Signs of a Malfunctioning Torque Converter in Your Car

Owning a supercar is a matter of pride for anyone. Supercars are known for their performance & comfort. Moreover, most of the automobile manufacturers are focusing on enhancing the performance of their automotive product irrespective of the tag of a supercar. This is due to the fact that nowadays, a huge number of customers are increasingly giving priority to the performance aspect of a car. A car's performance depends upon many factors because the components in the car are intricately related to each other.

One of the crucial parts in your car that plays a vital role in its performance is the torque converter. The torque converter is a part of your car that controls the amount of fluid that is to be passed to the automatic transmission & also allows the engine to keep running in an ideal condition. If the torque converter malfunctions, then you will have to deal with serious issues in your car and also the performance will degrade. Here in this article, we will discuss in detail about the signs of a malfunctioning torque converter in your car.

Slipping transmission

Since the fluid cannot be controlled properly any problem with the torque converter usually manifests itself very rapidly. If the amount of fluid passed into the transmission is too much, or inadequate, then it leads to slipping off the gears and a loss in acceleration. In addition to this, you will also notice a sudden decrease in the fuel economy of the car. This phenomenon also occurs due to low or bad fluid buildup, you must check it on a priority basis.

High stalling speed

Due to the malfunctioning of the torque converter, the transmission takes more time to respond to the engine, leading to engine stalling. This sporadic engagement of the engine is particularly severe in transmissions having lock-up converters. When the torque converter is failing, it is not able to transfer the engine's rotational force into hydraulic pressure correctly. This leads to the transmission taking an unusually long time to engage the engine which will cause the stalling to increase.

Dirty transmission fluid

One of the easiest ways to detect any issues with the torque converter is by checking the transmission fluid. If there is a presence of a large amount of black material in the transmission fluid, then either the transmission or the torque converter clutches are damaged. Furthermore, as the torque converter is filled with the automatic transmission fluid any contamination of the fluid can damage other parts of your car.

Overheating car

While driving your car if you observe that the temperature gauge indicates that your car is overheating, then this means that the torque converter is not working correctly. However, the overheating of the car can also be attributed to other factors like issues with the coolant system of your vehicle. But this is one of the most common problems associated with a malfunctioning torque converter. It happens due to a drop in fluid pressure as the torque converter is not able to maintain the required pressure.

Consequently, if the torque converter gets overheated, then it won't be able to transfer power from the engine to the transmission. One of the best ways to determine the exact reason behind the overheating of the car is to inspect the coolant system. If you don’t observe any abnormal actions in the coolant system, then the real problem lies with the torque converter.

Shuddering vehicle

Shuddering might not be a prominent phenomenon that occurs when the torque converter fails and this is why most people ignore the vibrations. Shuddering is mostly felt when you are driving at 30 to 45 MPH. It will feel like running over rough roads, or bumps, or gravels and it comes without warning. This happens due to a mechanical failure which is caused by a misalignment of the torque converter. If you feel your car is shuddering, then immediately take it to an automotive repair shop to inspect its torque converter and transmission, as it is a sign of a forthcoming failure.

Conclusion

The above-discussed signs are some of the early warnings that you will get when the torque converter in your car malfunctions. Preventive maintenance plays a crucial role in avoiding such problems. However, if you face a torque converter problem, then contact a certified auto repair shop to get it fixed immediately.