5 Major Signs of Failing Torque Converter
Manual and automatic cars differ in the way their mechanisms work and how the driver operates the components. You probably know that the clutch is a vital part of a manual transmission that disengages the engine from the transmission when the car is stopped.
For cars with automatic transmissions, a similar disconnect is required, but this operation must be done without the use of the clutch. This is where the torque converter comes into play.
The torque converter is a critical part of an automatic transmission car, and if damaged, it can cause further damage to the transmission. This is probably something you’re worried about, especially if you’re a new owner of an automatic vehicle. But don’t worry, problem solved! We’ll look at the main symptoms of a bad torque converter so you know exactly what to look for.
What is a Torque Converter?
The torque converter is a vital component in vehicles with automatic transmissions. It is based on a fluid coupling housed in a compact frame. This procedure allows the brakes to be applied to keep the car idling while the engine is running. However, the engine is not completely isolated from the transmission as with a clutch.
However, you do not need to use a lot of force to keep the car idling. This is useful when the vehicle is in traffic or at a red light. The torque converter is filled with transmission oil and generates hydraulic pressure. It is a sensitive component and its failure is often associated with transmission problems in vehicles with automatic transmissions.
We will explain the main symptoms of a faulty torque converter so that you can recognize them and take your car to a transmission specialist.
What are the signs of a faulty torque converter?
1) Gear Slipping
Some people may have the impression that gear slipping cannot occur in vehicles with automatic transmissions, since the driver does not change gears. However, since the transmission still changes gears, the gears themselves can slip. This may be hard to notice since you’re not changing gears directly. However, you can determine this by evaluating the noises it makes when accelerating and decelerating.
When your car shifts into a particular gear and has difficulty holding it, this is called gear slip. You may notice this in the form of a noticeable shudder emanating from the car, which is a sign of torque converter failure. We recommend that you take your car to your nearest technician to determine the exact cause of your car vibrations.
2) Overheating Transmission
One of the symptoms of a bad torque converter is an overheating transmission. You will know that your transmission is overheating by your car giving you a warning, just like your engine will give you an overheating warning. This is due to a sensitive temperature gauge that is connected to the transmission. Transmissions tend to get hot because the gear slippage eventually heats up the transmission fluid in the torque converter.
At some point it may start to boil and cause the transmission to overheat. An overheated transmission is an alarming sign as it may prevent you from shifting gears or may cause further internal damage to the transmission. In such cases, driving the car is dangerous so it is in your best interest to bring your car to a technician or transmission specialist as soon as possible.
3) Dirty Gear Oil
Transmission fluid is added to the torque converter to create hydraulic pressure to make it work. Therefore, if the transmission fluid is of poor quality or dirty, it may prevent the torque converter from functioning properly. Signs of transmission fluid contamination include a dark or burnt color, or sometimes a milky color.
Additionally, dirt or particles like metal shavings may be visible inside the gearbox. If the transmission fluid is found to be contaminated, it should be flushed and replaced as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may notice signs of a faulty torque converter or other damage to the transmission system. We recommend taking your vehicle to a transmission specialist to have the possible damage evaluated and repaired.
4) Acceleration and Speed ​​Issues
A sign of torque converter failure is uneven acceleration or deceleration of the car. The torque converter produces hydraulic pressure that allows acceleration. If the torque conversion is not working properly, this pressure will be uneven, causing the vehicle to accelerate unevenly.
In some cases, the car may accelerate suddenly or not accelerate at all, affecting your speed. You can detect uneven acceleration when the vehicle feels jerky or unresponsive when accelerating. Additionally, you can look at the tachometer on your car’s dashboard. If you see any sudden jumps, it’s probably a sign that your torque converter is bad.
In this case, you should have your car inspected immediately, as driving a car is dangerous if the acceleration is unreliable. Since the most likely cause is a torque converter failure, it’s best not to drive your car until it’s repaired.
5) Unusual noises coming from the transmission system
Another sign that you possibly have a bad torque converter is strange noises coming out of your car. This is especially the case when you accelerate the vehicle and leave the engine running when it is stopped. This is because it is in these moments that the transmission and torque converter are most active.
These sounds can be anything from a knocking, rattling or whining. It is best to get your car checked out when you hear these noises to figure out precisely what is wrong with your vehicle and deal with it. If these noises are ignored, then the underlying problem within your torque converter can get worse, which can cause the sounds to get louder while destroying the transmission system from the inside.
To sum up
Automatic transmissions vary from their manual counterparts in various ways. One such way is the existence of the torque converter. The torque converter is an essential component of automatic vehicles as it creates the hydraulic pressure necessary for the gears to be changed automatically.
Therefore, when the torque converter fails, it can lead to a whole host of problems in automatic cars. It is essential to get your vehicle checked out by a transmission expert who can rectify the issue in such a case. However, it is vital first to identify the signs of torque converter failing before you can take your car to a technician.
In this article, we have looked at the various signs and symptoms of a failing torque converter so that you can swiftly get it rectified. This includes those that pertain to the gears, the transmission fluid and the transmission system itself.
