I replaced the torque converter on my brother-in-law's '97 Blazer two weeks ago. After I got it in, it started rattling when I came to a stop. Then yesterday it started slipping pretty bad. The fluid level is good, but it is leaking from the front of the bell housing. I'm about to pull the tranny back out, but I have no idea what is wrong with it. I'm a manual tranny guy... I don't know squat about automatics. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

Are you sure you slid the converter on ALL THE WAY? Unless it's 100% seated on the shaft, it'll rattle and leak like no other. Hope the converter's not damaged in any way. Describe what you do when you hear the rattling.... meaning, do you hear it rattle at low speeds, high speeds, accelerating, braking, etc. Describe the events that lead up to, happen during, and what you see after you stop.

 

As I brake, below 5mph, it begins to rattle. It is a metallic sounding rattle. It continues to rattle while I am stopped. There is not any rattle while accelorating. I read on a performance tranny webpage the offset distance from the face of the TC to the face of the bellhousing. Mine was right on when I installed it. I did not replace the seal. I think the leak may be that, or it may be the pump. But then again, I really don't have a clue!

 

Hopefully if the TC is damaged I can have it replaced under warranty

 

I usually judge seat set by attempting to reach my hand around towards the TC hub. If you can't touch that (with your fingertips) with the TC installed, great chance that it's seated properly. If you can touch the hub, keep working to seat the TC properly.

Good luck with pulling and checking.

 

I just drove it around the block. It is solid in reverse. It is solid in first. In fact, it over powers the brakes when I try to power brake. It didn't rattle for me this time. But it is leaking and it was slipping above 60 yesterday.

I felt the TC seat into the pump. I can barely get my fingers between the bell housing and the TC, so I am pretty sure it is all of the way in.

 

I have the tranny out. I'm going to ask what may sound like a dumb question, but humor me. I have the TC on the floor. When I rotate it back and forth, I hear something of a rattle, similar to the rattle I described before. Should the TC sound a feel solid when I rotate it back and forth like that? I would assume so, but it felt and sounded loose like that before I put it in the first time.

 

Without the shafts in the converter you might hear a slight rattle. If you suspect that the rattle is coming from the converter replace it. I would double check that your flexplate is not cracked and also that all bolts are tight. Now you just need to figure out the leak. Good luck. Vince

 

If that is a used converter, might wanna suggest looking at the hub. We've seen cracks in those before, haven't we? I posted pics of mine that was cracked, and allowed massive amounts of fluid to leak from the bellhousing area of the trans. Of course, if the seal's damaged, then there could be a cause for leaks. Got a camera, post some pics.

 

Don't shoot me, but the TC is just an O'Reilly's house part. I didn't do much research before I bought. The TC looks clean. I suspect the seal for the leak. I am not sure about how much rattle I should expect from the TC with the shafts out.
Could I be focusing my attention on the wrong place? What in the tranny could rattle and cause slippage? I am going to replace the filter, so maybe I'll find something in there when I take the pan off.