Torque converter question.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
Torque converter question.
A year ago I gave my daughter and her new family my old 1999 Taurus wagon. It currently has about 125K on the clock and has been meticulously maintained throughout it's life. The car is now in Illinios.
Recently the car has been showing some symptoms. My dumba$$ SIL simply ignored the generosity of the car and kept on riding.
Now the car stalls when driving in city traffic but runs fine on the highway. After my strong urging, he took it to the Ford dealer for a diagnostic and the dealer determined that the Torque converter clutch is failing just as I suspected.
The thing that bothers me most is that the dealer wants to replace the TQ converter and still tear down the transmission for inspection. Likewise they told my daughter that used components are not available.
Ford built a gagillion of these cars and I refuse to believe that used parts are not available.
Is this normal protocol for this situation?
I advised them to pay the dealer for his diagnosis and then find a transmission shop or independent guy to perform the work.
Please advise and discuss.
Recently the car has been showing some symptoms. My dumba$$ SIL simply ignored the generosity of the car and kept on riding.
Now the car stalls when driving in city traffic but runs fine on the highway. After my strong urging, he took it to the Ford dealer for a diagnostic and the dealer determined that the Torque converter clutch is failing just as I suspected.
The thing that bothers me most is that the dealer wants to replace the TQ converter and still tear down the transmission for inspection. Likewise they told my daughter that used components are not available.
Ford built a gagillion of these cars and I refuse to believe that used parts are not available.
Is this normal protocol for this situation?
I advised them to pay the dealer for his diagnosis and then find a transmission shop or independent guy to perform the work.
Please advise and discuss.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
I absolutely agree with you. But I'm concerned more about the dealer being dishonest and wanting to tear down the entire tranny to replace a TQ converter.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
It is normal, and expected, that the dealer is never going to install used parts. That said, I would pay them for the diagnosis and find an independent transmission shop by word of mouth, not the yellow pages. There may be an aftermarket kit that repairs the clutch without replacing the whole TC, just the TCC.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,704
Likes: 2,626
From: SE Florida
You can repair the torque converter. It usually costs less to replace it, but it can be done.
To repair the torque converter the converter gets mounted in a lathe and is cut open. Then the worn parts are replaced. The old clutch is cut off the converter cover and a new clutch material is bonded to the cover. Then the converter is welded back together then put on a balancer and balanced. Unless one has an emotional attachment to that particular converter it isn't worth doing that. A remanufactured converter would cost less and work the same.
Stalling can be caused by more than a bad converter. Low trans fluid, worn seals, worn pump, etc, can cause this. Just replacing the converter might not fix the problem. How would you feel if you spent the money to change the converter after refusing to inspect the trans, put it back in the car, and it's doing the same thing? If you don't go into the trans this is a likely scenario.
To repair the torque converter the converter gets mounted in a lathe and is cut open. Then the worn parts are replaced. The old clutch is cut off the converter cover and a new clutch material is bonded to the cover. Then the converter is welded back together then put on a balancer and balanced. Unless one has an emotional attachment to that particular converter it isn't worth doing that. A remanufactured converter would cost less and work the same.
Stalling can be caused by more than a bad converter. Low trans fluid, worn seals, worn pump, etc, can cause this. Just replacing the converter might not fix the problem. How would you feel if you spent the money to change the converter after refusing to inspect the trans, put it back in the car, and it's doing the same thing? If you don't go into the trans this is a likely scenario.
Thread Starter
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
You can repair the torque converter. It usually costs less to replace it, but it can be done.
To repair the torque converter the converter gets mounted in a lathe and is cut open. Then the worn parts are replaced. The old clutch is cut off the converter cover and a new clutch material is bonded to the cover. Then the converter is welded back together then put on a balancer and balanced. Unless one has an emotional attachment to that particular converter it isn't worth doing that. A remanufactured converter would cost less and work the same.
Stalling can be caused by more than a bad converter. Low trans fluid, worn seals, worn pump, etc, can cause this. Just replacing the converter might not fix the problem. How would you feel if you spent the money to change the converter after refusing to inspect the trans, put it back in the car, and it's doing the same thing? If you don't go into the trans this is a likely scenario.
To repair the torque converter the converter gets mounted in a lathe and is cut open. Then the worn parts are replaced. The old clutch is cut off the converter cover and a new clutch material is bonded to the cover. Then the converter is welded back together then put on a balancer and balanced. Unless one has an emotional attachment to that particular converter it isn't worth doing that. A remanufactured converter would cost less and work the same.
Stalling can be caused by more than a bad converter. Low trans fluid, worn seals, worn pump, etc, can cause this. Just replacing the converter might not fix the problem. How would you feel if you spent the money to change the converter after refusing to inspect the trans, put it back in the car, and it's doing the same thing? If you don't go into the trans this is a likely scenario.
Thanks as always Mark!
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