Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Torque Converter Still Locking!

[Seth]

Alright, I know there are lots of threads about the old torque converter locking and unlocking, but I decided to post my own situation. I've read a good number of threads as well as the articles in the TDR magazine. Well, I'm getting really tired of this dumb thing locking and unlocking. It makes me want to drive the truck into the Chesapeake Bay.



Anyways, I have installed the DTT noise filter and it has not proven helpful. I also followed the splicing and grounding directions as suggested by SunCoast Converters. Despite this attempts at eliminating the problem it still lingers.



Does anyone have better suggestions that can help? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for the help!



Seth Knight

 

[georgej]

You've probably cleaned the battery connections already and checked the grounds, but try replacing the alternator brushs and isolating the wire coming from the alternator as per the Tony of Dunrite converters.

 

[Soot4Life]

Did you solder the connections when installing the DTT filter? Apparently anything less makes the gizmo less effective. I feel your pain. I finally had to replace the alternator with a properly rebuilt unit that had no noise issues and a fully functional rectifier. Time will tell if my good result lasts.

 

[JMalik]

At 190,000 miles I also had problems with converter lockup on my 96 47RE transmission. My problem was system noise.



The source of noise scrambling the PCM controlling converter lockup is primarily alternator noise. The power circuit of the alternator is filtered and the batteries floating on the 12 vdc circuit minimize ripple effects. However the alternator excitation circuit has no filtering and aging slip rings/brushes dump any noise developed there right into the PCM. Contributing factors are battery circuit resistance due to sulfating batteries and battery post connections deteriating over time. When your converter lockup gets irratic some cleaning of the battery terminals and connectors is a good place to start. Then if that doesn't work go to the noise source and make sure that your slip rings are in good condition. If not turn the slip rings on a lathe and take a light cut to clean them up and then polish them. Then replace the brushes. This will minimize your primary noise source. Genos Garage has a nice kit to do this job for $35 or you can just get a new brush set for about $7. Before spending any time rebuilding the alternator have it checked out to make sure it is fully functional.



If that doesn't work There are 4 enablement sources for the TCC signal controlling converter lockup.



1. Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) (Left side rear transmission)

2. The Module Timer, a PCM function

3. Engine Speed Sensor, (ESS) (Front engine damper area)

4. Throttle Position Sensor, (TPS) (Left side engine next to injection pump)



Of these the TPS and the VSS are the most likely problem. The TPS can wear and there are alot of posts on this problem and fixes in the TDR. The VSS can be miss-adjusted or be defective. When adjusting the VSS make sure that you use a . 050 in non-magnetic gage. Match books seem to be popular for this purpose.



Then there is the TCC loop itself. Modifications to the lockup circuit result in breaking this control loop to insert additional controllers in the loop. If any of controllers are defective or if the TCC loop wire connections are intermittant they can also create lockup problems.



Good luck on finding your problem

JM