Car dies when put into gear. (New trans & converter)

[Geoff87]

After installing a rebuilt trans and converter, my car dies when I put it into gear. The converter feels like it is locked with no stall whatsoever.

Start the car and shift into gear, and the car will jump forward (or backward), and then stall out. I unplugged the 4-pin connector on the trans with the same result.

I also jacked up the rear of the car to let the wheels spin. At idle the tires spin fast and will fight against the brakes when applied (engine still at idle). Stop the wheels from turning and the car stalls. Feels like when you let out the clutch on a manual trans car and apply the brakes without pressing the clutch pedal in. WTF?!?


Any ideas? Stuck TCC solenoid?

Thanks!

 

[MeanBuicks]

It certainly sounds as if the TCC is applied full time. The kicker is, it can't be the solenoid causing this problem. The reason for this is the fact that the solenoid is fed a hydraulic signal only in 2nd, 3rd & 4th gears. Without that, the TCC valve above the solenoid wouldn't stroke.

I can think of two scenarios here. One; your TCC valve may be stuck in the applied position in the pump. If you were to remove your TCC solenoid, you'd have access to the bottom of the TCC valve through the hole in the retainer. You should be able to stroke it upwards against spring force and it should pop back down when released.

Two; it's possible that the transmission was built with a pump that was modified for non-L/U use. Many times, the non-L/U mods rearrange fluid flow through the converter such that it would cause a full-time L/U problem if a L/U converter were to be installed.

Did your builder reuse your original pump/transmission?

 

[TurboBob]

O-ring missing from input shaft?

Bob

 

[Geoff87]

I bought the trans from a board member, so I'll ask him AGAIN to reconfirm that the trans was indeed set-up for a lock-up converter. The converter is a PTS 9/11.

Bob, I don't remember seeing an o-ring on the input shaft.

 

[WE4]

Only a non lock trans will cause this. A missing oring would not allow full lock up if any at all. The converter is fine, it is your trans.

Bruce
WE4

 

[Geoff87]

Is there any way to remedy this without pulling the whole trans apart?

If not, I guess my options are to sell the non-L/U, and buy a PTS Killer-Street (which I should've done in the first place). Or, to buy a non-L/U converter?

 

[WE4]

Sheesh, you gotta keep holding their hand......

Neither! Just change the trans you got back to lock up. One day chore and you get to still sit on a lump in your wallet!!!


Bruce
WE4

Oh yea..........Aloha..... ROFL

 

[Hawaiian Turbo]

Must be the weather here in Hawaii affecting our transmissions !!!

 

[Geoff87]

Mahalo!

What is needed to change the trans back to a lock-up?

Originally posted by WE4 in an older thread
Torque converter , lock up valve and springs, and lock up wiring returned to normal if it was eliminated or not there.

Bruce
WE4
www.PTSnctb.com

Is this all I need? Same pump OK?

I'll give you a buzz tomorrow.

BTW, my Chiropractor says that a thick wallet is bad for my back!

 

[Geoff87]

Does anyone have a pic or a link to a pic where the input shaft o-ring goes?

I'd hate to pull the trans out unnecessarily.

 

[WE4]

ck this

Go here:
http://www.2004rperformancecenter.com/mcartfree/products/images/shaft0.jpg

see the most upper left hand corner? goes in that grrove on shaft on pilot that enters converter first. You can see it in this pic.

good Luck... Which lock up valve was it? Did you have time to pull?

 

[Geoff87]

Re: ck this

Originally posted by WE4

good Luck... Which lock up valve was it? Did you have time to pull?

Thanks for the pic.

It must be the Art-Carr. I dropped the pan, removed the tcc solenoid, removed the snap ring, and the lock-up valve would not come out. It also did not have the spring in it like the stock trans did.

No O-ring on the input shaft also.

By the way Bruce, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my call today.

What's my next move?

 

[WE4]

Hrmmm

either take to trans shop or pull pump yourself. Then change valve and install o ring and tcc and go. I know this sounds simple so if you have a problem let me know.

Bruce
We4

 

[Geoff87]

You're right. It sounds too simple.

Do I need to change the pump? Or just remove it, in order to get the (non-lockup) valve out?

I wonder how much $$ shipping would be to ship my original trans to Sacramento, CA ?

 

[WE4]

Get ahold of Derrick O Brian or Carey Nakagawa. They can tell you what you need to know.

Bruce We4

 

[Scottie-GNZ]

Folks,

this just happened to me on Saturday.

Brand new AC 9.5 LU with 7 passes and less than 100 miles. Converter worked great on the launch (1.45, twice!) and locked up OK in 3rd with a semi-automatic switch. It continue to work great on the other passes but stopped locking up at WOT. Wrote that off to a bad ground or switch. Locked up fine on the drive home at normal speeds. Friday night I installed a 63 turbo to try out and could barely get 2200 RPMs and 2psi boost on the t-brake. With a HD actuator I could barely get 10+ psi. Wrote those off to possible puck misalignment.

Saturday morning I took a trip, stopped for gas and 4 tolls. At the 5th toll the car died as soon as it almost came to a stop. Stalled hard every time I tried to put it in gear. Until I got to that toll, all seemed OK but now I think all the problems are related. I plan to swap out the solenoid for starters. Any other ideas?

TIA

 

[MeanBuicks]

Pull the solenoid down and make sure that the TCC valve above it is not stuck in the bore. That'd cause your symptoms.

 

[Scottie-GNZ]

Thanks, Greg.

In anticipation of the valve being stuck, what should be done to correct it and prevent it from re-occurring?

 

[HOTTOGO]

basically remove the snap-ring, retainer plate, dislodge the valve remove it and springs, see if it was debris or a burr causing it polish valve and reassemble. and viola hpefully all is well.

 

[Scottie-GNZ]

Thanks, ALL. Plan to pull it out today.