Torque converter diagnosis

Additional reasons why this signal could be triggered include a decline in fluid pressure or even a malfunctioning solenoid. Overheating is bad for your car because it can wear out internal components of the transmission.

The converter will then fail to carry out its function of transferring power from engine to transmission. A torque converter may slip out of gear or experience a shift delay if its bearing is damaged.

Excessive or inadequate fluid in the transmission will cause gears to perform erratically. The ineffective lockup clutch will make it difficult to drive smoothly. So there can be too much transmission fluid coming into the clutch or too little. These signs explained below are indicators that this device is faulty.

As soon as you notice them, kindly take your car to the repair shop to replace the converter. An example of shuddering is when you drive on a smooth road, and your car begins to shudder like you are on a rough surface. This might not be all the time — just occasionally, you should take note.

As a result of the lockup clutch not being able to enable the converter to carry this action out. Overheating is another sign of a bad torque converter. You will notice the temperature gauge of the vehicle flashing the light of the transmission control unit. This is to call your attention to the fact that the car is overheating.

While other factors like slippage can also lead to overheating, it is not good for this mechanical device. The reason is that it will increase the wear of internal parts of the transmission. Because of this, the device might slip out of gear if its bearing or fin gets damaged.

Inside the torque converter, you will find a fluid called the automatic transmission fluid. This fluid aids the device in carrying out its functions properly. Contamination of this fluid includes the presence of grime or debris. If this is confirmed, it is an indication of a damaged transmission. Making sure that you have a high-quality fluid present inside the transmission all the time is a good way to prevent contamination.

Do not forget that replacing the used fluid will save you lots of money. That means it has been through multiple oil changes, creating conditions for bad transmission fluid. This removes having to keep track of another car maintenance issue, combining two activities into one.

If your car computer senses a problem with your vehicle, it will give you a code that you can find on your scanner. To avoid throwing off your check engine light, do not drive your vehicle while it is shuddering. Yes, while it is a good idea to put a bit of oil inside your torque converter to start, it will fill up almost immediately with transmission fluid.

This will allow you to quickly determine if there are any leaks, which is not a sign of a bad torque converter. Be sure that the fluid coupling is aligned before you start your car. Torque converters would fulfil the qualities of your clutch if you were driving a manual vehicle. In an automatic car, your clutch is your torque converter. It would be needless to have a manual car with a torque converter, as that would be having two of the same objects.

As a reminder, here is our list of bad torque converter symptoms:. While it is easy to confuse transmission problems with torque converter problems, a professional mechanic will discern the difference. Make sure you find someone you trust, though, as they may be apt to replace your transmission, given that it is more expensive. Be sure that you avoid driving the vehicle while it is exhibiting any of the symptoms. If you try and push your converter, you may end up needing to buy a whole new vehicle by the end of it.

Instead, it might be time to invest in a bus pass or sell the old car before it causes any further issues. Whatever you decide, just stay safe. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Skip to content. This will cause many different torque converter problems, so you should keep an eye out for the following symptoms: Dirty transmission fluid Transmission slippage Problems with your gear shifts Vehicle speed issues Vehicle vibrations at low speeds Unusual noises In the remainder of this article, we will detail what to look for with these issues.

This will depend on the year, make, and model of your vehicle. Conclusion As a reminder, here is our list of bad torque converter symptoms: Dirty transmission fluid Transmission slippage Problems with your gear shifts Vehicle speed issues Vehicle vibrations at low speeds Unusual noises While it is easy to confuse transmission problems with torque converter problems, a professional mechanic will discern the difference.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Ready the vehicle by chocking the wheels and setting the parking brake. Pressing the brake pedal all the way, turn the engine on and shift the transmission to drive. Remember to not release the brake pedal. With one foot on the brake pedal, press the accelerator all the way for seconds with the other foot.

Be careful not the exceed 5 seconds or the transmission could blow out. The stall speed is the RPM the engine maxes out at. An RPM reading lower than your engine and torque converters specifications means that the torque converter need a repair or replacement. An unusually high RPM reading indicates a slip in the transmission, which will have to be investigated.

Diagnosing torque converter issues could be a challenge, but there are several signs you can look for, and a set of simple tests you can conduct to determine whether the torque converter is causing the problem in your car. There could be a lot of things that could cause problems in the torque converter. Below are some of the most common:. Wear and tear in torque converters will cause the vanes to bend, resulting in slow shifting or failure to drive. A symptom of bent vanes is that the engine will rev higher than usual, with the sound turning normal as the system warms up.

Torque converter issues are a possible cause of such issues in the vehicle.