Lets Talk Torque Converters
 

So my car has been doing the classic "shuddering under load" and after trying all of the standard tune up stuff, i consented to taking it to my mechanic. He was stumped by it, and took it to his transmission guy. They concluded that its prolly an issue with the torque converter, and gave me an "additive" (not quite sure what) and sent me on my way.

Heres what i wanna know. How long can i expect my transmission to last (its prolly been doing it for 3 months now) and is there ANYTHING else i can do.


im kinda sad, cause looks like the bonny will be leaving us when it dies (assuming $1000+ for a transmission and the car is only worth like $2800 right now)

thanks guys

-Peter

If that is a TC problem, I neeed to know. Mine started doing that not too long after I got my tranny rebuilt, which included a new TC. Around 20-30 mph, heavy throttle, but just light enough to not down shift, I get shuddering. It goes away if I let off then push just as hard again.

Thats what mine does, except from 45-55(or 60) im gonna get the tranny flushed and whatnot...i'll let you know if that helps

You should check out this thread that has been going for a while.

http://www.bonnevilleattitude.com/fo...hp?p=3362#3362

I am still looking for an answer, first I thought it was ignition or fuel but right now I am l thinking its Transmission related, either the TCC Solenoid or the Torque Converter.

I've had the trans flushed, additive in there, all the usual stuff. Same story, mine isnt worth spending a thousand $ or more on it.

Some guys may help you better, but I get a bit of shuddering too which has been brought to my attention as the "Torque Converter Lockup point" or something similar, don't quote me on that. There's a post in Lounge or General Chat called "Tranny Problems?" that talks about it this. I would be driving steady at 40-45 sometimes and it would seem to downshift, and it felt like it was slipping or something. I'd press the gas a bit more and it would shift up with a bit of jolt. Im was worried but someone told me about this and it may be normal.

But to be sure, Will told me to get a Scantool from Auto Zone which will tell you a lot that may be wrong. Hope this helps. If I find the other posts about this I'll paste 'em here. Otherwise check out the topic "Tranny Problems." :wink:

Okay, there's only a little about TC in "Tranny Problems??" I can't find where someone else described it better. Lets hope someone else reads this and can add some info. :wink:

on the Bonneville Attitude forum, there is a thread I started dealing with this issue. You could check it out and I am still working on the issue.

http://www.bonnevilleattitude.com/fo...hp?p=3362#3362

Yeah, I am going to do that. My mechanic put a scantool or something on it and there were no codes being thrown.

Do Trans shops usually charge for a diagnosis ?

Guys, you need a 'ride-along' diagnosis with a scantool. The mechanic can see exactly what the TC is doing. A tranny flush will buy most of you some time, but the scan while driving is the real key to finding the root problem.

I found some info that may explain some of what causes the xmission to shudder.

http://www.c2c-auto.com/what_is_torq...er_shudder.htm

I think either the "Tranny Flush" or the simple changing the xmission oil/filter(I Still don't know what that filter Filters) might help and buy you time. How much time? A year? Two Years?? More???