Method of detecting and preventing tie-up during a double transition up-shift

1. A method of detecting and preventing tie-up during a double transition shift of an automatically shiftable transmission operatively connected with an engine, wherein the double transition shift includes shifting from an initial speed ratio to a final speed ratio through an intermediate speed ratio, the method comprising:

shifting the automatically shiftable transmission from the initial speed ratio to the intermediate speed ratio;

commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio;

determining if the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in the intermediate speed ratio for greater than a predetermined amount of time after commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio;

preventing shifting from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio to avoid tie-up if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in the intermediate speed ratio for greater than the predetermined amount of time; and

wherein the intermediate speed ratio is lower than the final speed ratio and wherein the final speed ratio is lower than the initial speed ratio.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising continuing to operate the automatically shiftable transmission in the intermediate speed ratio if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in the intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining if engine load is greater than a predetermined value and preventing shifting from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio to avoid tie-up if the engine load is greater than said predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting a fault code to active if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in the intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising setting a fault code to active if it is determined that the engine load is greater than said predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein shifting the automatically shiftable transmission from the initial speed ratio to the intermediate speed ratio includes:

disengaging a first selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism; and

subsequently engaging a first selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio includes:

commanding disengagement of a second selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism; and

subsequently commanding engagement of a second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein preventing shifting from the intermediate speed ratio to the final speed ratio to avoid tie-up includes:

preventing engagement of a second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism; and

maintaining engagement of a second selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism.

9. A method of detecting and preventing tie-up during a double transition shift of an automatically shiftable transmission having an input shaft operatively connected with an engine and an output shaft, the method comprising:

shifting from an initial speed ratio to an intermediate speed ratio by disengaging a first selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism and subsequently engaging a first selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism;

commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from said intermediate speed ratio to a final speed ratio by commanding disengagement of a second selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism and subsequently commanding engagement of a second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism;

determining if the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than a predetermined amount of time prior to commanding engagement of said second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism;

preventing shifting from said intermediate speed ratio to said final speed ratio to avoid tie-up by preventing engagement of said second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time; and

wherein said intermediate speed ratio is lower than said final speed ratio and wherein said final speed ratio is lower than said initial speed ratio.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising continuing to operate the automatically shiftable transmission in said intermediate speed ratio if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining if engine load is greater than a predetermined value and preventing shifting from said intermediate speed ratio to said final speed ratio to avoid tie-up if said engine load is greater than said predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising setting a fault code to active if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising setting a fault code to active if it is determined that said engine load is greater than said predetermined value.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining whether a relative speed of the input shaft to the output shaft has obtained a predetermined relationship prior to commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from said intermediate speed ratio to said final speed ratio; and

commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from said intermediate speed ratio to said final speed ratio if said relative speed of the input shaft to the output shaft has obtained said predetermined relationship.

15. A method of detecting and preventing tie-up during a double transition shift of an automatically shiftable transmission having an input shaft operatively connected with an engine and an output shaft, the method comprising:

shifting from an initial speed ratio to an intermediate speed ratio by disengaging a first selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism and subsequently engaging a first selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism;

determining whether a relative speed of the input shaft to the output shaft has obtained a predetermined relationship;

commanding the automatically shiftable transmission to shift from said intermediate speed ratio to a final speed ratio by commanding disengagement of a second selectively engageable off-going torque transmitting mechanism and subsequently commanding engagement of a second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism if said relative speed of the input shaft to the output shaft has obtained said predetermined relationship;

determining if the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than a predetermined amount of time and if engine load is greater than a predetermined value prior to commanding engagement of said second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism;

preventing shifting from said intermediate speed ratio to said final speed ratio to avoid tie-up by preventing engagement of said second selectively engageable on-coming torque transmitting mechanism if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time and said engine load is greater than said predetermined value; and

wherein said intermediate speed ratio is lower than said final speed ratio and wherein said final speed ratio is lower than said initial speed ratio.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising continuing to operate the automatically shiftable transmission in said intermediate speed ratio if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising setting a fault code to active if it is determined that the automatically shiftable transmission has been operating in said intermediate speed ratio for greater than said predetermined amount of time and said engine load is greater than said predetermined value.