Seattle Transmission repair guide to torque converter failure.
When you step on the clutch pedal of a manual transmission car to shift into gear, the clutch disconnects the transmission from the car’s engine. In an automatic transmission vehicle, a transmission torque converter performs the function of a clutch. The transmission torque converter is an important part of your vehicle and a lot of harmful things can happen if it fails. Following are the symptoms and likely causes of a faulty torque converter.
Poor Efficiency due to Blade Deformation and Fragmentation
- If the pump or turbine blades become deformed or detached from the hubs due to a malfunction of the torque converter resulting in overheating, the vehicle will experience poor performance. If the problem is not rectified it is possible that the transmission torque converter can be completely broken.
- If the stator clutch fails the car will have poor efficiency during the coupling phase. This happens because the stator clutch’s inner and outer elements get locked to each other and cannot rotate.
- When a torque converter is used under high RPMs, ballooning can occur. The torque converter’s housing can become a warped or even ruptured eventually.
- The seals in the converter can be rendered ineffective by overheating. Their inability to perform their intended function of holding liquid will lead to leaks.
- An almost complete loss of power is usually the result of a breakage in the stator clutch. Your car may not be drivable.
- An issue with the stator clutch as described in Section 2 may also result in a more than normal amount of gas being used.