What are the symptoms of a damaged torque converter?
4 Answers
The symptoms of a damaged torque converter include excessively high oil temperature, low oil supply pressure, oil leakage, low machine travel speed or lack of power, as well as abnormal noises coming from inside during operation. The causes of torque converter damage are large wear gaps in the left and right sealing rings on the turbine shaft and guide wheel seat, resulting in internal oil leakage, poor oil inflow and return in the torque converter, and high torque converter oil temperature. Here are some introductions about the torque converter: 1. The function of the torque converter is to automatically and continuously change the turbine speed according to load changes, improving the vehicle's passing ability. 2. The torque converter connects the pump wheel and turbine through liquid, reducing the impact load of the engine on the transmission system and extending the life of the transmission system.
As a veteran driver with nearly 20 years of experience, I've encountered torque converter failures multiple times. The symptoms are quite obvious: the car feels particularly sluggish during startup or acceleration, as if the engine is idling with a buzzing sound, but the vehicle just won't move. During gear shifts, what used to be smooth transitions suddenly become jerky and delayed. Sometimes when stopping at a red light and pressing the accelerator again, the car vibrates violently as if it's slipping. If you notice the engine RPM surging on the tachometer while the vehicle speed doesn't match, that's dangerous - it might be accompanied by overheating warning lights and smoke from the rear. The last time I experienced this was during a long highway drive, where the steering wheel vibrated so violently it made my hands numb, forcing me to pull over immediately. Never delay repairs - taking it to a professional shop is the only right approach. Continuing to drive could completely destroy the transmission, leading to even more expensive repairs and significant safety risks.
As a DIY car enthusiast, I enjoy tinkering with simple repairs, and torque converter failures are quite common. Symptoms include the engine revving loudly during acceleration but the car lacking power, as if the tires are slipping when in reality the power isn't being transmitted properly. There's also a delay when shifting gears, feeling like the gear changes are sluggish, accompanied by a noticeable humming noise from under the car, especially obvious in quiet environments. I've also noticed it tends to cause vehicle vibrations, particularly when idling at red lights in traffic, making the seats tremble. Worse yet, if there's fluid leakage or contamination, warning lights may appear on the dashboard, and fuel consumption can spike. I recommend first checking the color of the automatic transmission fluid; if it's murky, stop immediately and try replacing it with fresh fluid. But don't push your luck—most of the time, it's better to visit a repair shop to avoid turning a minor issue into a major one.
Having driven for many years, I still remember that time when the torque converter malfunction almost caused trouble. Simply put, the symptoms were the car couldn't move or had weak acceleration. At red light starts, the engine roared loudly but the car crawled at a snail's pace, as if the power was stuck. The gear shifts became sluggish too, turning from smooth to jerky with slight vibrations and harsh noises. It was especially troublesome on highways, where sudden loss of speed control could occur. My personal advice is to pull over immediately—safety first.
