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Topic: Torque converter seal (Read 91 times) previous topic - next topic
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Torque converter seal
I brought my LD in to the local transmission shop yesterday to replace the seal in the torque converter I brought up in a previous thread. He told me I was extremely lucky it failed a quarter mile from my driveway and I only lost a quart of ATF. He says at least a couple times a year he gets a vehicle towed in to his shop that failed on the road (usually going over one of the passes east and west of town) and the transmission is destroyed because theirs no way to know you are losing fluid until your transmission fails. He says the late 90s 460 Ford is notorious for this kind of catastrophic failure anytime after 70k due to bad rubber being used in that seal. His advice is for people to change it out at 70k and spend a few hundred instead of a few thousand. Just thought I'd pass this advice along to LD owners in this vintage with the 460.
The other option he said would be to check under your vehicle at the top of any pass or anytime you think your transmission is getting hot because it may just develop a slow leak and may not have a major failure as mine did. As your transmission cools the leak will stop so you won't notice any sign of a leak when you park but every time you work your transmission you lose more fluid until you have catastrophic failure. A third option I guess would be to check your dip stick every time you get gas.
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Torque converter seal
Reply #1 –
With an ODB II scanner monitoring trans temp, an unexpected rise could indicate a leak.  Yours probably hadn't leaked long enough for this to appear.  Glad it's fixed.
Joel & Terry Wiley
dog Zeke
2013  31 IB   Orwan   / 2011 CRV Tow'd LWEROVE
 
Re: Torque converter seal
Reply #2 –
Quote from: joel wiley  - 
With an ODB II scanner monitoring trans temp, an unexpected rise could indicate a leak.  Yours probably hadn't leaked long enough for this to appear.  Glad it's fixed.
Trucks have a built in transmission temp guage and it would be a nice feature in passenger vehicles but I'm sure it would add to the purchase price. If it is an option in an RV though I'd probably spring for it. Something like this might be a good addition but I wonder if it's already too late if you see a big spike in temperature. Is the damage already done?

GlowShift | 1992-2002 Ford E-Series Van Gauge Pods
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.