Torque converter hook-up

[Michael Wenger]

95 2500 4x4 auto with T/C problem. Bought the truck brand new and have no problem with it except the T/C. Has 90,000 miles on it and the engine and trans. is all stock. My problem is that the T/C will sometimes, hook and then unhook repeatedly when traveling uphill or on the flat road for a couple of miles. When I take it to a transmission shop it never does it. It also hooks up too soon around 45 mph and it starts to shake the whole truck,so I usually hold the brake pedal down just enough to unhook it until I get up around 50mph. It also does'nt unhook soon enough when going up a hill and shakes alot. Any help would greatly be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[My 6 Eats V8's Old File]

sounds to me like you need a new one.

 

[Michael Wenger]

Originally posted by My 6 Eats V8's:
sounds to me like you need a new one.

New what?

 

[Strick-9]

Michael,
I have a '94 2500 4x4 with an auto. I used to have the same problems. Try pressing the the O/D off button when below 50 mph as a quick fix. I believe there is a TSB about lockup speeds and the Dodge dealership can reprogram the lockup speed in OD to 52mph instead of 45 mph. I didn't go that route. The shudder on my truck was an engine stumble that occured at 1100-1300 rpms. The stock loose torque convertor always revved past that stumble point and I never noticed it until lockup. Then the problems surfaced.

Mine was completely cured by a governor spring kit and high flow delivery valves.

You need to check your throttle position sensor output. That position sensor controls the overdrive shift and also when and when not to lockup the TC. They are notorious for going out. I have just recently set mine for 1. 4 volts at idle. My convertor doesn't lockup so quickly anymore.

You can do a search for TPS and find a wealth of information in the archives. I'll give a quick rundown. The TPS is on the throttle linkage on the drivers side of the engine. It is round and has three wires coming out of it. One wire is a ground, one wire is a 5V (key on) and the other wire is TPS output. Check the output voltage and rotate the throttle through its entire range of movement. Check for a smooth transition from 1-1. 4 Volts at idle to 4 volts at full throttle. There are two bolts holding the TPS in place. You can loosen them and rotate the sensor slightly to get the 1. 4 volts at idle.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Michael Wenger]

Thanks for the advise. About a year ago I took it to the local Dodge dealer and they did'nt know what to . They called Chrysler and they told them to put in a new T/C and they put new seals in the trans. I was there when they were diagnosing it and they hooked up a hand-held diagnostic moniter to it and were adjusting something under the hood. Needless to say, that did'nt fix it. They said they did'nt know what else to do. So I have'nt been back since. I told them, it seemed to be an electronic problem,not a mechanical one.

 

[n_fairchild]

My 95 auto was doing the same thing, i just cleaned the connections at the TPS with some contact cleanter and the problem went away. I have had problems with torque convertors since i am on the fourth one and 106,000 miles. A torque convertor will be the next upgrade. Good luck
Nick

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95, 4x4, Auto, slightly bombed, more to come

 

[Don Schmidt]

I also have a '94 and had the trouble you are talking about. There is a TSB covering it. I took mine to the dealership and they changed a computer chip or something under the hood and now my truck shifts into OD at 52 mph. The job took them about 15 min.

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1994 4X4 2500 Auto.
1998 Harley FXDS
1998 Harley Sportster 1200

 

[John_P]

Michael:

I have a 96' with an automatic trans-
mission. At 98,000 miles my stock
transmission began to "shudder"
when going into lockup on hills
and grades when I was towing my
racing trailer. The "shudder" soon
turned to slipping under the same
conditions so I had a new TC, valve
body, and TPS installed. My stock
TC was "blue" from all the heat and
it would not have been long before
it failed.

Anyway, since the "upgrades" I have
had no problems.

--------------
John_P

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Red '96 4x4 2500 Auto 3. 54, TST #5, Major Pump Mods(By "Scheid Diesel") 370 Diamond B Injectors, Gov. Spring kit, AFC Spring kit, Banks Exhaust, Prime Loc, Cummins Chrome Kit,Psychotty Air Filter, Pro-Torque Converter, BD Valve Body, BD Pressure Loc, Isspro Gauges, Sendel 16" Alum Wheels w/ 33" BFGs

 

[kleaman]

Michael,
I have a 95' that has had the same problem for the last 80'000 miles. The problem is in the throttle position sensor. I replaced it once, but the problem came back shortly. The replacement part from Chrysler was $180. I read that they are available from Cummins at about half that. I instaled BD's tourqloc device that bypasses the computer. Now when ever the tourque converter wants to unlock I just turn the switch to the locked position and no worries. Hope this helps. KEN

 

[Banshe]

I've got a '95 and had the same problems. I also pull a 5ver (13. 5k lbs)up and down the Rockies. I let it go on for about 60,000 miles then had the transmission rebuilt at 110,000. The planetary was OTL (Out To Lunch). I had also been watching the transmission fluid analysis get worse and worse with both high aluminum and high iron. The torque converter was fine, according to the transmission shop. While it was all apart, I decided to have the DTT TC and VB installed. Not a problem since.

 

[JerryB]

Had the same thing on my '94. Was a throttle position sensor. It just hooked & unhooked off & on for no reason. Don't pay the dealer to put this in. There is nothing to it. Simply un-bolt the old one, (disconnecting the wires to it first) and bolt in the new. There is a little cog if you want to call it that that has to be indexed into the new sensor for it to work properly. If you look at the way it fits it will explain itself, there is only one way it will fit. Spray a little electrical contact cleaner in the plug before you put it back together. Mine has been fine for over a year now.

 

[engcsm]

Wondering if you resolved problem with your torque converter? I just posted a question reference this same problem. As for the shaking between 41 and 45, mine has always done that, even after two rebuilds. If I have to drive in the 40 MPH range for any length of time, I unlock the OD. It is a RPM thing as it will do it around 30 MPH with the OD unlocked. Engine doesn't like 2100 PRM with a load.

As for the torque converter unlocking, I am still trying to rectify that problem. I got an suggestion from someone this morning which I am going to try later today. Thanks, David Harris.