I read the Tech article on how to install a TC Lockup switch and became interested. I tried to do it and it didnt really work. can anyone help?? i bought a switch with 3 prongs on it. (-neg)(acc)(+pos) which ones do i connect to the terminals. or did i get the wrong switch?? i also tried just connecting a wire from terminal a to f.
and it didnt work. hmmm help please. i want to do this.

 

First, you must determine why the TCC won't lock terminal A to terminal F in the ALDL connector are connected together.

Measure the voltage (or use a test lite) at terminal F with the ign on & the car not moving. There should be 12 volts at terminal F, with respect to chassis ground. If this is not the case, try splicing into the tan / black striped wire that goes to terminal F on the ALDL connector. This voltage goes to zero when the computer locks the converter.

Grounding terminal F will lock the TCC.

Also, verify that there is continuity from terminal A (black / white stripe wire) in the ALDL connector to ground.

As for the switch you bought, it will work. Looking at the markings on the switch, it appears to be an illuminated switch. Hook the "neg" terminal to ignition power, hook the "pos" terminal to chassis ground (terminal A black / white striped wire), and hook the "accy" terminal to the torque converter lock wire (terminal F tan / blk striped wire). The light in the switch will turn on when you manually lock the converter, or when the computer locks the converter.

Tim

 

thanks tim.
where should i connect the neg terminal to the ignition power. what wire will do that?
thanks again.

 

thanks tim.
where should i connect the neg terminal to the ignition power. what wire will do that?
thanks again.

 

See your new post.......

Tim

 

Excellent idea! Think i'll do that too.

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-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

 

It should be noted that lock up converters (with only one exception I'm aware of) are not designed to be manually locked up at WOT. I asked Joe Rivera, owner of Pro Torque whether I should be doing this. His reply was, "Burn a bulb twice as bright, it lasts half as long." So the question becomes whether it's worth premature torque converter failure for that possible 0.1 second.

The only exception is the multi-disc (three or five disc) Vigilante torque converter from Precision Industries. To the best of my knowledge, this is the ONLY converter that is designed to be locked up manually at WOT. I was told by Terry, owner of Precision, that track experience shows benefits of manual lockup on supercharged, turbocharged or nitrous injected cars only, with no benefit to naturally aspirated cars.

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Willie

Supercharged 1987 305 IROC-Z, Daily-Driver, Emissions-Legal.
12.57 @ 111 mph.
12.04 @ 114 mph (50-hp nitrous).
http://www.ozemail.com/au/jca69/mods/williesz/willie.html

1987 "20th Anniversary Commemorative Edition" Z28 Convertible -- Super Chevy Show Class Winner, 1998.

 

Well, i've only done it a few times. Its not so much actually locking it, but the ability to manually lock it if you want to the appeals to me.

------------------
-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6 Now Bilstein equipped!
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 9/18/00)

There can be only one!!

 

Thats an interesting theory *****, and true, locking the converter at WOT is harsh, but think of this. Plenty of guys do it all the time with converters other than the bullet-proof models you mentioned. I did it for years and when my car was stolen my tranny was still the same as the day i got the car. True i didn't live at the track, but i have quite a pile of timeslips from going a few times a year.
And my car was naturally aspirated and i did see a solid tenth and a little better than a mph. A friends with a monte SS also saw the same gains.
And even funnier. I'm not gonna vouch for EFI cars, but a CCCS car will automatically lock the TC even at WOT past 45-50 mph anyway. How do i know. I had a shot TPS for a really long time. As well all know, if you float the TPS signal wire it will default to WOT voltage due to a voltage divider in the ECM on that ckt. So essentially my 'puter thought i was at WOT all the time. Gas mileage was mediocre (still could get 20mpg highway cruise) but more importantly, my TCC would still lock-up at highway speeds. Once i fixed my TPS my TCC locked up much sooner (the standard 25-30mph.)
So your contention that the TCC was never meant to be locked at WOT is false, cuz GM programmed it to do so.
...ed

 

Ed,

Thanks for sharing your info. My info is not my opinion, but what I was told by owners of two torque converter manufacturing companies.

I suppose the bottom line is to discern what you personally want to do given the information you have.

Willie