Well desTRUCKtive and I hit it up yesterday with HPtuners to command the TCC to lock and no luck.

We did it on his truck to make sure we were doing it right and we were. So I guess its not a tuning or code thing since commanding it does nothing. So does that mean its mechanical trouble like James B. said?

I'm going to tear into it tonight and see whats up with the 'noids and valves.

 

Well, I tore into it today and no luck. I stiffened up the spring like James B. said to do. I check all the soleniods and they were all good. I also checked all the check ***** to make sure they were in the proper locations. No springs were in a bind and everything looked good per the Transgo instructions.

All that's left is the actual TCC itself, which really pisses me off since this is an after market "performance" converter. I will note though, that there was quite a bit of "stuff" in my fluid this time around. I know all tranny's have this, but not after 10,000mi. There were not metal parts (yet), but I'm wondering if its clutch material from the TCC or from the lovely 3-4 clutches. It doesn't slip at all, nor has it ever in the past. I wonder if its from the TCC? Any ideas?

Any guesses as to what the culprit could be if its not the TCC? I think my only other option is to put the stock verter back in while I throw this one through TCI's front window!

How much does it cost to have a converter rebuilt? Is it possible for them to throw a better clutch in it? Is anyone reading this?

 

I'm sorry to hear that. After 10k miles there shouldn't be a lot of sludge in the bottom of the pan. From how you describe the fluid and PWM delete not helping at all it could be the torque converter clutch.

If you end up replacing the converter, the modification you did to the valve body for the pulse valve will help prevent the new one from meeting the same fate. Pulse Width Modulation prevents the converter from ever 100% locking up. The PCM makes it slip a tiny bit at all times. This is hell on conventional TC clutch material, which most aftermarket converter builders use, so OEM TC clutches in PWM transmissions are made of carbon fiber to hold up to the constant slipping. GM's reason for introducing PWM was to smooth out engine pulses.

 

Good info, thanks for sharing.
Id think PWM adds to tranny temp also. Is there a write up on exactly how to mod the valve body to eliminate PWM?

Ive got a TCI converter its good for how cheap it is, but I know my next one is gonna be a yank.

 

Well it's unfortunate if its the verter that went out. I've always had bad luck with them in the past, not matter what the brand is. I'm hopefully going to rebuild my 60e soon, and I was planning on having the verter restalled, but looks like I might just buy a new one.

I wonder if putting the stocker back iin to see if that's it is worth the time and effort?


As for a write up on this mod. James B.'s picture pretty much explains it all. Just undo the clip on that valve, pull it out. Then stiffen up the spring as much as possible. I used a combination of some left over springs I had from the shift kit. Then I just re-assembled as normal.

 

UPDATE: The son of a bicth locked up tonight on the way home from getting my hair cut!!! WTF?!?!?

I threw it in reverse to leave and it went nowhere. In fact I was on a hill, and it didn't even roll back. I reved it up and nothing. I checked the parking brake...nope...off. Then I shift back into park, then reverse, nothing. I give it gas, a little more, a little more. It felt like I had a 5000stall in it. It started to roll and then it was massive shuddering with some clunking as I went backwards.

Shift into D and I'm good to go. Driving home, hit 50mph, locks up. I was like, no way! I tap the brakes, it unlocks. Hit 50, locks up again. WTF?!? It hasn't locked up in a week!

I get home, turn around to back into the driveway. Shift into R....all good. No problems.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!

 

It wants to be part of a landfill

 

damn tci converters (i think that's the problem)

 

HAHAHA! That's pretty funny! Oh wait, I'm laughing at myself.

No locking up on the way to work today.

What pisses me off, is this thing takes a dump and puts all that clutch material through the rest of my tranny, which WAS shifting fine.

 

sounds like my prob back in the day. reverse input drum.