I understand the basics of what a tq converter does but dont know the first thing about the internals. The three questions i have if it started going out but wasnt dead yet what would the symptoms be? Is it concievable that it could cause a vibration at higher rpms? And is it possible that it could make an audible noise?

 

Vibration is one. Also excessive slippage, lack of torque converter lockup when commanded.

 

i have a definite high rpm vibe going on. I had one mechanic who sugested that it might be the converter he wasnt sure. At first it was just a vibe...now when i back up or accelerate slowly from a stop i will occasionally hear this thwap thwap thwap sort of noise like a piece of metal thrashing around. I recently had the car in at another mechanic (getting motor mounts changed did one didnt have the patience to do the other ) and when i went to pick up the car they had just finished and i hopped in and went to back it out of the shop and it made the noise. I asked the head mechanic guy who was standing right there and coincidentally he goes umm might be your torque converter. The thrashing noise never happens when im at throttle and is definitly coming from the front half of the car. Any sugestions. If it does sound like its the converter i plan on saving up during the winter for a t-56 so id probably just leave it for now because i dont think its damaging anything and then do my swap in the winter. If not though id like to figure out the problem to make sure im not doing any damage.

EDIT: i also noticed once or twice that it felt like when i touched the pedal something was wrong the car didnt have the usual jump to it however when at throttle or normal driving i dont notice anything (yet)

 

When my TC went out my car wouldn't shift until like 5000 rpm. It would shift at line pressure. And there was also a little bit of play between 1000 and 3000rpm, before it would start accelerating. You can drop the pan and see if there is any medal on the magnet.