Torque converter failing...

[Bobby G]

Jgood, do some research on that Wolfs Head trans fluid and make sure that it meets the Esso specs. $15.00 a liter for the Esso is cheap. Local BMW dealer charges $42.00 per liter. Audi charges 22.00 per liter for the exact same thing.
I do have a question. How did the mechanic check the fluid? Theres no dipstick, so did he take off the fill plug and then refill it with the old fluid?

[jgood]

Replaced the converter, used the wolfs head fluid. Shifting is smooth, converter lockup is smooth and strong, shuddering is gone, RPM jumping is gone, and the slight vibration at idle in drive while stopped is gone.

[Bobby G]

Glad to hear all is well. Please check in and let us all know how its running after you get a few thousand miles on the trans.

[bbultman]

Jgood, I have a 4.6is with 142k miles. I have the exact same issues going on - the incremental rpm steps, the throttle oscillation, an occasional slight shudder under very light acceleration. I was hoping to find something in the valvebody and have been talking with ZF North America. I ruled out fluid temp and weak engine coils. My next assignment was to monitor TC lockup percentage to see if the TC was being commanded or unlocking on its own but I need a scan tool. The more I drive it and read other forums, I'm starting to think the TC is just getting plain wore out. And when I read your post, it emphasizes that. Did you have the valvebody or solenoid rebuilt/replaced? Any metal shavings in the pan? If I can be confident that a TC replacement will fix it, I'm good with that. It sounds like it worked well for you. However, I've also heard the same issues being fixed by a simple fluid/filter change. Did you try that first?

[jgood]

Originally Posted by bbultman

Jgood, I have a 4.6is with 142k miles. I have the exact same issues going on - the incremental rpm steps, the throttle oscillation, an occasional slight shudder under very light acceleration. I was hoping to find something in the valvebody and have been talking with ZF North America. I ruled out fluid temp and weak engine coils. My next assignment was to monitor TC lockup percentage to see if the TC was being commanded or unlocking on its own but I need a scan tool. The more I drive it and read other forums, I'm starting to think the TC is just getting plain wore out. And when I read your post, it emphasizes that. Did you have the valvebody or solenoid rebuilt/replaced? Any metal shavings in the pan? If I can be confident that a TC replacement will fix it, I'm good with that. It sounds like it worked well for you. However, I've also heard the same issues being fixed by a simple fluid/filter change. Did you try that first?

I spent a few hours talking to the guy at the transmission shop. We figured the best course of action was to pull the trans pan, and go from there... If it was filled with metal shavings, he was doing a full rebuild. If it was clean, he was just doing the converter. He said in his experience, just flushing it won't do anything, at least not with the symptoms I had.

I tried to hint at my concerns of a valve body issue, and he said although it could be, the symptoms I have are exactly what a failing torque converter would have, so it wouldn't make a lot of sense to go the valve body rebuild route right off the bat.

The day came to pull the pan, and it was perfectly clean, hence the reason he just swapped the converter, did a flush, and called it a day

Considering our identical mileage and symptoms, I'd have to recommend the same course of action for you. Just be sure you don't have any engine/trans codes, as they may hint at another problem. Mine didn't have any.

[bbultman]

There are no codes. When I had my oil changed at my local indy, they pulled all codes hard and soft and nothing came up. I'll probably start talking to them about getting it in there for the TC. Hopefully that's all it is. Thx for the info!

[02x592]

"I had a noticeable shudder while accelerating occasionally, and also a noticeable 'stepping' up in RPM's as I was accelerating (RPM's would jump up 200-300, then stop, then jump up 200-300, then stop, etc...)"

Shit, mine started doing this a few weeks ago at 131K. The shudder is rare but it's there and I constantly notice the RPM step-up between 1,600-1,900RPM on light throttle.

Great. I have zero trouble codes as well.

[weso09]

great to hear

[jgood]

Figured I'd give a 6 month/10k mile update. It's still running great, no noticeable issues.

[weso09]

Hi all good glad to hear,mine still running a treat also

cheers shane