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GTPSHAWTY

GTPSHAWTY

New member
what are the signs... .. my issues are
1. fluid was blacker than the car
2. hear a noise in 2 3 and d...
3. first gear shifts fine... two three and four has a little trouble locking up
 
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Re: signs of a bad torque converter

What do you mean... locking up? Are you experiencing slippage?

TC failure usually means the fins on the TC have broken and the car doesn't want to move.

Usually the clutches in the trans and not the converter provide the most material to the fluid and make it look dark.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

The TC doesn't really have wear parts. It's a hydraulic pump using vanes/fins. Either these fins break off (like Bill said) or they work fine - they don't wear out.

Worn clutch material and the heat caused by worn clutches is what will blacken your fluid.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

The tc IS a pump, it doens't have a pump (that's what I meant).

It's not a positive displacement pump (like a PS pump), but similar to a SC roots air pump.

I'm using the vague term 'pump' to mean anything that moves fluid (as the stator and rotor fins to inside a tc).

I remember a very old automotive book my dad had that described a TC as two fans facing each other at about 2" apart. One fan is powered (by the engine), it spins, moves air (ATF in the case of a TC), and induces spin in the other fan.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

yes slippage.. but only in later gears... i dnt hear any noise nor slippage in 1st gear... the rest all slipps nd makes a knockin sound in the torque converter area
 


Re: signs of a bad torque converter

Unless the vanes in your TC are shot, it won't result in slipping. If the vanes in your TC ARE shot, you should have chunks of debris in your pan as well as a rotating eccentric mass (as well as huge vibrations and noise at all speeds). Also, I think the TC locks anyway in higher gears (I could be wrong on this so don't quote me).

Bottom line, I would be stunned if you have a damaged TC resulting in slipping. You most likely have worn clutch packs. Try a bottle of Lucas oil (or something like that) and see if you can limp it along until you get it rebuilt.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

Then you're in the same boat as me - I'm currently replacing my tranny with a TEP rebuilt unit.

I added two bottles of Lucas - nothing happened with me either.

My band is glazed and I get shuddering during acceleration (as the band slips/grabs/slips/grabs). This is accompanied by relatively dark and HOT AS HELL fluid.

Your TC has no wear friction material. It's a strictly fluid coupling. Your wear parts include fcriction discs, bands, steels etc. But, not the TC.

One way to confirm it's your friction material: if it's worse when warm. The more viscous cold fluid can 'hide' a slipping tranny to some extent.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

no - ran fine except for shuddering accelerating from a stop.

The shuddering was so bad that I replaced pretty much every front end suspension component in a failed attempt to fix what I was sure was wheel-hop
 


Re: signs of a bad torque converter

mine doesnt do it from a dead stop.. its only when changing gears from second to third and up... if i shift it in 1 i hear no noise.. in 2 3 nd d i heard a noise coming from torque converter area... not a whining sound more like something loose and rattling
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

You TC sits in the bell housing. That's a big speaker really - I think all of your tranny noises will seem like they come from there just due to acoustics/physics.

You have separate clutches for each speed. My fwd apply band is shot, your 3rd gear clutch pack could be smoked.

Either way, I highly doubt it has anything to do with your TC.
 
Re: signs of a bad torque converter

or you need my car :-) lol replace the trans and almost everything new. i found something else i want...
 


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