torque converter slipping? Broke?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
torque converter slipping? Broke?
I just had a 3000 stall torque converter installed. Is it broke?
Under moderate acceleration, it slips, and it feels and sounds like a 4 barrel carb opening. The slip is very, very noticable at 10 mph, and occurs at 1/4 acceleration, I guess a big bog is a good description.
At speeds over 35, like 50 mph, the car has a shutter at 1600 - 2000 rpm. I thought the converter was locked at that point. The shutter is similar to the ABS pulse.
I really don't notice slip from a stop, it feels like the original converter. I really don't know if this is normal. To me, it feels sloppy, and broke. I tried calling the manufacturer, ProTorque, but the tech guy was busy. Thanks.
Under moderate acceleration, it slips, and it feels and sounds like a 4 barrel carb opening. The slip is very, very noticable at 10 mph, and occurs at 1/4 acceleration, I guess a big bog is a good description.
At speeds over 35, like 50 mph, the car has a shutter at 1600 - 2000 rpm. I thought the converter was locked at that point. The shutter is similar to the ABS pulse.
I really don't notice slip from a stop, it feels like the original converter. I really don't know if this is normal. To me, it feels sloppy, and broke. I tried calling the manufacturer, ProTorque, but the tech guy was busy. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
Yes it was installed/retuned with shift points, by a major national tuner/speed shop. And it was a Precision Industries torque converter, not a Pro Torque.
With the stock converter, I could hardly notice the shifting, now it is like a missed shift in a manual tranny. Seems pretty dramatic to me.
With the stock converter, I could hardly notice the shifting, now it is like a missed shift in a manual tranny. Seems pretty dramatic to me.
Last edited by ter; May 31, 2007 at 01:37 PM.
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Have you ever driven a car with an aftermarket converter?
I ask because a lot of what you are talking about sounds like normal "loose" converter drivability. I had a 3000 stall in my old A4 car and light/moderate acceleration and shifts feel very loose/sloppy. You almost can't even tell the car shifted. The stall speed as well as the STR affect drivability very heavily - what STR is your 3000 stall?
Only thing that sounds truly unusual is the shuddering. Have you checked your tranny fluid level properly? If you didn't do the install yourself, it's very possible the tranny isn't filled to the correct level.
Dope
I ask because a lot of what you are talking about sounds like normal "loose" converter drivability. I had a 3000 stall in my old A4 car and light/moderate acceleration and shifts feel very loose/sloppy. You almost can't even tell the car shifted. The stall speed as well as the STR affect drivability very heavily - what STR is your 3000 stall?
Only thing that sounds truly unusual is the shuddering. Have you checked your tranny fluid level properly? If you didn't do the install yourself, it's very possible the tranny isn't filled to the correct level.
Dope
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
Have you ever driven a car with an aftermarket converter?
No I have not, so that is why I am asking. I really don't know if this is normal. The guy from Precisions industies, seemed to think it was a computer problem.
I ask because a lot of what you are talking about sounds like normal "loose" converter drivability. I had a 3000 stall in my old A4 car and light/moderate acceleration and shifts feel very loose/sloppy. You almost can't even tell the car shifted. The stall speed as well as the STR affect drivability very heavily - what STR is your 3000 stall?
With the original converter, I could hardly tell if it shifted. With the 3000 stall, it seems to bog, slip, then shift. It seems like pushing the clutch in for an extra second with a manual transmission.
Only thing that sounds truly unusual is the shuddering. Have you checked your tranny fluid level properly? If you didn't do the install yourself, it's very possible the tranny isn't filled to the correct level.
The installer added a few quarts of fluid. I ran the car to 50MPH, between fillings to make sure the fluid was distributed. I imagine he filled to the plug level. I was "driving" on the lift, so I did not see the fluid pore out. He said it actually took more than expected. Again thanks for any input, with my limited experience, I think something is strange.
Dope
No I have not, so that is why I am asking. I really don't know if this is normal. The guy from Precisions industies, seemed to think it was a computer problem.
I ask because a lot of what you are talking about sounds like normal "loose" converter drivability. I had a 3000 stall in my old A4 car and light/moderate acceleration and shifts feel very loose/sloppy. You almost can't even tell the car shifted. The stall speed as well as the STR affect drivability very heavily - what STR is your 3000 stall?
With the original converter, I could hardly tell if it shifted. With the 3000 stall, it seems to bog, slip, then shift. It seems like pushing the clutch in for an extra second with a manual transmission.
