Is a 4spd automatic tranny 3 gears, then the TQ converter locks for a fourth. OR is it 4 gears, and then the TQ converter locks for a fifth gear?

 

It is 4 gears. 3rd is direct, 4th is overdrive (drive shaft turns faster than input).

The converter lockup isn't a gear. It's just a clutch that directly connects the engine to the trans, somewhat like a manual trans clutch.

 

A4 is 4 gears with or without TC lock up

 

so your saying that the whole bet is wrong.....

OK...well then, what does the TQ lockup do?

 

Tq lockup just stops the torque converter from slipping while cruising. its not an extra gearat all. if its four speed then it has four gears. think about it

 

don't think the bet's wrong, but i'll bet you lost it.

 

Thanks
It was a bet between my uncle and my cousin...

 

for me it was hard to notice direct gear. at first i thought it was only 3 gears + OD cuz i could feel 1-2 and 2-3 easily but never 3-4. after i put in the higher stall i noticed right away i had a 4th gear cuz there is a noticeable RPM drop. then again the RPMs drop when shifting into OD.

 

K...this is in my cousins Lumina, but he says he put it in D and on the highway, it still went OD. Any explanations other than he's blowing smoke up my @ss

 

It didn't. What he thinks is OD, is the torque converter clutch locking up.

The usual order of trans events as the car accelerates is 1st-2nd, then 2nd-3rd, then the clutch sometime during 3rd, then some time later, 3rd-4th (4th being OD).

 

so what happens if you have a 700r4 and disconnect the computer so the tranny cant lockup?

 

You end up with a non-lockup 4 speed.

 

so what do i gain/lose with that? i know nothing about trannys lol

 

You'll lose some mileage and the trans will run hotter.

 

excellent. im gonna try to kill that tranny so i can get one from 700r4.com i know painless makes a kit so you can maintain the lockup and ditch the computer