The engine’s rotational power needs a torque converter in order for this torque to be transmitted to the vehicle’s transmission system. The torque converter is located in between the engine and the transmission.
There is a flex plate in this area where the torque converter is installed onto. Once the crankshaft moves, the flex plate spins and allows the conversion of the torque energy from the engine to the transmission to take place.
When there is a problem with the torque converter, people often misunderstand the symptoms and think something is wrong with their transmission itself. This would be a very expensive assumption to make because if you have a mechanic replace your transmission, you are going to be spending thousands of dollars on another one.
It would have been much cheaper to just have the torque converter replaced instead so knowing the signs of a faulty torque converter can save you a lot of money.
Top 5 Bad Torque Converter Symptoms
Here are five of the most common symptoms that may indicated a bad torque converter.
1) Strange Sounds
A bad torque converter will cause whining or rattling noises will be heard. These noises will be louder when you are driving versus when you are parked.
But once you go from park to drive, the noises will get louder and more frequent. In any event, you should take these noises seriously.
2) Speed Changes
You may be driving along and notice sudden decreases or increases in your vehicle’s acceleration. This happens when you have a faulty torque converter which is causing its output pressure to be inconsistent.
If you have to drive under tough weather conditions, it will get very dangerous to have this problem occurring.
3) Shakiness
When you accelerate your vehicle to about 40 miles-per-hour and it feels shaky, this could mean that your torque converter has issues. It might have the same feeling as if you’re driving on a bumpy road.
There will be no advanced warning of when this will happen either. But when it happens the first time, get your vehicle to a mechanic right away. While the problem may also indicate a problem with your suspension or tires, you need to get it checked out nonetheless.
4) Transmission Slipping
A bad torque converter won’t be good at managing the amount of transmission fluid that it sends into the transmission. Sometimes it will send too much fluid and other times it won’t send enough.
As a result, there will be slippery gears inside of the transmission which then causes the acceleration to decrease. This means that more fuel will be consumed which will lower the vehicle’s fuel economy.
However, make sure that you have an adequate amount of transmission fluid in the system because sometimes having a low amount will cause this symptom to happen too.
Related: 5 Steps to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid
5) Shifting Problems
If the torque converter is bad then its output pressure will be lower. This means that your shifts will feel very soft or they will be greatly delayed. As time goes on, the shifts will feel very hard and rough.
The only way to reverse this is to make the output pressure of the torque converter better. This requires the engine’s RPM to be higher. But, you will need to a new torque converter in order to make that happen.
What Causes a Torque Converter to Fail?
A torque converter can fail for a number of reasons, but the most common cause is a fluid leak most likely due to faulty seals. When the fluid level gets low, it can cause the converter to overheat from friction and eventually break down.
Another common cause of failure is a build-up of dirt and debris in the fluid, which can cause clogs and impede the flow of hydraulic power.
Finally, a bad clutch solenoid can cause the failure of a torque converter.
Can a Bad Torque Converter Damage Your Transmission?
The short answer is yes, a bad torque converter can in fact damage a transmission. If the torque converter isn’t working properly, it can cause the transmission to overheat and eventually fail.
In addition, a torque converter that isn’t functioning correctly can put extra stress on the transmission’s gears, which can also lead to failure.
Torque Converter Replacement Cost
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The replacement cost of a bad torque converter won’t exactly be cheap, but it will still be cheaper than replacing an entire transmission. For those who are mechanically inclined, you can perform the torque converter replacement job yourself at a cost of about $200 to $600 in parts, and probably a day or two of your time.
This is not a job for beginners, as it either requires removing the engine or dropping the transmission. Which method you choose will likely depend on your vehicle and your experience level.
If you are going to have a transmission shop or auto repair shop replace the torque converter, then it will cost between $600 and $1,000 just for the labor. The reason the labor costs are so much is that the mechanic will need to remove the transmission in order to access the torque converter.
Add in the cost of parts and you’re looking at a minimum of $800 to $1,600 for the total cost of torque converter replacement. In addition, expect to pay even more for vehicles such as sports cars and luxury vehicles or if you have a dealership perform the job.
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I replaced the engine for Honda Odssey 2006 and paid $900 fir it and now the mechanic is saying that the transmission is leaking oil and I went to test drive and after 20 minutes of driving the vehicle stopped and not moving at all and smelled something was burning and the engine starts up but not move at all. The mechanic is ripping me and asking me that the transmission failed and needs a replacement and I don’t want to spend too much money on it as I had already spend $600 for the engine and $900 for installation and now mechanic wants another $400 for labor and $300 for used transmission. I am pissed up by mechanics as I had spend another $1600 for my another Honda Odssey 2005 and the engine blow up due to overheating within 2 weeks of engine replacement. Now both of my Odssey 2005 and 2006 are sitting and not drivable. I need a good honest openion to fix it up with the least amount of money. Your advise will be valuable…
Was the transmission fluid low from the leak? Why does the mechanic suspect the transmission has failed?