QuestionQUESTION: Ted,
I enjoy doing my own auto repair, but my efficiency isn't very good, as I don't have a fully stocked tool chest and have to do the work on my back, with the car on blocks. None-the-less, after 8 weeks of spare time efforts, I've finally finished replacing the transmission on my son's car (it went out after about 115,000 miles) with a used unit from a 67,000 mile wreck. I have the car back on the ground and the engine runs great, but the car will not move. I added the recommended amount of transmission fluid, but the fluid is well over the "full, cold" mark on the dip stick(well over, as in 3 inches). My dad thinks the torque converter has not filled. He thinks I may be able to rectify the situation by pressurizing the case to force fluid into the torque converter. Any thoughts on this?
Also, we have a feeling the various valves in the used tranny probably became completely drained while it sat idle. When I found the car would not move, I only ran the engine for a couple of minutes, fearing I might do some damage. Is it possible the engine must be let run for some time to "prime," or fill all these various passages?
After installing the tranny I manually ran it through the gears while turning the drive axles. Everything seemed to mesh and work as it should.
I do appreciate your time. Any insight you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Scott D. Kutzner
ANSWER: The transmission oil pump will build up pressure almost immediately after the engine starts, it sounds like this pressure is not there, if the torque converter was not all the way in on the splines when the transmission was installed then the pump could be damaged when tightening the transmission to the engine, so my question is did the transmission bellhousing and the engine go together ok before the bolts were tightened or did you pull the two together with the bolts? after the bolts are tight the torque converter should rotate inside the bellhousing to line up the flywheel holes with the torque converter threaded holes, do you remmber being able to turn the torque converter after all the bolts were tight?
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QUESTION: Ted,
Thanks for taking the time to convey your initial thoughts. As to your two inquiries, no, we did not pull the tranny together with the bolts....it fit right together and yes, I was able to turn the torque converter.....I had to to get the holes in the flywheel to line up with the bolt holes in the torque converter.
I just got off the phone with my father who finally got me to picture that the transmission shaft will not turn......and therefore the pump will not run.......unless the torque converter all ready has some fluid in it. It is likely the yard I bought the tranny from emptied the fluid from the torque converter to check for dirt, metal shavings, etc. The repair manual did not say anything about filling the torque converter before putting the tranny back together.
I'm guessing the next, logical step would be to get some fluid back into the torque converter. Hopefully there is a way to do so, short of removing the engine again?
Thanks, again, for your time.
Scott D. Kutzner
AnswerNot sure exactly what is going on, if the engine turns over which in turn will turn the torque converter the pump should fill the torque converter up.The torque converter engages directly into the pump drive gear, for some reason this doesn't seem to be the case.
