, the AvtoVAZ plant decided to serial production of cars with automatic transmission. The equipment of these cars should be qualitative and financially accessible to the average buyer. Since the previous attempt with the automatic transmission of CATE was not successful, the plant management started cooperating with Jatco.

The proposal to install a compact Japanese "automatic" on a small "Lada Grant" or "Lada Kalina" looked quite acceptable.

This Russian car enthusiasts eagerly awaited this cardinal decision. Control of the car with automatic transmission is much easier. In the absence of proposals from the domestic manufacturer, many had to buy second-hand foreign cars of the secondary market.

Automatic transmission Jatco

"Automatic" JF414E is designed on the basis of a 4-speed manual transmission, which was released by the company "Nissan" in the year 80. For 30 years, the ICIE has been improving and changing, catching up with world trends. Finally by 2012 it was transformed from a mechanical one into an automatic one and gained great popularity among fans of small cars.

Install a Japanese "machine" on the WHA was a bit more complicated and more expensive than the manual or "robot". Accordingly, in the cost of repair and maintenance, it is also inferior.

Jatco begins to complete the Lada Granta in 2012. To adapt the new box to the "Grants", it took a year and a half. The joint efforts of the engineers of AvtoVAZ and Jatco were successful. For the final tuning the Austrian specialists of AVL company were involved. They had to make the work of automatic transmission more dynamic.

To combine the "machine" with the engine designers have made changes to some parts of the car. Because of the greater weight of the box, it was necessary to strengthen the front suspension. Carter became cast (and not stamped, as in previous versions). The pallet was attached directly to the torque converter, thereby increasing the rigidity of the structure. Due to all the manipulations, the clearance was reduced by 20 mm.

Reviews about the "machines" Jatco

Reviews about the "machine" Jatco JF414E Divided. Part of the car owners was pleased with the appearance of an affordable car with automatic transmission, part found the minuses and defects. There were disputes about equipping the box with hydromechanical control, which is considered to be reliable, but already obsolete. In modern cars, more and more electronic control is found. But its availability significantly increases the cost of the whole machine.

After the release of the assembly line "Lada Grants" test drives and reviews were conducted by both official media and amateurs. The car owners shared their impressions in the reviews and on the forums, making up a general picture of the work of the "automatic" Jatco on the "Grant".

Those who pay great attention to aesthetics and practicality, lamented the lack of any protection against accidental switching ranges. The slot for the lever is absolutely flat, without stoppers. Let on the instrument panel and the indicator of the switched on mode is displayed, but many would like to have illumination of designations and on the selector of transfers.

However, engineers provided for the protection of the automatic transmission from unauthorized switching. Even if during the ride the driver randomly switches the lever to the reverse R mode, the box will not react to this action until the conditions for this mode appear (for example, stop).

Fans of a sharp ride were pleased with the dynamic acceleration of "Lada Grant". The relationship between depressing the gas pedal and the engine running is very good. The motor responds immediately, without delaying the speed change.

The 4th gear is set up so that the low gear ratio is maintained during a uniform ride (for example, along the road, to save gasoline). But with a slight pressure on the gas pedal, the torque on the wheels increases as if there is one more - an intermediate speed value.

In general, the work of automatic transmission is invisible. It gradually increases the transmission, also without pauses, lowers them.

In the box there is a function "Overdrive", which prohibits the automatic transfer to the 4th gear. This is convenient during overtaking to increase the dynamics of the car. There are ranges of forced restriction of the first two gears. They are applicable when driving on bumpy terrain or climbing a mountain.

The main disadvantage in the work of "automatic" is a large consumption of gasoline, especially in the city. When running a new car, it reaches 17 liters per 100 km, then decreases, but not lower than 13 liters per 100 kilometers in a mixed mode.

Installation of the "automatic" Jatco to "Kalina"

After the automatic was equipped with a sedan "Grant", the engineers put the production line "Kalina" on the conveyor with the same box. Here, buyers have a choice of bodywork, as they were equipped with an "automatic" and a hatchback, and a station wagon.

"Kalina" with the "automatic" Jatco, according to reviews, did not differ from the "Grants", with the exception that the car owners fretted the engine tray, made of aluminum. Blowing the bottom could cause cracks and deformation of this protection element. Therefore, when buying a new car, the recommended pallet is immediately replaced.

