
In short, the torque converter is filled with transmission fluid and has a “fan” or turbine-like unit inside. The torque converter is the unit that gently transmits power from the engine to the transmission gears. If you hear any noises, lift the car and check if other things could be causing the noises before replacing the torque converter. Listen in the middle of the car under the gear stick to see if you can hear knocking or other strange sounds. Noises from the transmissionĬheck whether you can feel or hear strange noises from the torque converter both when idling and accelerating. In some cases, you may have temperature sensors that cause the transmission control unit light on your dashboard to flash, which indicates that your torque converter is slipping and overheating the transmission. If the torque converter slips while driving, this can lead to unnecessary heating of the transmission fluid, which at some point can even become so hot that it boils.Ī slipping torque converter will wear out the transmission very quickly. However, a car that does not move in gear can be caused by many different things, and it should be properly diagnosed before replacing anything. If your car does not move at all in drive or reverse gear, a completely failed torque converter could be the cause. If this is the case, a faulty torque converter is probably the cause. If you feel that you are experiencing rough acceleration, check your RPM meter to see if it jumps a little when accelerating. Different pressure peaks can cause this in the torque converter, as well as the fact that the torque converter slips, as already mentioned. Rough acceleration is also a known symptom when it comes to defective torque converters. If the torque converter is faulty, it might create unexpected pressures inside the torque converter, which can cause rough idling. If you feel that your idle is a bit jumpy and sometimes too low and sometimes too high, it could be a torque converter problem. Rough idling is another common symptom of a bad torque converter. The torque converter needs to build up pressure inside of it to move your car forward, and if it doesn’t, it may slip when accelerating. Often you need to have a good feel for your car to detect a slipping transmission. You can feel this when the engine revs up when in gear, but the car does not accelerate. Transmission SlippingĪ common symptom of a defective torque converter is that the transmission slips when accelerating. Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing torque converter to look for: 1. While these are not all possible signs, they are the most common ones.

Sometimes, your car won’t even move when the converter is bad. You may also notice issues like a rough idle, rough acceleration, and noises from the transmission. The most common symptom of a bad torque converter is a slipping transmission during acceleration. Torque Converter Replacement Cost Symptoms Of A Bad Torque Converter
