Remember, a torque converter is a coupler between the engine and transmission. Its job is to smoothly convert engine torque into hydraulic pressure that your transmission uses to engage and shift gears. When the torque converter starts malfunctioning, you may feel shuddering and even slipping in overdrive. You usually notice your car shuddering because it feels like it's vibrating. The shuddering makes the car lag and is very noticeable. Some vehicles have a transmission temperature indicator that will let you know when your car's transmission is overheating.
If your car transmission keeps overheating, you may also notice your transmission starts to act funny, or it may even go into fail date and stay in one gear and not shift at all. When the two problems are combined, it could mean your torque converter is failing. The end result is the torque converter isn't able to transfer that power completely and efficiently from the engine to the transmission. Being a fluid coupler, your car's torque converter relies on transmission fluid to operate correctly.
If the fluid becomes contaminated, anything that uses and relies on the fluid can be damaged. Contaminated transmission fluid can cause damage to your converter parts and your transmissions parts.
Torque converter seals can get damaged for several reasons. But once they are damaged, you will experience fluid leaks. When you experience fluid leaks, you aren't retaining the amount of transmission fluid; the torque converter needs to transfer the power from the engine to the transmission. This will cause damage to both the transmission and the converter. Your first course of action, if you notice your transmission or torque converter has started to slip or shudder is checking your fluid level.
You can't be sure the slipping or shuddering has anything to do with your torque converter until you check your fluid levels. Remember, you don't experience either symptom unless you have the wrong amount of fluid or the wrong fluid in the transmission. It's when you have a damaged torque converter seal that fluid leaks out and causes the overheating and damage.
It is the lack of fluid that causes overheating, slipping, or shuddering. To fix the problem, you need to discover the seal that's damaged and have it replaced. Contaminants in fluid — If you check the fluid and there are large amounts of black material, it either means your transmission or the torque converter clutches are damaged. You should perform a fluid change first, run your car for a while, and check back again.
Increased stall speed — A bad torque converter will take the transmission longer to engage the engine, resulting in higher than normal stall speeds. Strange sounds — Any foreign sounds such as clicking or a revving noise could indicate a bad torque converter. This simple test can help to diagnose potential problems with the torque converter.
Afterwards, step on the gas lightly a few times, let it come back to idle, press down on the brakes, and then shift into drive. During this period, you are going to want to listen for any strange sounds such as clicking or revving or if you experience any lurching. If not, proceed to shift through all the gears including reverse and try to notice for any of the aforementioned signs again.
Finally, drive your car and test for the same things as well as shuddering or slipping. There are a few reasons why problems can occur. If they happen to become damaged, it will cause the transmission to make strange noises while driving.
This is because there is metal to metal contact between the parts in the converter, which in turn creates metal chips that the transmission fluid picks up and cycles around the transmission. Damaged torque converter seals — A damaged torque converter seal will allow fluid to leak out of the converter which will cause a number of problems, such as overheating, slippage, and shifting problems.
The seal will need to be found and replaced. Most newer transmissions, as well as some older ones, can actually be ruined by a stall-speed test. Don't run a stall-speed test for more than five seconds at a time. Don't run this test on vehicles that have traction control or anti-lock brake systems. On some electronically controlled transmissions, a stall-speed test will set off your check engine light. Prepare your car Before testing your torque converter, make sure all your fluids are in good condition.
Also, chock your wheels and set the parking brake. If your car doesn't have a tachometer, install one that can be seen from the driver's seat [source: ASE Test Prep ]. Start your engine Press the brake pedal all the way to the floor and start your engine. Shift your transmission into drive.
Don't let go of the brake. Put the pedal to the metal While pressing on the brake pedal, press the accelerator to the floor for two to three seconds. Don't exceed five seconds, or you risk blowing out the transmission. The RPM the engine maxes out at is the stall speed. Interpreting the stall-speed test result If the RPM reading is lower than the specifications for your particular torque converter and engine, it means the torque converter is failing and needs to be repaired or replaced.
When your car has a bad torque converter, it shudders unusually and may even show signs of slipping while you overdrive.
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