Torque convertersCUTLER BAYFL MV52365
Torque converter replacement
The torque converter is the fluid coupling between the engine and the transmission. When its lock-up clutch or internal parts wear, you feel it as a shudder at highway speed, slipping under load, or the engine stalling when you shift into gear. We diagnose it, replace it, and flush the cooler so the new one lasts.
01
Converter symptoms
- A shudder or vibration at steady speed, often around 40 to 60 mph, that comes and goes
- Higher RPM than usual for the speed, as if it is slipping
- The engine stalls or nearly stalls when shifted into Drive or Reverse
- Overheating transmission fluid on long drives
02
How we handle it
- 01
Confirm it is the converter
Shudder can also come from the fluid, a solenoid or the lock-up circuit. We test before we replace.
- 02
Remove and replace
The transmission comes back to reach the converter. We replace it, check the pump and seal, and inspect what we can see.
- 03
Flush the cooler
Debris from a failed converter sits in the cooler and lines. Skipping the flush is how a new converter fails early.
- 04
Fluid and road test
Correct fluid, correct level, driven at the speed where the shudder lived.
03
Good to know
- If the converter failed because of internal transmission damage, we tell you before replacing only the converter.
- A converter is normally replaced as part of any rebuild.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
What does a failing torque converter feel like?
Most often a shudder or vibration at steady highway speed, sometimes slipping under load, or stalling when put in gear. A whine that rises with RPM can also point to it.
Can a torque converter be replaced without rebuilding the transmission?
Yes, if the transmission itself is sound. The unit has to be pulled back to reach the converter, and the cooler must be flushed, but the transmission is not disassembled.
Why flush the cooler when replacing a converter?
A failing converter sheds material into the fluid, and that material collects in the cooler and lines. Left there, it circulates into the new converter.
Related
Bring it in. We will tell you what it is.
Open until 8 PM Monday to Saturday at 10715 SW 190th St, Cutler Bay.