this is something I'm definitely no expert in... as I never even knew my torque converter WASN'T locking up for all these years... so I'll ask some of the most brilliant minds I know.

When I'm on the highway, going about 70mph or so... and the torque converter is locked up... say I want to pass someone. So far I've discovered a few things I can do, depending on how fast I need to pass.

1. Give the pedal about 5% gas... the RPMs rise, very slowly... and I increase speed at about 0.5mph per second. I can feel the torque converter is totally locked at this time.

2. Jam the pedal down, about 50%... this brings my RPMs up to about 3,000 or so and I pass very quickly.

3. Push the pedal down just enough to make the tach jump... it seems that if I push the pedal down just right, I have a 300-400rpm range from the preferred 'locked' rpm that my tranny wants to run at. -- once I break that 400 rpm barrier, it jumps up to the unlocked RPMs.

--- so... for example. I'm going 70mph on the highway, and I want to pass. I push it down about 10% or so, and my RPMS jump up to about 2,100... I slowly start passing, and my engine sounds like it's working very hard. -- if I want to pass more... I push the pedal down to about 30-40%, then all the sudden it's like I break through some barrier, and my RPMs fly up to 3,000 or so... or maybe 2,600... I can't remember exact numbers.

This whole thing comes down to one simple question.
Does the torque converter have more than just 'locked,' and 'unlocked'?

It feels like I have 1) completely locked, 2) small power band of about 300 rpm above the preferred locked rpm, and 3) totally unlocked with raw engine power output.

Anyone help me out here?

If I'm not supposed to have this 'extra' power range... does this mean something is wrong with my TCC?

Is it possible that I'm just giving my motor enough gas to raise the rpms without unlocking it? I can definitely hear the motor working hard... I just cannot figure out why it jumps up real quick... like its unlocking... but not ALL the way... its like it's got a few positions it can lock into...

Thanks in advance,
Steven

 

Sounds to me like -

Little bit of throttle = still locked up, accelerating slowly in 4th gear (OD)

little more throttle = unlocked, accelerating quicker in 4th gear (OD)

more throttle = unlocked, slips to 3rd gear (rpms come up) and away you move

Floor it = goes from 4th to 2nd gear


ALSO!!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THOSE BLAU OVERDRIVE SPEAKERS?? Been thinking of getting a set for my own Camaro, with a small amp!

 

the speakers rock... especially with an amp... 50 watts or so will do them justice....

and when my RPMs jump... I know for sure its still in 4th gear...

if I'm going 65mph and I increase throttle by:
5% - rpms slowly rise... obviously locked, and engine makes a great low rumbling sound when I try to increase speed at this throttle...
20% - 4th gear, 2100rpm (feels locked still-but it jumped here from about 1800rpm)
50% - 4th gear, 3000rpm
70-95% - 3rd gear, 3500rpm
100% - 2nd gear ~4100rpm... but only stays for a second or so, no real point in doing this.

say I am driving along at 70, if I push the pedal, the car resists a tad, then the RPM jumps about 200-300 rpms... then if I push it some more it resists a bit, then it jumps all the way to 2500+ rpm... and if I push the shifter into third, it shifts down... so I know for certain I'm sill in 4th....

 

Might be jumping to 3rd, locked, then unlocking again.

 

nope... its staying in 4th

so for sure, there is only locked and unlocked... not intermediate setting? it is called a torque converter clutch... I wasn't sure if 'locking' was like a metal-on-metal interconnected 1-to-1 ratio... or if was able to still slip a little bit without completely 'unlocking'.