Torque converter Question ( Non Ford )
 

What are the signs of a Torque converter going bad? Its GM car and I know its not a ford question, but now this topic has come up in here and I am wondering about my Buick.. It chatters and vibrates when it locks up the converter. Shift fine though and smooth just lock up is grindy.. When it locks you here a sort of bells or marbles sound then it locks up and your good to go.. Its been doing this for 40K miles... no problems.. but annoying as hell? Any thoughts?

Any trash in the oil yet? Front wheel drive Buick? If it is FWD and you don't see any glitter in your oil, unplug your TCC (Torque Coverter Clutch) solenoid and see what happens. Should be a square plug in the front side of your tranny.

When i changed it there is gliiter, so i change it every 3000 miles.. if i unplug the TCC or keep my foot on the brake to cause it not to lock up it runs awsome with no issues no vibration.. so if it doesn't lock up, it is great.. what do u think?

yea FWD... buick 3800 motor

It sounds like the lockup clutch itself. Leave the TCC unplugged, drive it and see if you still get trash in the oil. If not, leave it unplugged. You'll have a small drop in fuel mileage, but a small price to pay for saving a transmission.

So you mean the lockup clutch in the torque converter? or tranny side? I mean if I have to change it I will, Like i said I have been changing fluid every 3K I mean its like crazy glitter but if you look hard enough you can see it, fluid though is always clean and red.

More than likely in the converter. If you're not opposed to wrenching, get a new one and swap it out. That should take care of it. If you unplug the TCC and all is "well", that tells us that's where our problem is. And if the fluid is nice looking other than a little glitter, that tells us that the tranny itself is prolly OK. No heat, clutch material etc etc. Sound to me like the clutch is eating itself! Should be an easy fix for you dude!

Thats the news I wanted to hear, without the lockup its quiet as can be and shift like a charm.. the converter is Screwed.. well i have no time to pull an tranny out of this car so a few hundred bucks, and a new converter which costs about $112 will do the trick. Thanks jester..

NO prob man. Let me know how that works out for ya.

Will do.. Thanks Buddy!

The lockup solenoid is sticking and causing the converter to fail. The converter is not the cause of the problem just replacing it will just ruin another converter. Replace the tcc solenoid and the converter and you problems will go away.

Alan

ok, can i replace the TCC solinoid without removing the trans in this car.. 91 buick Park Avenue?

yes you have to remove the side cover.