Replaced torque converter, now truck won't stay running
Have a 97 4.6 w/4R70W. Had the dreaded torque converter shudder and just finished replacing it. I did it by removing the exhaust and the starter, unbolting the trans, and pulling the trans out from under the truck (leaving the engine in). I also pulled the valve body and removed the top plate, enlarged one hole per some instructions I had for the converter problem, and replaced the gaskets and put it all back together.
The truck started fine in park and ran OK while I poured in the last few quarts of fluid. I finished up and put it in reverse, and it ran rough while I backed it out of the garage. I then put it in Drive, and it died as soon as I gave it any gas. I managed to get it running long enough to pull it out of the middle of the driveway in Drive. Now it won't run worth a crap in any gear except N or P. There's no CEL, and I scanned it and found no codes. Also checked the charging system, and it's working.
What have I done wrong or what do I need to check?
When you removed the transmission did you unbolt the torque convertor from the flywheel first or leave it bolted to the flywheel? Did you get the torque convertor installed all the way in to the pump before installing the trans? Did the torque convertor move freely after the trans was bolted to the engine? Also make sure the trans wire harness is not pinched between the engine and bellhousing.
I got the converter all the way in and spun it over many times to make sure. I'm not sure what you mean when you ask if the converter spun when the trans was bolted up? It lined up with the bolt holes in the flywheel, and I was able to turn the motor over just fine by hand to tighten the converter bolts. The starter seems to spin the motor very easily as well. I know the harness isn't pinched, because the first time I put the trans up I accidentally got the L shaped bracket that holds the harness trapped partly inside the bellhousing, so I had to get that out before I finished bolting it up.
Does it run perfectly normal in Park and Neutral? If your scan tool can monitor sensor inputs I would check out the TR sensor (transmission range sensor) and make sure it is reporting the correct gear range to the PCM.
My scanner just reads codes unfortunately. After putting the trans back in place, I did take the pan back off and checked the shifter versus the rooster comb's indentions and the spring with the roller before I put the fluid in. I had access to all the gears and the rooster comb is contacting the plunger in the right groove.
Was just reading some posts that described similar problems, and tried unhooking the VSS (not sure if that's what it's called on these trucks, the speed sensor at the output shaft of the tranny). It no longer dies when I put it in gear, I didn't drive it too far, but took it to the end of the street and back (never out of 1st) and it seemed to run slightly rough but never died. Also, curiously there was still no CEL. Does it seem like this sensor could be my problem?
If the engine jerks and dies when put in gear, your torque convertor clutch may be engaging, causing the concern. You could have a bad torque convertor or a valve body problem. Double check your instructions and make sure you performed the valve body modification properly. Valve bodies have to be kept very clean and need to be torqued down properly (90-100 inch-lbs).
I got the converter and the mod instructions from dirtyd0g. I would be surprised if the converter was bad, but I wouldn't put it past myself to mess up the valve body mod. It's very possible I got some dirt in there when I had it apart. I torqued everything to 90 inch lbs. By the way, is that the right torque for the bolts on the three circular plates on the top of the valve body?
The engine does not jerk when put in gear though. Feels like it normally does when you put it in gear, but then just dies. If I rev it, it will stay alive but immediately wants to die way back down and then rev back up over and over. This was with the parking brake engaged in reverse and in drive.
Just some more notes on this. I guess that sensor I unplugged is the OSS, and I tried driving it around a little more with that sensor unplugged. It still wants to die a lot. It was initially a little better, but now I doubt that sensor is the problem.
I really don't know what you have going on here. The fact that you can keep it running by using the gas pretty much eliminates the converter. If the converter were bound up tight it would make terrible noise if you got it to stay running. As far as the transmission stuff goes I guess anything is possible, but I have never had such problems usually problem like this are engine related like maybe when you put the filler pipe in you knocked something off or something to that effect, I have done that before and got those results.
Alan
Double check that you didn't pinch any wires between the bellhousing and block or anything like that when re-installing the trans, I've had that happen but caught it before buttoning everything up....
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