I have some questions about my torque convertor. I played parts hanger throwing pocket change at my truck trying to "dodge" around the real problem, and accepting the fatal diagnosis. I know my torque convertor is bad (it shudders like a **** when you're over 30 mph and load the engine or accelerate. If you go over 55 then it is REALLY BAD). So now that I've finally swallowed that pill, how bad is it if I just let it go for a little while? I've drove for years with a shuddering convertor in my 89 Grand Marquis with an AOD, but this E4OD must have similar issues, but even that AOD at it's worst was way better than the E4OD. Is there a temporary "snake oil" fix that will get me by temporarily? I know how people feel about it, but a temporary fix is exactly that. I'm trying to buy some time before I have to drop the transmission...can you blame me? I know these things have issues, though. I read on alldata (when I still had my dealership job) that these torque convertors are bad (just like the AOD's). Thanks in advance

 

converter shuttering may not be the converter....it could be the lock up solenoid rapidly engaging and disengaging...

 

i had the same problem not with the shuddering. but with it not unlocking when it should. i tried to get just the torque converter lockup solonoid. but you have to buy the whole solonoid pack which was 500 bucks at the ford dealership job. so i went to the junkyard found a good used one for 700 bucks with the converter. works great now

 

How would I know if it's the lock-up solenoid or just the converter? If I press on the brakes when it starts "shuddering" the solenoid disengages it, like it should do. It feels to me like the torque converter clutch is slipping under a load, but I don't know if it should be disengaging when it is "loaded up", I think it should stay locked up as long as I don't accelerate hard enough to "unlock" it.

 

yeah that makes sense. you could take it to the shop have them test the solonoid pack to see if all the electrical is functioning properly. if it is, its most likely your torque converter. if its not, well then obviously you gotta replace your solonoid pack.

 

If I press on the brakes it unlocks the torque converter UNDER 60 mph. If it's over 65 it just shakes like crazy unless you are on perfectly level ground or going downhill. If I press the brake pedal over 60 it just keeps shuddering and nothing happens. It should still unlock, shouldn't it?
It just seems weird to me that it wouldn't unlock over 60 or when I'm accelerating. Any ideas?

 

if its an issue you might want to get it checked out...could be a pressure issue could be an electrical issue...

there could be something going on that over 60mph the electric go funky and cause the issue...I would pull the pan myself and look over the wires...

if a converter is shot and shuttering it will do it in all gears and during take off...

 

Oh, no. I just had the pan off and drained all the fluid last week. All the wiring is inside? I still am going to have to wait on this one until I get a job. Then I can afford to maybe take it to a tranny shop. Even I'll admit that transmission diagnosis isn't my strong suit. SO basically to find out if my wiring was bad I should've looked in the pan while I had it off. That's my luck, though.

 

Before you drop that Tranny you may want to try this product:

http://www.autobarn.net/inshudfixbyd.html

I am not a believer in "snake oil" but I have corrected this problem in more than one E40D. It is available in most parts stores and it works.

 

I'll look for it. Snake oil and finger crossing is cheaper than diagnosis at a tranny shop. Thanks