Method for operating an automatic transmission

1. A method for operating an automatic transmission, the automatic transmission having a plurality of non-positive shifting elements and at least one positive shifting element, the method comprising:

operating the automatic transmission at less than a threshold output speed;

closing a first non-positive shifting element of the plurality of shifting elements during said step of operating;

positioning a second non-positive shifting element of the plurality of shifting elements at an engaged configuration of the second non-positive shifting element, said step of positioning initiated after said step of closing is started; and

commanding a first positive shifting element of the at least one positive shifting element to actuate from a disengaged configuration to an engaged configuration after said step of positioning.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of commanding comprises commanding the first positive shifting element to actuate from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration if a shift lever is in a drive position or a park position.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising deferring said step of commanding until the shift lever is in the drive position or the park position if the shift lever is in a neutral position at said step of positioning.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said step of closing is performed during said step of positioning.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said step of positioning begins after said step of closing.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed deferential between torque couplings of the first positive shifting element decreases during said step of actuating.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a position of the first positive shifting element after said step of commanding; and

actuating a third non-positive shifting element of the plurality of shifting elements if the first positive shifting element is in an intermediate position at said step of determining.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

establishing the position of the first positive shifting element after said step of actuating; and

increasing a command pressure to the first positive shifting element if the first positive shifting element is in the intermediate position at said step of establishing.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising opening the first and second non-positive shifting elements of the plurality of shifting elements after said step of actuating.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the threshold output speed is no greater than one thousand rotations per minute.

11. A method for operating a nine-speed automatic transmission, the nine-speed automatic transmission including a friction shifting element C, a friction shifting element D, a friction shifting element E, and a dog clutch F, the method comprising:

initiating a synchronization of dog clutch F while the nine-speed automatic transmission is operating at less than a threshold output speed;

closing the friction shifting element C during the synchronization of dog clutch F;

positioning the friction shifting element D at an engaged configuration of the friction shifting element D during the synchronization of dog clutch F; and

commanding the dog clutch F to actuate to an engaged configuration during the synchronization of dog clutch F.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said step of commanding comprises commanding the positive shifting element C to actuate from the disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration if a shift lever is in a drive position or a park position during the synchronization of dog clutch F.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising deferring said step of commanding until the shift lever is in the drive position or the park position if the shift lever is in a neutral position at said step of positioning.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of said step of closing is performed during said step of positioning.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of positioning begins after said step of closing.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein a rotational speed deferential between torque couplings of the dog clutch F decreases during said step of actuating.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

determining a position of the dog clutch F after said step of commanding; and

actuating the friction shifting element E if the dog clutch F is in an intermediate position at said step of determining.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

establishing the position of the dog clutch F after said step of actuating; and

increasing a command pressure to the dog clutch F if the dog clutch F is in the intermediate position at said step of establishing.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising opening the friction shifting element C and the friction shifting element D after said step of actuating.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the threshold output speed is no greater than one thousand rotations per minute.