Jturs

ok i just noticed a little bit ago while i was driving the tranny was acting up. while driving around 55 to 65 mph in over drive just crusing the tranny will start to down shift then will stop in mid shift and keep doin it over and over again but it wont fully down shift like a half shift. tranny is stock and never had any work done to it that i know of. could this be solved by a upgraded torque converter and valve body?

mainer

sure its just not the torque converter unlocking and locking

Jturs

so would a new torque converter fix this? or could there be other related problems?

AlpineRAM

The torque converter (TC) has a lockup clutch that is operated hydraulically. Failure of the TC usually is lots of debris, loud noises and lack of torque multiplication. TC lockup clutch failure usually shows with a slipping clutch.
What you seem to have is the dreaded TC unlocking problem that comes from some electrical noise in your system. The noise will speak over to the APPS signal to the PCM and the PCM will signal the TC to unlock and lock again etc. There are some things you can try that don't cost $$$ first.
A new TC will not help you in any way against this problem because the TC and the lockup clutch do what they are told.
Clean your battery posts and cables.
Clean ground connectors to the engine and the chassis.
Install a ground cable ftom the PCM to the pass. side negative battery post.

If this doesn't help you can either buy a noise filter (EG DTT http://dieseltrans.com/dodge/price_list.htm 47 US$) or play around with capacitors yourself. (Material price approx. 2 US$ at radioshack but maybe a whole lot of time to invest.

HTH

AlpineRAM

Need95-00CTD

Or you can install alockup switch yourself...I know the link is around here somewhere...search for it. Basically it involves running a wire from pin 54 or 56, don't remember which, in your PCM to a switch and then to a ground on the body or battery. When that wire is grounded, it locks the TC... Thats all you really need, its nice to have too, you can lockup in 3rd if you want, or even second if you had to, and it costs nearly nothing. Just a switch and 6ft. of wire...

Jturs

ok cool i will try some of those easy fixes and probally the lock up switch. i am pretty tranny dumb so what does the lockup do and when would i use it if i installed the switch. sry for the newb questions. thanks josh

BigBlue

The lock up switch will lock the converter in 2nd gear and then keep it locked as it shifts through the gears. I definately don't recommend it on a stock tranny as it can trash it very quickly but for a diagnosis tool it works great.

AlpineRAM

Lockup switch instructions from TST:
http://www.tstproducts.com/Torque%20...p%20Switch.pdf

The lockuop switch tis a good diagnostic tool, but you can break your tranny with it.
Usage is very simple- operate vehicle at the speed when you've got the problem, engage lockup switch and if the problem goes away it's an electrical problem. Disengage the lockup switch before decelerating.

HTH

AlpineRAM

99globalwarmer

ya i agree with bigblue i wouldnt do it to a stock trans,it will thrash it.