Well, crap. Blinking arrow of doom.

Post by **JRL** » 10 May 2011, 16:57

I'm telling you, you're wasting your time (and some money)

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 May 2011, 17:23

For $25 in junkyard parts or thereabouts, I'd have tried the TCM swap as well. Pulling a tranny is no joke.

Still, I think JRL's probably right...

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 May 2011, 17:25

Glad you think that. From my point of view, I don't think so. I'd waste more money (that I don't have at the moment) buying tools and replacing a transmission that (might still be) just fine internally. Like I said, let's wait and see if it works before you go jumping to conclusions.

All but one screw is out of the cover, and I've been foiled by a severe thunderstorm rolling in. I'm puzzled as to how to get to that one - the radiator hose, intercooler hose, and subframe are all right in the way. I'm thinking the hoses are going to have to come off and I may have to either loosen the subframe or jack the transmission up a bit and try to reach it from the top. Hmm.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 May 2011, 19:01

Clarification. I think JRL might be right about the final result - but not about your diagnostic approach.

Fingers are still crossed, and I just nailed a horseshoe up above the computer.

urbex · Post by **urbex** » 10 May 2011, 22:13

JRL wrote:Dropping out of OD means the torque converter is shot

I'm not quite wrapping my brain around how a bad converter would affect only one gear. Being that it's ahead of all the gears, I see it causing issues in all gears, or if bad enough, pretty much preventing the car from moving at all, just like pump issues.

Post by **kcodyjr** » 10 May 2011, 22:18

If it's torque converter, it's got to be isolated to the lockup function, which only happens in 3rd, with or without OD.

Try driving it in 3rd actually - look for the telltale "additional gear" rpm drop of the torque converter.

If you still see the fluctuating, you know it's the lockup function and not the OD.

JRL, feel free to contradict my memory that torque converter lockup can occur with the OD disengaged?

Post by **jblackburn** » 10 May 2011, 22:22

The torque converter allows "slip" in all gears to keep the engine in the powerband. Look closely at your shift from 1st-2nd some time - it will stay around 2500 for a little bit before it begins to rise in 2nd gear. It locks up in OD gear in 4th at around 55 mph, or 50 if you let off the gas. NA transmissions do lock-up in other gears as well.

TC's not bad - it would affect all gears and it wouldn't have been able to take off at all in "limp" mode without it. Lockup's not bad; it was working just fine before, and the car wasn't trying to stall at a stop when it could only grab 3rd as if the lockup couldn't disengage. I think that code was just stored in there because the trans. couldn't upshift to 4th gear.

Free2drive! · Post by **Free2drive!** » 11 May 2011, 02:26

Hi Justin

I really hope you get this sorted, we all know how much you have already done to your car.

Kind regards
Matt

Post by **jblackburn** » 11 May 2011, 18:42

It's been a long day, but at least I had good music and nice weather to be doing this!

I started as soon as I got home from work at 4 PM. I've lowered the subframe, got that last stupid bolt out, replaced the solenoids, and resealed the cover and got most of the screws back in.

I've got to put it all back together tomorrow, and then we'll see if it works! My fingers and toes are all crossed! There's a nice big hill right in front of it that I can push it down if it doesn't work...

Speaking of fingers, it's even left me something to remember it by for the next month or so!

: Ouch =(

I've had my pizza - first time I've eaten all day; now it's time to shower and go have a few beers with some friends. Seems to be what all of Blacksburg is doing tonight anyway since it's the end of the semester

Well, crap. Blinking arrow of doom.

Re: Well, crap. Blinking arrow of doom.