a343f converter lock up woes and ?s.

[Bear80]

Looks like my sister's '95 has some gearbox problems. It seems that the converter is engaged in all the gears however it does not stall the engine or have any effect on the idle. It shifts fine, however when accelerating it feels super slugish and most noticeably from 1-2. I took a quick look at it and the FSM's trouble shooting today but didn't get anything pin-pointed other than possibly one of two solenoids that control the converter. BUT is the problem the converter?

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

Check to see if the 2nd gear start button is pressed in on the center console. It doesn't have a light in the dash and can be engaged without any way of knowing other than symptoms. My first and cheepest guess. Educated by having done it myself.

 

[Bear80]

Well I wish it was that simple but no. However, when it is in 2nd mode it just about cannont get off the line as if it is in 3rd or higher of a gear. That is why I am assuming the lock up converter is engaged all the time but I'm not sure.

 

[Rich]

Check to see if the 2nd gear start button is pressed in on the center console. It doesn't have a light in the dash and can be engaged without any way of knowing other than symptoms. My first and cheepest guess. Educated by having done it myself.

Just a note that my 97 has a lighted dash indicator for 2nd start.

 

[CJF]

Well I wish it was that simple but no. However, when it is in 2nd mode it just about cannont get off the line as if it is in 3rd or higher of a gear. That is why I am assuming the lock up converter is engaged all the time but I'm not sure.

I would think it'd be pretty obvious if the TC is locked at a time whan it shouldn't be: drive along at a steady speed, then stomp the gas a bit but not enough for a downshift. Rpm's should noticeably rise by a few hundred (almost like a downshift) if the TC's not locked. If it is locked, the vehicle will behave exactly like a manual tranny in which you pressed the gas but didn't downshift: just a steady, slightly "bogged" acceleration with no jump in rpm's.

Couple other thoughts:

1) When should the TC be locked on that tranny? For example, on an A440F (no electronics), lockup occurs only in 4th and only at speeds above ~47mph or so, so it's easy (and annoying in certain traffic situations) to go back and forth from 45-50mph and notice the TC continually locking/unlocking.

2) Don't the tranny's from that year have diagnostics in which the O/D light flashes, similar to the CEL? Maybe there's a stored code in there...

Good luck,

Curtis
91FJ80

Edit: In this thread, TC = torque converter, not transfer case.

 

[alaskacruiser]

Check to see if the 2nd gear start button is pressed in on the center console. It doesn't have a light in the dash and can be engaged without any way of knowing other than symptoms. My first and cheepest guess. Educated by having done it myself.

If you've never seen a 2nd gear start dash light, then your bulb is blown. It's right next to the "PWR" light in the center of the guage cluster.

 

[Rainy Day FZJ]

I don't pay attention to lights on the dash, other than the blinking locker lights, funny how there has been as much talk about my mistake as there has been as to helping the man with the problem...:]-

 

[Bear80]

Well here's the deal, if you are easy on the gas while it shifts, everything is normal. However when you apply more gas the TC engages and totatlly boggs the accleration and this is in any gear.

So am I looking at a control solenoid for the TC that is acting up or could it be mechanical in the valve body?

 

[landtank]

I don't understand how a locking TC will cause your problem? But then again I only have a basic understanding of how an automatic works

 

[Bear80]

I don't understand how a locking TC will cause your problem? But then again I only have a basic understanding of how an automatic works

You know me either, but I also have a limited understanding of an automatic.

After some more reading it appears that solenoid 1 is not working properly. But from what I can tell this would cause a cel code yet I have none. Can someone with the older a442f or the newer a343f that had a solenoid stick tell me if it caused a code, or just shifted wrong.

 

[CJF]

You know me either, but I also have a limited understanding of an automatic.

After some more reading it appears that solenoid 1 is not working properly. But from what I can tell this would cause a cel code yet I have none. Can someone with the older a442f or the newer a343f that had a solenoid stick tell me if it caused a code, or just shifted wrong.

Just to be sure: You said CEL (check engine light) code, but the tranny should have its own, separate diagnostics, no?

Sorry if I'm off base; mine's a 91 with OBD1 and no electronics/diagnostics for the tranny.

Curtis

 

[Bear80]

There is no CEL or flashing o/d light.

After looking at one of trouble shooting tables in the FSM and pulling each pin out of the connector at the ECM for the three solenoids (untill I got no change in the problem) it seems solenoid #2 is not working correctly. But I'm worried about the fact that there is no CEL indicating the problem as the book states.

Could someone that has had a problem solenoid please chim in and let me know if it throws a CEL.

 

[Tapage]

just wondering .. but the H442 have a speed sensor .. ? or auto tranny sensor . ?