Torque Converter, Gears, and Clutches

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Honda Odyssey, 2003 Honda Odyssey, and 2002 Honda Odyssey. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The torque converter consists of a pump, turbine, and stator assembly in a single unit. The converter housing (pump) is connected to the engine crankshaft and turn as the engine turns. Around the outside of the torque converter is a ring gear which meshes with the starter pinion when the engine is being started. The entire torque converter assembly serves as a flywheel, transmitting power to the transmission mainshaft. The transmission has three parallel shafts: the mainshaft, the countershaft, and the secondary shaft. The mainshaft is in line with the engine crankshaft. The mainshaft includes the 4th and 5th clutches, and gears for 3rd, 4th, 5th, and reverse, (reverse gear is integral with the 5th gear). The countershaft includes the final drive, 1st, 4th, 5th, reverse, 2nd, park, and 3rd gears (the final drive gear is integral with the countershaft). The secondary shaft includes the 1st, 1st-hold and 2nd clutches, and gears for 1st, 2nd, and idler. The countershaft 5th gear and the countershaft reverse gear can be locked to the countershaft at its center, providing 5th gear or reverse, depending with which way the selector is moved. The gears on the mainshaft and the secondary shaft are in constant mesh with those on the countershaft. When certain combinations of gears in the transmission are engaged by the clutches, power is transmitted through the mainshaft, then to the secondary shaft, and/or to the countershaft to provide drive.