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Renault
introduced two different automatics, one for the Dauphine and the
other for the 8 and 10. The Dauphine can be considered as
semi-automatic as driver input as described below is required
whereas the 8/10 version was fully automatic and did not require
driver input.
The Dauphine used the Ferodo Ferlec clutch
which used the gearlever to work various relays and electronics and
used the cars electrical system. Gear changing was a three stage
process involving two seperate switches though the gearlever was
connected directly to the normal manual gearbox - none of the
electrics actually changed the gear. The process of gearchanging was
thus: press down on the gear lever knob which dis-engages the
clutch, select the appropriate gear as normal, this action operates
a second switch under the car which is controlled by a sprung metal
strip which is in constant contact with the gearlever and changes
between two circuits depending on gearlever position, and remove
hand from gearlever knob (this re-engages the clutch) and the
gearchange is complete.
Because the gearbox was still
manually operated and the Ferlec clutch was complex many Dauphines
had the Ferlec system removed and the conventional clutch put in its
place.
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