lock up torque converter solenoid

Pony

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jun 27, 2004
Messages
4,355
Got that code on an test/scan of the ECM on my truck. What does the solenoid do exactly? What would/could cause it to malfunction.<br /><br />Got the codes cleared, truck is fine. leads me to believe that the sensor/solenoid was faulty.<br /><br /><br />so confussed.........truck is a Dodge Dakota
 

TilliamWe

Banned
Joined
Dec 21, 2004
Messages
6,579
Re: lock up torque converter solenoid

On a GM 3 speed transaxle (like my 1990 Cavalier Z-24 had) thatsolenoid controls the locking and UNlocking of the torque converter. I capitalize and stress the UNlocking part, cause mine would operate great when the engine was cold, but man after it warmed up, that converter wouldn't unlock. So basically my car would stall at EVERY traffic light. Not fun. Trans shop said "yep, they all do it eventually". If we can replace it without removing the trans, it'll be $300. $900 if we have to take the trans out.<br />Guess what I did? I unplugged it, and ran the car for over 60,000 miles without a lockup torque converter. Sold it, and that guy put at least 40k more on it. No difference in fuel mileage, just about 150 RPMs higher at 70mph. <br />But that was GM's 3 sp auto. I know for a fact you don't want to do that on GM's 4 sp auto. And I'll bet not on Dodge's either.<br />If yours is going bad, I would think you'll find out soon.
 

javsam

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 24, 2005
Messages
421
Re: lock up torque converter solenoid

yes that same thing happened on my 1990 cavalier, and i unplugged it too.what that lock up does is, it applies or energizes an electromagnet in the torque converter to reduce torque converter slip ,this gives you more effeciency from a torque converter and better gas mileage. this happens around the speed of 45 mph.<br />javsam
 

gatorred

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
318
Re: lock up torque converter solenoid

mine stuck on came to stop car quit don't stop.had tranny fluid changed and flushed the tranny worked fine till the stearing fell off along with half frontend what a shock no stearing at all.
 

ndemge

Commander
Joined
Jul 15, 2002
Messages
2,644
Re: lock up torque converter solenoid

I did like TilliamWe said on my '88 caravan with the 3speed auto... ran it for 100k miles as a strait 3 speed.
 
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