Torque Converter Questions

[Ross]

If you followed the thread about my recent misadventures with my dealer, you know that I now have a new TC. The old Diablo chip was also taken out and has not been put back in.
Before all of the recent work, my car was running great, but I was having a really hard time breaking the tires loose from a dead punch. Now, with the new TC, this thing spins the back tires like crazy, even with some bigger Pirelli tires back there.
Two questions:
1. Will a TC slowly "wear out" so that you don't really notice the gradual loss of performance like you would if it went out altogether?
2. Since I had a chip before, and got some really head snapping shifts, will that kind of shifting cause a TC to wear out prematurely?
I use the term "wear out" since I'm not that familiar with the operation of a TC, and whether it's the kind of part that slowly wears out over time.
Thanks.

[wchain]

If you followed the thread about my recent misadventures with my dealer, you know that I now have a new TC. The old Diablo chip was also taken out and has not been put back in.
Before all of the recent work, my car was running great, but I was having a really hard time breaking the tires loose from a dead punch. Now, with the new TC, this thing spins the back tires like crazy, even with some bigger Pirelli tires back there.
Two questions:
1. Will a TC slowly "wear out" so that you don't really notice the gradual loss of performance like you would if it went out altogether?
2. Since I had a chip before, and got some really head snapping shifts, will that kind of shifting cause a TC to wear out prematurely?
I use the term "wear out" since I'm not that familiar with the operation of a TC, and whether it's the kind of part that slowly wears out over time.
Thanks.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

[David Morton]

Torque convertors are very durable and simple, hard to make one badly. Even the aftermarket boys can make a reliable one.

[Architect]

I just took my 2004 in with 12,000 miles and it's getting a new torgue converter today...
Started the car Thursday and it sounded like one of the Catalidic (spelling?)converters was loose or damaged...kind of a metalic rattling sound...
I took it straight to the dealer...
I'll be very interested to see if it makes any difference in performance...
I'll keep y'all posted...
architect

[RF Overlord]

1. Will a TC slowly "wear out" so that you don't really notice the gradual loss of performance like you would if it went out altogether?The only part of a torque converter that really wears is the lock-up clutch, and then only if you have bad programming on your chip...that is, if the clutch is allowed to "slip" too much.
2. Since I had a chip before, and got some really head snapping shifts, will that kind of shifting cause a TC to wear out prematurely?See answer #1 ^. Firm, properly timed shifts are actually EASIER on the friction materials than slow, sloppy shifts.

[Ross]

The only part of a torque converter that really wears is the lock-up clutch, and then only if you have bad programming on your chip...that is, if the clutch is allowed to "slip" too much.See answer #1 ^. Firm, properly timed shifts are actually EASIER on the friction materials than slow, sloppy shifts.

That could explain a lot. Since the major problems I had recently didn't start until after the re-programming fiasco, it was the bad re-programming job that the dealer did that changed how the TC locked up. I told them from the very start that it felt like the engine was fine, but there was something wrong with the transmission.
I know that with the new TC, I can spin tires like I never could before.

[Architect]

Well the Dealer thought it was the Torque Converter...
service just called and said it was the catalitic converter making all the noise...
weird...
architect