![Aero Star MP37F Allison Shift selector and Parking brake lever](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Aero_Star_MP37F_Allison_Shift_selector_and_Parking_brake_lever.jpg)
Shift-by-wire is the system on an
automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (sometimes abbreviated to auto or AT) is a multi-speed transmission used in internal combustion engine-based motor vehicles that does not require any input from the driver to change forward gears under normal driving c ...
in which the transmission modes are engaged/changed in an automobile through
electronic
Electronic may refer to:
*Electronics, the science of how to control electric energy in semiconductor
* ''Electronics'' (magazine), a defunct American trade journal
*Electronic storage, the storage of data using an electronic device
*Electronic co ...
controls without any
mechanical
Mechanical may refer to:
Machine
* Machine (mechanical), a system of mechanisms that shape the actuator input to achieve a specific application of output forces and movement
* Mechanical calculator, a device used to perform the basic operations of ...
linkage between the gear shifting lever and the transmission. The transmission shifting was traditionally accomplished by mechanical links through a lever mounted on the steering column or a gear shifter near the center console.
This eliminates routing space required for housing the mechanical linkages between the shifter and the transmission and provides effortless shifting through the press of a button or through knobs. The elimination of this linkage removes any shift effort from the driver’s gear selection.
Safety recalls related to shift-by-wire systems
There have been safety issues identified with production vehicles implementing the shift by wire systems which have led to recalls.
The major hazards associated with this type of systems are vehicle not achieving park state and vehicle moving in the wrong direction (drive vs reverse).
See also
*
Drive by wire
Drive by wire, DbW, by-wire, steer-by-wire, fly-by-wire or x-by-wire technology in the automotive or aviation industry is the use of electrical or electro-mechanical systems for performing vehicle functions traditionally achieved by mechanical link ...
*
Park by wire
A park by wire system engages the parking pawl of a transmission using electrical means. This can also be considered as part of a shift by wire system whose objective is to put the vehicle in Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive modes without the tra ...
References
{{Powertrain
Automotive electronics
Vehicle safety technologies
Automotive transmission technologies