Repair and warranty service

Officially, the AvtoVAZ plant decided not to repair the automatic transmission system, but to change it to a new one. This is due to the fact that the Jatco automatic box is a new, untested unit for this production. To train the mechanics of each dealer center to repair such a complex node from AvtoVAZ simply is not possible.

Any breakdown can cause a recall of the entire car lot. Therefore, every out-of-order "automatic" is sent to the plant in order to determine the breakdown and maintenance of statistics.

The warranty service life of the automatic transmission coincides with the warranty period of the car itself.

The end of the release of "Lada" with automatic transmission

2015 was a turning point in the history of Avtovaz. Sales of cars "Lada Granta" and "Lada Kalina" began to fall. And it's not in the reviews about the Japanese box "automatic" Jatco (they were still positive), but that the plant was the only customer of the 4-speed automatic transmission from the Japanese manufacturer. In this regard, the price of the "automatic" began to grow, pulling for themselves and the cost of cars equipped with them.

The management of AvtoVAZ decided to remove Grant and Kalina from the automatic transmission system.

Robotic manual transmission

The new box was designed on the basis of the domestic MKPP 2180 with the addition of electro-actuators (gear change mechanism) of the German company ZF.

The low cost of the unit is due to the fact that it is assembled on the same conveyor as the standard 5-speed box. As a result, the car is completely domestic production for a very moderate cost. For comparison: to equip "Kia Rio" or "Volkswagen Polo" "robot" will cost twice as much as "Lada".

Feedback on the work of "robot" AMT

Compare the feedback on the box "automatic" Jatco and the new "robot" of the Russian-German assembly is difficult, because they are completely different units, their work is very different from each other.

By the dynamism of the "robot" is much inferior to the automatic transmission. Having a single-disk clutch, it reacts rather slowly to the gas pedal. Even the built-in tuning function for the driving style of each person does not help. From the mechanical box he got not only a characteristic buzz during operation, but also the simplicity of the device with proven reliability.

Electric actuators are still an untested part of the box. According to the manufacturers of ZF, they are guaranteed to serve 10 years, but how much they work on Russian roads is still unknown.

Repair actuators are not subject, only replacement. The cost of the unit itself and its installation will cost about 60,000 rubles. A lot or a little depends on the expectations of the car owner. The replacement of the same unit with a foreign car can reach 100,000.

Operation of the "robot" AMT on the "Lada"

Robotic PPC is the same "mechanics", only the management of it was 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 - the gear changes are carried out with the help of the actuator unit; M - mechanical - the driver can independently raise (+) and lower (-) the transmission; N - neutral position without parking function; R - reversing.

To start the engine, two conditions must be met: the gearshift lever should be in neutral, the brake pedal depressed. Only after this the motor will start to work. Otherwise, the electronics will not give a signal to start, on the screen of the trip computer there will be indicators of neutral position N or "foot on the brake pedal". So the designers have provided a safety system from the car factory on the transfer.

Since the box is not equipped with a torque converter, without pressing the gas pedal it will not move from the seat. Therefore, after the engine is started, the driver must 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 checkpoint is still mechanical. The electronic unit first needs to disengage the clutch, then switch gear and re-engage the clutch. This feature is due to tangible shocks during acceleration.

AMT includes the next gear only when the engine speed has reached the minimum value for it. Conversely, it is possible to lower the gear only at the maximum speed for the previous engine speed. Therefore, on steep climbs or when overtaking, the driver can turn on the mechanical mode and lower the gear itself.

The engine brakes smoothly. The gear shift only occurs when the rpm falls to idle.

Switching between ranges during driving, as well as on the automatic transmission Jatco, is protected. The driver can put the lever in the reverse position R or chaotically move it, the "robot" does not react to it at all.

In the event of a car breakdown, it can be towed on a soft coupler by switching the selector position to neutral. When the battery is exhausted, the engine can be fitted with wheels. To do this, move the lever to the N range, accelerate the vehicle in tow and turn on mode A. The controller will determine the speed of rotation of the wheels and start the engine.

"Automatic" Jatco or "robot"?

The termination of the release of "Lada" with automatic transmission frustrated many motorists. The "automatic machine" captivates smoothness of movement, dynamics and quiet work. In turn, the robotized MKPP is easy to repair and operate, albeit with its own characteristics.

Many preferred to accept the slow inclusion of gears "robot" than to pay for fuel overrun automatic transmission.