Method of controlling a vehicle during an auxiliary pump failure

1. A method of controlling a vehicle having a transmission, a controller, and an auxiliary hydraulic pump, the method comprising:

initiating an auto stop/start engine protocol;

sensing an operational status of the auxiliary hydraulic pump;

signaling, by the controller, the transmission to shift into a first gear ratio in preparation to launch the vehicle;

sensing a gear ratio of the transmission after signaling the transmission to shift into the first gear ratio;

disabling, by the controller, the auto stop/start engine protocol when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is not equal to the first gear ratio and the auxiliary hydraulic pump is sensed to be operable; and

implementing a diagnostic transmission shift control strategy to override a normal transmission shift control strategy to verify proper functionality of a mode control valve when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is not equal to the first gear ratio and the auxiliary hydraulic pump is sensed to be operable;

determining if the diagnostic transmission shift strategy is currently active when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission; continuing use of the diagnostic transmission shift strategy to maintain proper functionality of the mode control valve when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission and when the diagnostic transmission shift strategy is currently active;

maintaining the normal transmission shift control strategy when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission and when the diagnostic transmission shift control strategy is not currently active.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein initiating an auto stop/start engine protocol includes stopping operation of an engine.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein sensing an operational status of the auxiliary hydraulic pump includes sensing whether the auxiliary hydraulic pump is operable to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the transmission when the operation of the engine is stopped, or whether the auxiliary hydraulic pump is not operable.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein disabling the auto stop/start engine protocol includes starting operation of the engine to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the transmission.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein disabling the auto stop/start engine protocol when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is not equal to the first gear ratio is further defined as disabling the auto stop/start engine protocol when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to a fourth gear ratio.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein implementing the diagnostic transmission shift control strategy includes adjusting a sequencing of at least one solenoid of the transmission to encourage the mode control valve to shift the transmission into the first gear ratio.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein implementing the diagnostic transmission shift control strategy includes increasing a pressure applied by the hydraulic fluid to the mode control valve to move the mode control valve.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising determining if the auto start/stop engine protocol is enabled or disabled when the auxiliary hydraulic pump is not operable.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising analyzing the control mode valve to determine if the control mode valve is failing or not failing when the auxiliary hydraulic pump is not operable and when the auto stop/start engine protocol is disabled.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising implementing the normal transmission shift control strategy to override the diagnostic shift control strategy upon the occurrence of a pre-determined event.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the pre-determined event includes operation of a pre-identified control algorithm.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the transmission includes five clutches selectively engageable to define six forward gear ratios and one reverse gear ratio.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 wherein the first gear ratio is a lowest gear having the highest gear ratio of the six forward gear ratios.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the mode control valve selectively engages and disengages a first clutch and a fifth clutch to shift between the first gear ratio and a fourth gear ratio.

15. A method of controlling a vehicle having an engine, a controller, a transmission and an auxiliary hydraulic pump, the method comprising:

stopping operation of the engine;

engaging operation of the auxiliary hydraulic pump;

signaling, by the controller, the transmission to shift into a first gear ratio in preparation to launch the vehicle;

sensing a gear ratio of the transmission after signaling the transmission to shift into the first gear ratio;

re-engaging, by the controller, operation of the engine when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to a fourth gear ratio and the auxiliary hydraulic pump is sensed to be operable; and

implementing a diagnostic transmission shift control strategy to override a normal transmission shift control strategy to verify proper functionality of a mode control valve when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is not equal to the first gear ratio and the auxiliary hydraulic pump is sensed to be operable;

determining if the diagnostic transmission shift strategy is currently active when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission;

continuing use of the diagnostic transmission shift strategy to maintain proper functionality of the mode control valve when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission and when the diagnostic transmission shift strategy is currently active;

maintaining the normal transmission shift control strategy when the sensed gear ratio of the transmission is equal to the first gear ratio of the transmission and when the diagnostic transmission shift control strategy is not currently active.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein implementing the diagnostic transmission shift control strategy includes adjusting a sequencing of at least one solenoid of the transmission to encourage the mode control valve to shift the transmission into the first gear ratio.

17. A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising implementing the normal transmission shift control strategy to override the diagnostic shift control strategy upon the occurrence of a pre-determined event.