Torque converter diagram

Building on our example of the two fans, the mechanism substitutes air with a compression resisting oil based medium, called the transmission fluid. Cars with an automatic transmission make use of a torque converter; this article will explore why they need to and how it works. Where a manual transmission vehicle makes use of a clutch, an automatic transmission vehicle substitutes that with a torque converter for the same purpose.

In order for the vehicle to operate it is important that the engine is linked to the rear wheels through such a mechanism that it can be connected so that the vehicle moves or disconnected so that it will stay motionless while the engine runs to provide other functions.

Manual vehicles make use of the clutch to link and delink the transmission from the engine, and automatic vehicles use a fluid mechanism like the torque converter sitting in between the transmission and the engine. A torque converter comprises of three key components inside its shell, the Pump, the Turbine, and the Stator that coordinate power transmission from the engine to the transmission.

The centrifugal pump inside the torque converter spins the fluid to the outside, very similar to what a spinning cycle of a washing machine would do. Any time a transmission overheats, some internal damage occurs. A transmission that slips while in lockup because the system is overloaded will generate tremendous heat.

These situations normally end with complete transmission failure. A faulty torque converter clutch solenoid will normally set diagnostic trouble code P DTCs provided above are generic codes that apply to and newer vehicles. These codes may not apply to all vehicles. Vehicle manufacturers may use manufacturer specific DTC codes that are different from the codes shown here. The symptoms are different a torque converter clutch solenoid that fails in the open position… The symptoms of a torque converter clutch solenoid that fails while in the open position are quite different from a solenoid that fails in the closed position, as described above.

When the solenoid is open, the engine is locked to the transmission so there is no transmission slip. With the transmission unable to slip, the engine will stall when the vehicle comes to a stop. The same Diagnostic Trouble Codes listed above apply. The cost to replace a failed transmission torque converter clutch solenoid is determined, in part, by the vehicle year, make and model.

Other factors, such as where the work is done whether at a local auto repair shop, car dealership or you do-it-yourself also factors heavily into the cost of repair. If you choose to replace the solenoid yourself, the parts supplier you purchase the solenoid from will factor into your total repair. Below are costs for replacing the transmission torque converter clutch solenoid in four different vehicles. You can use these costs as a guide in estimating your cost.

DIY costs assume transmission fluid is reused. Replacing the fluid with new ATF increases the cost. You will need between 3 and 5 quarts. When the transmission is in fail safe mode, the vehicle should only be drive home or to the repair shop. Maximum speed while in limp mode is around 30 mph. Continuing to drive the vehicle with the transmission in fail safe or driving faster than the recommended fail safe speed will cause the transmission to overheat.

Excessive heat build up in an automatic transmission is the 1 cause of catastrophic failure. So, avoid extended driving when the transmission is in fail safe mode. A transmission that goes into limp mode will sometimes reset itself when the engine is shut off and restarted. And the stator is placed in between the impeller and turbine. Turbine is connected to the input shaft of the automatic transmission. It is present at the engine side. It also consists of curved and angled blades. The blades of the turbine are designed in such a way that it can change the direction of the fluid completely that strikes on its blades.

It is the change in the direction of the fluid that forces the blades to move in the direction of the impeller. As the turbine rotates the input shaft of the transmission also rotates and made the vehicle to move. The turbine is also has a lock up clutch at its back.

The lock up clutch comes into play when the torque converter achieves coupling point. Stall: During stall stop condition of the vehicle, the engine is applying power to the impeller but the turbine cannot rotate. This happens, when the vehicle is stationary and driver has kept his foot on the brake paddle to prevent it from moving. During this condition maximum multiplication of torque takes place.

As the driver removes its foot from the brake paddle and presses the accelerator paddle, the impeller starts moving faster and this set the turbine to move. At this situation, there is a larger difference between the pump and turbine speed. The impeller speed is much greater than the turbine speed.

Acceleration: During acceleration, the turbine speed keeps on increasing, but still there is large difference between the impeller and turbine speed. As the speed of the turbine increases the torque multiplication reduces.

During acceleration of the vehicle the torque multiplication is less than that is achieved during stall condition. The first fan keeps rotating. On the same principle the torque converter works. In that the impeller or pump acts as the first fan which is connected to the engine and turbine act as the second fan which is connected to the transmission system.

When the engine runs, it rotates the impeller and due to the centrifugal force the oil inside the torque converter assembly directed towards the turbine. As it hits the turbine blades, the turbine starts rotating. This makes the transmission system rotate and the wheels of the vehicle moves. When the engine stops, the turbine also stops rotating but the impeller connected the engine keeps moving and this prevents the killing of the engine.

The torque converter has three main parts. Impeller or Pump. The impeller is connected to the housing and the housing connected to the engine shaft. It has curved and angled vanes. It rotates with the engine speed and consists of automatic transmission fluid. When it rotates with the engine, the centrifugal force makes the fluid move outward. The blades of the impeller are designed in such a way that it directs the fluid towards the turbine blades.

It acts as a centrifugal pump which sucks the fluid from the automatic transmission and delivers it to the turbine. The stator is located in between the impeller and turbine. The main function of the stator is to give direction to the returning fluid from the turbine, so that the fluid enters to the impeller in the direction of its rotation. As the fluid enters in the direction of the impeller, it multiplies the torque. So the stator helps in the torque multiplication by changing the direction of the fluid and allows it to enter in the direction of the impeller rotation.

The stator changes the direction of fluid almost up to 90 degrees. The stator is mounted with a one-way clutch that allows rotating it in one direction and preventing its rotation in other directions. The turbine is connected to the transmission system of the vehicle.

And the stator is placed in between the impeller and turbine. The turbine is connected to the input shaft of the automatic transmission.