Hey crew,

I have a 97 3.0 with 155kms; drives and shifts like a typical Honda. I was driving home last night with a 5min warm up and 5 min slow drive to warm bearings, bushings etc. While merging on the highway quite leisurely, my torque converter did not lock out for about 4-5 secs when I was at cruising speed (110km/h) therefore the engine was doing 3000rpm.

I was also not going up any gradients, so that eliminates that stupid gradient sensing, dont lock torque converter dealy.

When I got home I checked the tranny oil level and noticed it was about 1/8" above the add line WTF! So I ponder for most of the night and believed that it was insufficient oil pressure to engage the fluid coupler in the TC...etc etc.

Today I took her out for 20 min warm up and parked on a flat spot and the oil level reads fine. Car never shifts funny.

So...2 questions: First, how sensitive is the tranny dip stick to varying degrees (like of a driveway). We have a shallow drive maybe 4deg SD 2.

Second, why would the torque converter not lock out, but then change its mind? Is that an oil pressure issue or computer issue? or just a one time fluke...

I take meticulous care of the damned thing, transmission and all. Any insight to the TC not locking out would be great.

NB: I am fully aware of the faulty trannys and TC issues, so dont bother with the flame

Thanks! - S

 

By lock out, do you mean it slipped? (did not engage in gear)

 

it was not slipping because the revs matched vehicle speed, similar to leaving the car in D2 and trying to drive 80km/h. The torque converter will make a hard connection with the fly wheel.

 

^ thats y i jus drive it on D4 all the time, dont mess with shit at all...i use to go from D4 to D3 jus to get extra torque...damn my tranny didnt like it at all...

 

^^^ I dont drive like that. I was using it as an example for how engine speed was matching vehicle speed aka no slippage.

 

The convertor only locks up when it is in final overdrive. Then it locks up. If it it changing it's ming while switching or downshifting it is the syliniods. I beleive there are three. If it is flairing up in between gears your clutches are going bad. It must be warmed up also for it to lockup. If it is cold it will just take longer. Hope that helped

 

^ o shit tht happens too me, never kne wha it was...thanks Keith!

 

yeah maybe it was just cold although I warmed it up for a while...damn cold canadian winters

 

If your in canada that is probably what it is. I;m in Michigan and I have an F-250 super duty. It takes awhile if it is below 20. Then when it does it shakes when it engages.

 

^^ cool, thanks ethenol....that was prob the case. There has not been a repeat yet