Torque Converter and the cold

[BearcatSHO]

Over the past year I began to notice that my torque converter takes a long time to lock out while in 4th gear on the highway when the weather is cool. In 30 degree weather it can take up to 15 to 20 highway miles before it finally decides to lock out. However, when it's 70+ degrees outside, the TC will lock out almost instantly once I reach cruising speeds. I talked to my local Ford dealer and the guy had no clue why it would be doing that and thought it might be normal behavior. Doesn't seem like normal behavior to me and it's killing my gas mileage in cold weather. So does anyone have a clue what might be causing this?
Thanks!

 

[BearcatSHO]

...that's a '94 by the way.

 

[rangerj]

Bearcat,

I can't tell you for sure what is causing your problem, but I can suggest a place to look.

Your torque converter lock up is activated by a solenoid that is usually attached to the valve body in the transmission.

Solenoids, especially Ford starter solenoids, can be sensitive to temperature. I have never seen or heard of one doing what yours is doing, if it is.

Next, an automatic transmission is a series of hydrolic valves that open and close and apply pressure to the "bands", the "clutch packs", and the torque converter.

The pistons in these valves have rubber "O" rings that provide the seal. These "O" rings wear and allow fluid to get around them causing early shifts, late shifts, slipping, etc.

As the trans warms up the "O" rings expand with the temperature and the trans settles down to operate normally. This is another possibility.

Check with a local trans specialist and ask about a trans additive/conditioner. Or better yet, ask the forum members if they can recommend a super auto-trans conditioner.

I think Lucas makes a trans additive, and they have a very good reputation. This may or may not solve your problem, but it cannot hurt either.

Lastly, do I understand this right, you are driving a SHO, and are worried about MPG. I am sure a nice little cute Escourt would get you 30 to 35 MPG or more. But then, it's not a SHO.

When I drive my SHO I worry about MPH and RPM, not MPG. But that's me. The above is intended to be benign "tongue in cheek". Hope this helps, or at least gives you some ideas, rangerj

 

[wuzzzer]

I believe that's normal operation of an ATX SHO. I don't know why yours is taking 15-20 miles to lock though.
I know with my 97 for the first few miles the converter lock-up won't be present. Sometimes if it's really, really cold my 3-4 mile drive to work won't get the temperature in the tranny high enough to make the converter lock.
I remember hearing somewhere that it will not lock up until it has reached at least 60-80 degrees.
And yes, gas mileage is affected since the engine is turning at a higher RPM than it would be if the torque converter was locked up.

 

[SolidState]

it is temperature related....

I sorta have the same problem, but I know why...it is due to my cooling setup..

basically, it doesn't lock the TC until the fluid has reached operating tempurature...

 

[PuckHead]

I have to agree with wuzzzer on this one. My '93 ATX also has this similar, if not same, "feature".

One thing I do to help heat up the tranny, is to put it in N while she's warming up.

The thought behind the theory is that the fluid is being pushed around the tranny without actually doing anything.

I used to do this with my '94 Jeep Wrangler (4.0L, 5 spd) in the winter also, after receiving the advice from the old "JEEP-L" listserv.

Hope this helps?! shrug

Later!

 

[SHOtimer]

I have a 95 ATX with the same problem. It always done it since I bought it, though it has been getting worse in this colder weather. What I do to solve it, after it idles for a while in the morning I drive it around the block once or twice depending on how cold it is, and then turn off the car and let it sit for a minute, and after that the TC will lock up. And this is not a 'feature' or a normal occurance, it is a problem of somesort and should not be considered normal, my car hasn't always done it the previous owners whom I know never had it happen to them and I rode in it quite often and I am sure of that. I am looking into having that servo replaced.
Doug

 

[SolidState]

Well...my transmission is 90% brand spankin' new with new electronics and all, and this is normal.

The problem may be in the cooling set up of the ATX. The tranny fluid has a sort of thermostat that isn't supposed to let the fluid stay too cool.

 

[BearcatSHO]

Puckhead- Thanks for the tip. Worked like a charm. thumbs_u

Will warming up my car in cold weather while in neutral will damage the TC?

 

[V6&V8SHO]

1993 ATX here. Mine has about 1,000 miles on it now and its the latest and most up to date version. Does the same exact thing takes a while to lock up. My dads 98 SHO doesnt take long to lock up. Oh well I dont have much problem with it.

