torque converter slipping

[waytoomanytoys]

i was wondering if anyone can tell me how to check and see if the torque converter is slipping.
on my 1991 when you are rolling around 15 mph and you punch the throttle it feels like it is almost ratcheting but i dont see the tire spin so i think it is in the driveline somewhere.
thanks

[Mark Kovalsky]

At 15 MPH the torque converter is supposed to slip. At this speed ATF is transmitting the torque, the lockup clutch is off. You might be feeling a bad u-joint.

[waytoomanytoys]

ok i went and checked my u-joints they are good but i noticed that the shaft going in the back of the tranny that attaches to the driveshaft has side to side play of between 1/16 in to 1/8inch do you know if that is normal ther is also some tranny fluid leaking around the rear tranny seal.

[Snotzalot]

You need to have the tail shaft housing removed and the bushing replaced and a new seal.

[waytoomanytoys]

how do you get the bushing out of the housing after it is removed i dont want to hurt the housing

[Snotzalot]

Bushing driver and a hammer, or a press.

[waytoomanytoys]

ok thanks.
i replaced the bushing and the slip yoke has very minimal up and down play.
but still when you go aroung 15 mph and floor it it has what feels almost like a wheel hop.i dont remember it doing that when i drove it all the time. it could be wheel hop but i dont think the wheels actually try to spin is there anything that could cause that or is it normal.
and also what is a lockup clutch and what does it do and how do you tell when it locks up.

thanks

[Mark Kovalsky]

The lockup clutch is inside the torque converter. It's job is to lock the input and output of the torque converter together and eliminate slip across the torque converter. It isn't activated until the truck is going faster than about 35 MPH.

There's a lot more about torque converters and lockup clutches at HowStuffWorks - Learn How Everything Works!.

[aldo_45030]

Possible read end clutch packs?? i am on my 4th set now.

[waytoomanytoys]

so do open rear ends have clutchs in them.or are they only for limited slip if they do have them how difficult are they to change.

[Mr_Roboto]

You probably have internal transmission issues. I.e clutch slippage.

If a torque converter comes apart inside, it will malfunction at all speeds.

[waytoomanytoys]

ya thanks that is what i was afraid of.

[waytoomanytoys]

is there any kind of test i can do to see if it is the tranny or torque converter or do i need to take it to a shop.
also if it is the tranny should i spend the money to get it rebuilt or should i swap in a manual. im not really sure which way would be better
thanks for the help so far

[Mark Kovalsky]

Originally Posted by waytoomanytoys

so do open rear ends have clutchs in them.or are they only for limited slip if they do have them how difficult are they to change.

Open diffs do not have clutches in them.

[waytoomanytoys]

i went and pulled the codes from the computer and got these codes so i dont think its to bad i just dont know what to do to fix these problems

code 67-park/neutral circuit faulr
transmission manual lever position (mlp) sensor circuit-transmission

code 93-throttle linkage binding or bad isc motor isc ho2s not reading fuel control
transmission tcc circuit/solenoid problem-transmission

code 94-air system inoperative-air injection
transmission tcc circuit/solenoid problem-transmission

for code 93 i checked for the throttle linkage binding it seems smooth no binds i can get a new sensor circuit from the parts store if that is what it needs im just not sure if thats is what i should do.

but in both code 93 and 94 it references the tcc circuit which i found from an online help site it says it can cause problems with the lockup engaging. but my local parts store does not carry and tcc solenoid i was wondering if anyone knows how to fix this or if i should just bite the bullet and take it to a tranny shop to have them figure it out.
thanks for any help anyone has given me so far.