Only thing that sounds truly unusual is the shuddering. Have you checked your tranny fluid level properly? If you didn't do the install yourself, it's very possible the tranny isn't filled to the correct level.
The installer added a few quarts of fluid. I ran the car to 50MPH, between fillings to make sure the fluid was distributed. I imagine he filled to the plug level. I was "driving" on the lift, so I did not see the fluid pore out. He said it actually took more than expected. Again thanks for any input, with my limited experience, I think something is strange.
Dope
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
I had a Protorque 2800 installed with 3.42's 2 or 3 years ago. I hated it. I thought the stall was higher than advertised but even worse it had a vibration between 1800-2200 rmps. Right at HWY speeds. Tried remounting it in the other two locations. The vibe was better but still there.
I had the Protorque removed and the stocker put back. The car felt great again !
Protorque would not refund any money and I lost out on that little experiment. Protorque stinks.
I had the Protorque removed and the stocker put back. The car felt great again !
Protorque would not refund any money and I lost out on that little experiment. Protorque stinks.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
I had a Protorque 2800 installed with 3.42's 2 or 3 years ago. I hated it. I thought the stall was higher than advertised but even worse it had a vibration between 1800-2200 rmps. Right at HWY speeds. Tried remounting it in the other two locations. The vibe was better but still there.
I had the Protorque removed and the stocker put back. The car felt great again !
Protorque would not refund any money and I lost out on that little experiment. Protorque stinks.
I had the Protorque removed and the stocker put back. The car felt great again !
Protorque would not refund any money and I lost out on that little experiment. Protorque stinks.
Well, this really seems like my situation. It cost $1500, parts and labor. If I have to put more $ into it, to get back to the original converter, I'll be medically depressed!
My plan right now is to call the installer about the transmission tuning. The manufacturer suggested the lock up code was not enabled.
I will put it on a lift and check the fluid.
I drove 4 hours to a big name installer so **** like this would not happen. Now driving 4 hours back looks like a liability. Hopefully they will help clear things up.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
Thanks for the input, Protorque goes on my banned list.
Well, this really seems like my situation. It cost $1500, parts and labor. If I have to put more $ into it, to get back to the original converter, I'll be medically depressed!
My plan right now is to call the installer about the transmission tuning. The manufacturer suggested the lock up code was not enabled.
I will put it on a lift and check the fluid.
I drove 4 hours to a big name installer so **** like this would not happen. Now driving 4 hours back looks like a liability. Hopefully they will help clear things up.
Well, this really seems like my situation. It cost $1500, parts and labor. If I have to put more $ into it, to get back to the original converter, I'll be medically depressed!
My plan right now is to call the installer about the transmission tuning. The manufacturer suggested the lock up code was not enabled.
I will put it on a lift and check the fluid.
I drove 4 hours to a big name installer so **** like this would not happen. Now driving 4 hours back looks like a liability. Hopefully they will help clear things up.
I'm going to go with the GM higher stall truck unit that Mike Merc. installed in his car. Looks like an ideal street converter for my baby cam.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,088
Likes: 1
From: Pennsylvania
I spoke to the owner of Precision Industies today about my cars symptoms. He said they were very common.
The bogging at low speed should be a missed code in the torque management table.
The shuttering is also common when the tranny pressure is not 50 PSI. This can be from a messed up torque management table, wrong/low tranny fluid. Some replacement fluid don't have a particular additive to help the clutch plates.
He said the tranny- lockup pressure can also be boosted by a shift kit, and after the other items are addressed, the shift kit will help the performance.
Well, I am bummed that this happened, but glad it is a common fixable problem. Now I just have to talk to the tuner, and drive 4 hours there, and 4 hours back.
Hopefully I am heading to a fix to my problem.
The bogging at low speed should be a missed code in the torque management table.
The shuttering is also common when the tranny pressure is not 50 PSI. This can be from a messed up torque management table, wrong/low tranny fluid. Some replacement fluid don't have a particular additive to help the clutch plates.
He said the tranny- lockup pressure can also be boosted by a shift kit, and after the other items are addressed, the shift kit will help the performance.
Well, I am bummed that this happened, but glad it is a common fixable problem. Now I just have to talk to the tuner, and drive 4 hours there, and 4 hours back.
Hopefully I am heading to a fix to my problem.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona
ter, please keep us posted.
Sounds like you may have gotten some good advise from Precision. I'm concerned about your vibe/shutter at that low of a RPM. May not be a tuning issue but I hope it is
Sounds like you may have gotten some good advise from Precision. I'm concerned about your vibe/shutter at that low of a RPM. May not be a tuning issue but I hope it is
