How to Determine if a Torque Converter is Faulty?
2 Answers
Torque converter faults can be identified through the following symptoms: 1. Torque converter overheating: Overheating causes a decrease in transmission oil viscosity and damage to rubber oil seals, resulting in loss of lubrication and oil leakage. It also leads to insufficient power in loaders and deterioration of torque converter performance, which is one of the most common fault phenomena. Common causes include: insufficient oil supply from the hydraulic pump, faults in the cooling system, incorrect or degraded oil type, oil pressure in the torque converter being lower than the adjustment pressure of the main pressure valve, and excessively low outlet pressure of the torque converter. Another reason could be poor structural design of the torque converter, leading to abnormal wear. 2. Insufficient output of the hydraulic torque converter and driving force of the loader: When the loader operates at low speed, the diesel engine's power is transmitted from the pump wheel to the turbine, while the guide wheel remains stationary. The reaction torque generated by the guide wheel combines with the torque from each pump wheel and is transmitted to the turbine, providing speed reduction and torque increase, ensuring driving force under low-speed and heavy-load conditions. If the overrunning clutch is damaged, the engine's torque can only be transmitted through a single guide wheel or directly to the turbine, reducing torque conversion efficiency and causing insufficient power. This may even eliminate the speed reduction and torque increase effect, and stepping on the accelerator in this condition could cause the engine to stall.
I've been driving automatic transmission cars for over a decade, and torque converter issues are quite common. To determine if it's failing, first pay attention to abnormal sensations while driving. For example, if the car noticeably shakes during acceleration, or if the engine RPM surges but the speed doesn't increase accordingly, these are classic slipping symptoms. If you hear strange humming or metal grinding noises at idle, the torque converter might be acting up. Additionally, a sudden increase in fuel consumption is another warning sign, as a faulty torque converter operates inefficiently and wastes fuel. Don't forget to check the automatic transmission fluid level and color – if it's black or has a burnt smell, be alert. Avoid stomping on the accelerator in daily driving, and regular fluid changes can prevent many problems. If the car doesn't drive smoothly, get it checked by professionals as soon as possible to prevent minor issues from turning into major repairs. Safety first – never take risks on highways.
