torque converter failure

[apkole]

Okay people, whaddaya know about the frequency of torque converter failures in stock trucks? Ours went away at a little under 60k. Do I look for another at 120k? No big loads here, just some travel trailer towing, hauling ladders for roofing and, oh yeah, some snowplowing. Hmmmm, does ya think there's a connection here?? Oh, yeah, glad I picked up that $300 extended service contract!!!

Andy

 

[chuck3]

Snowplowing

I bet that snowplowing would take the ole trany. temp. up? do you have a trans. temp. gauge, just wondering what kinda temp. that would give you, watching mine go up in traffic I can just immagine, it must get quite warm to say the least.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

When I saw snow plowing it sent up a red flag for me too!

 

[Ramafid]

After the warranty is up call DTT. Less slippage = less heat unless you are completely stopped. Then trans temp will creep up a bit over a stock setup.

 

[apkole]

Ramafid, I seriously considered having the dealer install the DTT components, but still have 40k and 3 years left on service contract. I'd like to get at least 2 more winter seasons of coverage if I can.



Chuck3, I haven't installed a transmission temp guage --- yet. My trans. service shop for my out-of-warranty trucks tells me that most plow related failures in the transmission are due to breakage. Most of my transmission failures have been planetaries or the reverse band. (need to get that brake thing down).



What really floored me was that the TC failure occured under "no load" conditions. Truck was empty, under light accleration going up hill. I was within a mile of my home, so could nurse it into the drive. We had just towed the travel trailer back from SIlver Lake (Hart, MI) the previous week with no problem (about 80 miles). Towed to Pensacola and back this spring, also no problem.



Oh well, better than out on the road with trailer in tow or in the middle of a bad snow situation in January.

 

[fmj]

I'm with Chuck3, it would be interesting to know if anyone see's trans temps go up noticeably before failures. I watch mine all the time, both empty and towing. I know that when below 95 outside temps, the trans runs at 140. At the same outside temp in traffic it will run up to the 165 mark. While towing the trans temps stay about the same until I start up steep grades, and then it will go up to the 175 range. I tow with the O/D off. Once outside temps go above the 100 degree range I can see a 10 degree addition to the above temps, except the trans doesn't seem to climb past the 175 range no matter what outside temps do. I've watched this at 110 degree outside towing. I have to believe that there is some increase in temps as the trans starts to crap out?? I also keep an eye on the fluid level, which never seems to change, and the color/smell. I do this prior to trips, or at least monthly. It would be good information to know what to see for temps prior to failures. I only have my gassers race trans temps to go by, and they are always high (180 to 200) due to the 3500 stall speed. So, thats no good to judge the trucks temps by. Anyone??