Torque Converter Clutch Vibration
Question:
I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and 700-4R (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 mph or more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be caused by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly just slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other times it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the car had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the car now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they say I need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure the problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, no slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building the entire transmission. Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the problem. I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission that has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with somewat less vibration intensity.
Response:
Are you sure it’s not an engine misfire you’re feeling? If the engine is misfiring, often it’s a lot more noticeable with the TCC engaged, because of the direct mechanical link between the engine and the transmission. However, I don’t know if that would explain the amount of vibration you’re describing.. — Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and 700-4R > (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 mph or > more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate > quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be caused > by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly just > slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth > again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other times > it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the car > had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the car > now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they say I > need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure the > problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, no > slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. > Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building the > entire transmission. > Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? > I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the > problem. > I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. > P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission that > has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with somewat > less vibration intensity.
Response:
Sorry for the delay, I wasn’t able to access the news server for some reason. I am fairly sure that this is not an engine miss, but in fact is a torque converter clutch problem of some sort. The reaction to brake/throttle is definite: "When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or depress the accellerator the clutch DISENGAGES and the car runs smooth again."
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Are you sure it’s not an engine misfire you’re feeling? If the engine is > misfiring, often it’s a lot more noticeable with the TCC engaged, because of > the direct mechanical link between the engine and the transmission. However, > I don’t know if that would explain the amount of vibration you’re > describing.. > — > Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada > Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ > I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and 700-4R > (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 mph > or > more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate > quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be > caused > by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly just > slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth > again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other > times > it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the > car > had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the car > now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they say > I > need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure > the > problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, no > slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. > Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building > the > entire transmission. > Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? > I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the > problem. > I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. > P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission > that > has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with somewat > less vibration intensity.
Response:
Can you run with the TCC solenoid wires unhooked and see if the problem goes away? Just a thought, GW – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Sorry for the delay, I wasn’t able to access the news server for some > reason. > I am fairly sure that this is not an engine miss, but in fact is a torque > converter clutch problem of some sort. The reaction to brake/throttle is > definite: "When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > depress the accellerator the clutch DISENGAGES and the car runs smooth > again." > Are you sure it’s not an engine misfire you’re feeling? If the engine is > misfiring, often it’s a lot more noticeable with the TCC engaged, because > of > the direct mechanical link between the engine and the transmission. > However, > I don’t know if that would explain the amount of vibration you’re > describing.. > — > Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada > Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ > > I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and > 700-4R > > (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 > mph > or > > more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate > > quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be > caused > > by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly > just > > slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > > depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth > > again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other > times > > it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the > car > > had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the > car > > now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they > say > I > > need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure > the > > problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, > no > > slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. > > Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building > the > > entire transmission. > > Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? > > I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the > > problem. > > I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. > > P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission > that > > has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with > somewat > > less vibration intensity.
– GW – note incorrect email address
Response:
Yes, I should have mentioned that I had done this once in the past, and the vibration definitely did go away!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Can you run with the TCC solenoid wires unhooked and see if the problem goes > away? > Just a thought, > GW > Sorry for the delay, I wasn’t able to access the news server for some > reason. > I am fairly sure that this is not an engine miss, but in fact is a torque > converter clutch problem of some sort. The reaction to brake/throttle is > definite: "When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > depress the accellerator the clutch DISENGAGES and the car runs smooth > again." > > Are you sure it’s not an engine misfire you’re feeling? If the engine is > > misfiring, often it’s a lot more noticeable with the TCC engaged, because > of > > the direct mechanical link between the engine and the transmission. > However, > > I don’t know if that would explain the amount of vibration you’re > > describing.. > > — > > Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada > > Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ > > > I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and > 700-4R > > > (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 > mph > > or > > > more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate > > > quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be > > caused > > > by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly > just > > > slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > > > depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth > > > again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other > > times > > > it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the > > car > > > had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the > car > > > now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they > say > > I > > > need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure > > the > > > problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, > no > > > slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. > > > Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building > > the > > > entire transmission. > > > Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? > > > I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the > > > problem. > > > I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. > > > P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission > > that > > > has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with > somewat > > > less vibration intensity. > — > GW – note incorrect email address
Response:
Yes
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Can you run with the TCC solenoid wires unhooked and see if the problem goes > away? > Just a thought, > GW > Sorry for the delay, I wasn’t able to access the news server for some > reason. > I am fairly sure that this is not an engine miss, but in fact is a torque > converter clutch problem of some sort. The reaction to brake/throttle is > definite: "When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > depress the accellerator the clutch DISENGAGES and the car runs smooth > again." > > Are you sure it’s not an engine misfire you’re feeling? If the engine is > > misfiring, often it’s a lot more noticeable with the TCC engaged, because > of > > the direct mechanical link between the engine and the transmission. > However, > > I don’t know if that would explain the amount of vibration you’re > > describing.. > > — > > Robert Hancock Saskatoon, SK, Canada > > Home Page: http://www.roberthancock.com/ > > > I have a 1983 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Wagon with a 5.0 l V-8 and > 700-4R > > > (Automatic Overdrive) Automatic Transmission. Whenever I drive 60-65 > mph > > or > > > more on the highway, after about 30 miles the the car starts to vibrate > > > quite violently when I run uphill grades. The problem appears to be > > caused > > > by the Torqe Converter Clutch rapidly engaging in and out or possibly > just > > > slipping. When this happens, if I depress the brake pedal slightly, or > > > depress the accellerator the clutch disengages and the car runs smooth > > > again. Sometimes the vibration occurrs only on steep hills, and other > > times > > > it happens whenever I accellerate lightly. This problem began when the > > car > > > had about 75,000 miles, and has only gotten slightly worse though the > car > > > now has about 145,000 miles! Whenever I ask a transmission shop, they > say > > I > > > need a complete transmission rebuild at an estimated $1100-$1500 to cure > > the > > > problem. All this time, the transmission has otherwise ran just fine, > no > > > slipping or delayed shifting, or leaks. > > > Common sense says that the problem should be fixable without re-building > > the > > > entire transmission. > > > Does anyone know what the true cause of this vibration problem is? > > > I can’t help wonder if replacing just the torque converter could fix the > > > problem. > > > I would appreciate any opinions on the matter. > > > P.S. I have a 1988 GMC Safari Van 4.3 l V-6 with the same transmission > > that > > > has now (at 170,000 miles) developed a very similar problem, with > somewat > > > less vibration intensity. > — > GW – note incorrect email address
