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View Full Version : Torque converter lockup is slipping


dflynn5
01-31-2010, 12:40 PM
The lockup clutch on the torque converter is slipping/shuddering on my son's 95 thunderbird and I was thinking about disabling the brake pedal position sensor to disengage the torque convertor completely. Is this possible? I realize gas mileage will suffer but replacing the converter is not worth it for this car.

Any suggestion on how simple it is to do this? The cable connecting looks more like a tube than a wire.
Kennyrauder
01-31-2010, 02:00 PM
This was a very common problem. I had a 94 Cougar that did the same thing. I had to change my tranny fluid to synthetic, also changed the electronic shift controller. I will try to see if my Ford store can still dig up that part number. It must be the same.
RoyLPita
01-31-2010, 07:33 PM
Power flush the transmission.
Darrin
02-01-2010, 05:44 AM
Messing with the brake switch is not feasible to do what you are after. It won't do what you want it to and it will cause other issues that are unpleasant to say the least. That switch is the exact same switch used to turn the brake lamps on and off when you press the pedal. I am sure you can see how messing with that would be bad.

If you want to disable the torque converter completely then the 2nd best and absolutely the cheapest way would be to remove the o-rings on the TCC solenoid. The best solution to disable lockup would be with a tune, but it looks like you are definitely concerned about cost.

Before I would do any of that though, I would definitely follow the above advice and flush the transmission and then use a full synthetic fluid in it.
dflynn5
02-01-2010, 10:18 AM
I did the power flush some months back. Did not make a huge difference. There is 120K on the transmission. I don't detect any problems as it shifts but when the TC trys locking up in 3rd or 4th, it shudders noticably and eventually locks up. The switch on the brake pedal is seperate from the brake light which is why I wondered if that would be the easiest route. I'm not sure if my mechanical skills stretch to removing the o-rings on the TCC solenoid but I'll check into it.

Thanks.