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Bad Torque Converter?

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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 03:19 PM
  #1  
cyclenut80's Avatar
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From: Central New York
Bad Torque Converter?

Just wondering how you can tell if the converter is going bad. My truck seems to shift ok but it gets terrible mileage. I was wondering if there is a test like on chevy's. You can drive down the road in overdrive at steady throttle and lightly tap the brake to see if the converter is locking and unlocking properly. I feel like its the converter because on occasion it seems like when the tranny shifts it splits a gear. For example when the truck shifts from 3rd to OD you can see on the tach that it shifts once and drops the RPMS maybe 500 and then shifts again to lower it another 500 RPM. Maybe you guys can tell me what shift points your trucks have? Or should i just take it to a tranny shop and see if they can check out the line pressures or something? I appreciate the help guys.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 03:39 PM
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From: Parker, CO
That drop between 3rd and 4th is the torque converter locking up. It's supposed to do that.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2008 | 04:30 PM
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yeah mine does that too. but ive noticed its normal. lock out o/d and see if its slipping.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 07:14 AM
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Well I guess other than that everything seems normal. So I suppose I'll treat it as normal. Just seems like the truck should have more get up and go. I don't seem to notice any slip if I lock out the OD just sloppy shifts lol. I guess I'll wait till it grenades and then get myself a shift enhancer. Thanks for the help guys.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2008 | 08:22 AM
  #5  
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From: knoxville
On my diesel I got a TW chip, he changed the shift points on my tranny to what I wanted and I also put a different valve body in it and it helped out a lot...
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 12:29 PM
  #6  
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browntown3
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From: East TN
Mine started slipping and making a "grinding" noise going into overdrive when i was pulling a trailer or going up a hill unloaded. Took it to Mr. Transmission they tried to tell me i needed my tranny rebuilt. Took it to a local shop thats been in business for 30 years and they told me the tranny was fine but it was the Torque convertor..........Got it replaced about a month ago and it drives like new now! Saved a butt load of money by getting a second opinion too!
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 12:59 PM
  #7  
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Re: Power. Did you clean the MAF, replace the fuel filter, all the little tune-up type items?
 
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Old Mar 13, 2008 | 05:13 PM
  #8  
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From: Central New York
Cleaned MAF, cleaned throttlebody, new plugs, air filter, fuel filter, pcv valve...did I miss anything? Maybe I need new O2s? I can't see much else that would cause my issue other than maybe the O2's or injectors that I can think of. Fuel pump seems to be fine cause truck runs up top and right out of the hole. Just seems like it bogs a little in the midrange.
 
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