Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Shifting into Drive kills engine when cold...

[rotohead]

Have a fairly new Torque Converter and when the truck is cold (below freezing overnite) the engine dies when I shift into /Drive. It's my educated guess that the T/C is just too tight and with the transmission fluid cold it dies. Am I wrong here? This T/C is of unknown manufacturer (to me) as I left it up to my transmission guy to install a quality triple disk this summer. Problem didn't come up until winter. Also shifts very hard (abruptly) into lockup. I'm not happy with that issue either. Can anyone tell me what I'm dealing with here? I'm anticipating having to change out the T/C as I believe this issue could lead to other problems down the road. Thanks for the advice.

 

[BDaugherty]

My '01 auto with low stall t/c would do the same thing. I either let the engine warm up a little more or gave it a little pedal. I always thought it was just one of the many performance tradeoffs.

 

[cerberusiam]

Warm it up first and that may solve your problem. Idle it in neutral and it should get the fluid flowing better. Unless you have a problem in the transmission you should not have an issues with a tighter TC.

 

[RonaldLarson]

Our cummions have software that advances timing and fuel flow to prevent that issue. Perhaps your ECM needs a flash to bring it back. My three disc TC has no such issues. Does you truch go to high idle when it's below 32 degrees? It should, if the transmission is in park and you don't touch the brake pedal. If it does not, you definitely need a reflash.

 

[cerberusiam]

Our cummions have software that advances timing and fuel flow to prevent that issue.

No it doesn't not, not consistently. Rather, the minimal control is frqeuently not enough to handle a tight TC and cold fluid so it kills the engine.

While your triple disk may not do it, a single disk low stall can and will stall a cold engine. A failing TC will also stall an engine. There is much more to the TC than just being a triple disk. Most triples are just as loose as a stocker relying on the lockup for power handling. Basically high priced junk.

 

[RonaldLarson]

My triple disc is so tight, it can make music! I guess around 500RPM-700 RPM. ATS in Colorado buit my TC. I still say your issue is ECM related. No high idle and stall indicates need for a flash. Had to flash mine for High idle three times before it actuated.

 

[JLandry]

Rotohead,

Are you using ATF+4 transmission fluid?

John L.

 

[PC12Driver]

Mach 2 injectors do have a bit of a lope when they get a light load at idle. Mix in a tight TC and cold fluids and it very well could kill the engine at the bottom of a lope. Nothing to worry about, it's perfectly normal for a setup like yours.