I bought a used 98 3.8 hardtop....It runs well, but has a massive shudder while in gear. Still runs and drives. The old owner said that she was told it was the torque coverter by her uncle who looked at it and is a GM tech. I purchased a used A4 to replace the old one with. When I pulled the old transmission out, the torque converter bolts were tight, trans tight, I found lots of grey clutch dust in the pan on the magnet, but I can't find any obvious signs of problems with the torque converter-and after comparing it with the unit from the replacement trans, they both have splies inside that seem to shake and look the same from the top (maybe you can't tell because of the nature of the housing) Anyhow, motor mounts look good, trans mount was ok, I just want to make sure it is NOT the engine...I ran the engine sans the trans and it seems fine.

Has anyone ever experienced this or have any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

99% of the time, when the t/c is out, you wont be able to tell just by looking at it. You have to have it cut open and checked out. The symptoms sounds reasonable that I would have just replaced the t/c if a gm tech said that was all it was, then flushed the trans. Theres also no proof of how long it was run that way either, so replacing the trans also might be a good move since you've already got one. Might save you from having to pull it twice. Just put the new trans in and be done with it man. Dont worry so much.


Also, go to yahoo or google or whatever search engine you use, and search torque converters should be able to find a quick diagram of how they are put together and how they work. Should be able to explain it a lot clearer. Yes they are going to make noise when shaken. Its not just a solid piece.... lots goin on in there


If you think of it like a clutch, you let a clutch out slow its going to engage smooth right? It takes the "Shock" of connecting the driveline to the engine, you let the clutch out fast (without giving it a lot of gas) then it stalls the motor out right? The converter acts "kind of" like a clutch. It acts as a damper between the driveline and the engine. So if the internals arent working right, then it could slip and cause the shuddering your having.

 

wow that was an EXCELLENT and a helpful description,..i dont have this problem , but at least I will know what to do when i do... thanks

 

AGREED! Thanks for the info !

 

no problem, hope you get it all worked out.