 

[SHOtimer]

This is making me laugh, everybody swears this problem is normal. If it was normal two things would be true: All Gen II ATX SHOs would do it, regardless of miles or year, and they would have done it since they were new, if it was "normal" it would have come like that from the factory. Which I highly doubt happened. Their are many ATX SHOs out their that don't have this problem, which shows us that it isn't normal, and I don't know why you people are excepting it as normal.
shrug Doug

 

[SHOtimer]

This is making me laugh, everybody swears this problem is normal. If it was normal two things would be true: All Gen II ATX SHOs would do it, regardless of miles or year, and they would have done it since they were new, if it was "normal" it would have come like that from the factory. Which I highly doubt happened. Their are many ATX SHOs out their that don't have this problem, which shows us that it isn't normal, and I don't know why you people are excepting it as normal.
shrug Doug

 

[SolidState]

First, this is coming from an ATX owner in california, where it is a cool 45 degree this morning.

On the other hand, many of the others here who are claiming this is normal, I being one of them, live in climates considerably colder....such as, 21 degrees this morning here in Ontario...

Lastly, this is straight from my manual refering to the Transmission Oil Temperature Sensor:

TOT Sensor Function: The powertrain control module uses this signal to determine whether a cold start shift schedule is necessary. The cold start shift schedule allows quicker shifts when the transmission fluid is cold. The PCM also inhibits torque converter clutch operation at low transmission fluid temperatures. Corrects EPC pressures for temperature.

<small>[ November 28, 2002, 08:22 AM: Message edited by: SolidState ]</small>

 

[AutoSHO]

Hmm, everyone who lives ina cool climate accepts it as normal.... But, since you, who lives in sunny California says it isnt, I think we should all go get our transmissions rebuilt, new torque convertors installed, and replace the TCC solenoid. ALL, so that we can have EXACTLY the same thing happen. Its perfectly normal. Just as SolidState said, the TOT sensor will put it on a cold start shift schedule. All you have to do is drive the car a few miles, shut it off and resart it. This forces it to check the TOT reading again, and when it finds the trans fluid is warmer, it promptly locks up the TC.

 

[Markus]

SHOtimer:
This is making me laugh, everybody swears this problem is normal. If it was normal two things would be true: All Gen II ATX SHOs would do it, regardless of miles or year, and they would have done it since they were new, if it was "normal" it would have come like that from the factory. Which I highly doubt happened. Their are many ATX SHOs out their that don't have this problem, which shows us that it isn't normal, and I don't know why you people are excepting it as normal.
shrug Doug

This is normal. There is even a TSB regarding this issue. The TSB says this is normal. It does seem like a bug in the PCM software and I highly doubt Ford is going to fix it. This problem does not occur on the Gen III SHOs.

The ONLY solution: Drive a bit to let the engine and ATX warm up and them turn off the engine and start it again.

 

[Petersho1]

I may have the same problem, please check <problem unknown>

 

[SHOtimer]

I'm not tryin to be sarcastic, or obnoxious, and yes cold for me is 40 degree mornings, which is nothing for you. But, my point is if it was normal I would have occured from day 1 of the car first coming off from the factory, which I doubt happened, I'm just tryin show that. It is something that bugs me, everymorning, drive it around then turn it off..it is annoying. I was afraid that I was hurting my TC while driving it with it not locked up, but since all you people are doing it I guess it can't hurt that bad, it also really kills my gas mileage. So, I guess that I will have to learn to live with it.
Doug

 

[Petersho1]

What if conventer lock up after 10-20 miles and after next 10 miles the problem coming beck?

 

[Tommy's SHO]

BearcatSHO:
Over the past year I began to notice that my torque converter takes a long time to lock out while in 4th gear on the highway when the weather is cool. In 30 degree weather it can take up to 15 to 20 highway miles before it finally decides to lock out. However, when it's 70+ degrees outside, the TC will lock out almost instantly once I reach cruising speeds. I talked to my local Ford dealer and the guy had no clue why it would be doing that and thought it might be normal behavior. Doesn't seem like normal behavior to me and it's killing my gas mileage in cold weather. So does anyone have a clue what might be causing this?
Thanks!

You don't have a problem, everything you stated above is normal. Try doing this, after driving 10 miles on the highway exit off to a safe place, shut the car, wait 30 seconds and restart it and drive back onto the highway. When I do that with mine the the tranny goes into overdrive .
Go figure!

 

[SolidState]

Hey, tommy...it is still in OD, just doesn't seem like it because everything is unlocked