Transmission problems...new torque converter?

Jun 05, 2007 15 Replies

For those of you that remember I was the one that got mud in my transmission a few weeks ago. It was cleaned out and flushed several times, and the band (the one on the outside of the transmission) has been adjusted. It drives perfectly unless I drive it hard. If I drive the vehicle hard, I get a shuttering at take-off and between 1st and



2nd gear. Shifting to third gear never makes it shutter. The question is where do I go from here? Do I need a new torque converter or what? I'm planning on taking it to a shop but I'd like to know your ideas first.


Thanks, Mike



I'm thinking that all that mud damaged a set of clutches or the band (¿On the outside of the transmission? ¿Huh?) Either don't drive it hard, or have it disassembled, parts inspected and what is bad replaced. That would be a rebuild.

Saludos cordiales,

Earle

It could be the convertor, or it could also be that the clutch linings have been contaminated from the water. The fact that it doesn't do it in every gear would lead me to believe that it is something with the clutches. The convertor would do it all the time. but it is also possible that the gear multiplication is amplifying the problem. The convertor is basically a fluid coupler, so IMO it is less likely to be affected from the water than the clutches, but it is only a judgment call.

Chris

97tjMike wrote:

How is the transmission mount? A bad or loose one can cause shudders when shifting.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile... Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06
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It is very likely NOT the converter as they rarely fail like this and when they do it is at converter lockup whicg is disable unhard hard acceleration and at take off. It is likely a internal clutch in tranny slipping and chattering.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

Yup, I recall.

You need "or what." Read on...

They'll tell you the transmission must be removed and completely rebuilt or swapped out with a rebuilt one. They'll be right, I'm afraid.

Sorry, I know you were hoping for some better news.

FWIW, I don't recall the details of your earlier post and I'm too lazy to look it up but I'm wondering if the transmission was on it's last legs anyway and the water/mud are only a part of the problem? How many miles were on the vehicle?

I sure hope the shop can give you some better news but from a distance, that has to be my diagnosis.

A transmission can go bad in that time, but not usually.

Just to probe for data -- I'm assuming you adjusted the front band after the problem surfaced? Please post the spec to which you adjusted the band.

Jon

I have seen them fail sooner. It all depends on how they are treated. Big lifts and/or over sized tires with stock gears are very hard on some trannies and can shorten their life a lot..

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

Well that doesn't apply to me for sure. I have 30" tires and a 2 inch lift. Plus the tranny has spent 90% of its life with 205s and no lift. But anyways an update: I had a guy clean it out initially and he changed my shift points so that it shifted at higher RPMs. He said to keep it this way for a week or so to build up pressure to flush out any dirt that's still in there. He adjusted something under the hood right by the TV cable so thats what I assumed he changed. I currently cant get into contact with him which is why I was the one that adjusted it back. I adjusted the TV cable according to the Hanes manual, and the nature of the shuttering seemed to change. Originally, it only shuttered when you drove it hard, now it shutters when you drive it lightly. Now it *hardly* shutters on take-off (big improvement), but it still shutters in 1-2, and never in 3-4. If I floor it it drives perfectly. Someone suggested that I re-adjust the bands because I just adjusted the TV cable and they go hand in hand. The fact that adjusting the TV cable changed the properties of the shutter makes me think that this is something simple, but maybe I'm just being hopeful. Suggestions? (Also as far as new transmissions go,

*if* I do need a transmission (I say if on a conditional basis based on your comments and the comments of the shop(s) I take it to), is it ok to buy a rebuilt?)

Mike

Sorry, for clarification I meant the one that has the adjuster screw on the outside of the transmission. I think its the front band. The other band you have to drop the pan to adjust it.

Yea the problems been going on ever since the mud bog 3 weeks ago. I just adjusted the band a few days ago. I didnt have an inch-lb torque wrench so I turned the center screw until it seated and then turned back the number of turns specified by the Hanes manual (i think it was

2.5).

I think you need another flush and adjustment. There are a lot of passages in there. The screen might even need another clean or replacement, likely more than not.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile... Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06
formatting link
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

You are both missing the point here I think. The TV cable controls shift points and increases line pressure too so if you advance the cable setting to a higher shift point at same throttle input, you will have a higher average line pressure and therefore less shudder because clutches have more pressure on them. I do not want to be grime reeper here but I suspect that you have clutch problems from either a worn clutch or a bad seal in a clutch pack leaking pressure. Next step would be to have a tranny shop do a line pressure check on it at test ports and if pressure is good then you have internal problems with clutches and or leakage their control circuits.

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

Sure, as long as the shop is reputable and will offer a reasonable warranty.

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