Torque Converter installation

Another issue !!!
Make sure your converter pilot fits into the back of the crankshaft before you start bolting in the transmission . Use emery cloth to clean the converter pilot as well as the hole in the back of the crank . Grease up the converter pilot . This way you dont get binding and the converter spins free when you get the bellhousing bolts tight .
Another member was swapping a transmission recently and the old converter pilot was broken off in the back of the crankshaft . Ofcourse he didnt notice it until he had the transmission up in place and couldnt figure out why he broke his new transmission pump .
That converter needs to spin when the bellhousing is tight .
Next , start 1 converter bolt and gently pull the converter into the crankshaft pilot with a flat screwdriver .
Do not tighten any converter bolts until all the bolts have been started

 

When I did my 4wd conversion.
1.fill up torque converter as high as I can.
2.slide T.C in with little pressure with some wiggle. Til you hear it seated in all 3 spline.
3. Used bracket to hold T. C in place so doesn't back out.
4. Torque black bolt 1st.

 

@gearcruncher, Thanks for the additional tip to use the emery cloth and the grease. It makes perfect sense.
@Sae68, it sounds like based on your description, I should be listening for three distinct sounds as the splines seat.

Will the A/T fluid leak from the torque converter when I when I bring it up perpendicular to put it on? I assume it will.

 

A bit will leak, it's chambered inside so not all will spill out

 

Thanks.

 

So today, I got the transmission re-installed. I had drained the torque converter, then filled it with 1qt of fresh fluid, then installed it and put the tranny back in the truck . I am having an two issues.
1. the check engine light is now on. I have verified all wires are connected and secured. I followed the procedure to refill the transmission. I put in about three quarts during the process and as the truck got to check temp. I ended up draining about 1/2 a quart to get to a trickle.
2. the second problem, is the truck now doesn't seem to want to go on its own in Drive even when I give it gas it hesitates then slowly takes off.
reverse is very good. no issues there.

Any thoughts on the check engine light or why the truck is now hesitant to take off in drive?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

One of main things you should not over look is making sure converter turns freely after bolting tranny into place. Because if it does not turn freely you can damage pump in tranny. It mounts to tranny an then secure it to flex plate after everything else has been secure.

 

I did that and it was fine.
after getting the tranny installed with one or two bolts, i made sure the torque converter was able to free spin.
I got all the bolts in a torqued to spec.
I feel like it's an issue with either too much or not enough fluid.

but I'm not sure.

 

This sounds like your T.C not fully seated.

 

Did you check the trans fluid with the engine running ? A lot of guys make this mistake thinking the truck has to be off to check the fluid level .
Truck needs to be running when you remove that bolt looking for a trickle of fluid .
The transmission pump only pumps when the truck is running and keeps all the circuits charged with fluid .
When you turn the truck off , the pump stops turning and a lot of fluid drains back into the pan so when you pop the bolt out , you accidently think the transmission is full but in all reality you are very low .
Thats the first thing that comes to my mind
These transmissions hold almost 11 quarts when completely empty .

 

I did check it while it was running.
I am going to check it again today.

The truck does drive through all the gears it just seems to slip starting off but once it gets going it drives fine

I didn’t drive it very far. So I don’t know how it would behave above say 20mph

Any thought that newer fluid is causing the slip?

It was hard to tell how much I lost during the whole process because there were times when it came out the back or the line connectors when having to lean the transmission to get it in and out

Any idea how much fluid the Torque converter holds? It also lost about a quarter to half as it fell off twice during the install

But I am confident it was seated properly just before mounting the transmission.
I checked it just before pushing up to the motor and the tc spins freely after I did that.

 

Do a battery disconnect and re-connect .
Hoping you had the battery terminals removed when you did the job .
Got a code reader ?

 

My bad for not asking !!!
Why did you replace the converter ?
Sorry , I am jumping to conclusions lol
DONT BLAME THE TORQUE CONVERTER http://www.sonnax.com/articles/74-Don-t-Blame-the-Torque-Converter-Part-1-

 

I did disconnect the battery for the whole procedure

The torque converter only fell off during transmission removal so I drained it and refilled before putting the same one back on

I don’t feel like the TC is a problem

I still suspect fluid

 

Good job so far making sure the converter was free to spin while bolting it back together .
Any chance you had a chance to peek at this post ?
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

 

you could be low on fluid

 

I did read that previously but plan on it again today before starting

The one thing I did do was connect the battery while the tranny was out but only to roll up the windows

 

Good info . That rite there may be why your check engine light is on and possibly why your trans may have a few codes . If you turn the key on with the harness for the transmission disconnected , you get limp mode cuz the ECM is looking for communication to all the solenoids and sensors in the transmission and doesnt get a reply . Usually this has to happen twice in order to set a hard code mind you .
Still say to pop the terminals off the battery and re-connect before you test drive

 

If it did go into limp mode would that exhibit the slipping feeling I am experiencing?

 

Limp mode is 2nd gear starts or possibly 3rd gear starts depending on what code is tripped
With this said , if the ECM in your truck detects a problem with a sensor or solenoid not functioning as it should , the transmission will start off in 2nd gear rather than first . It will take a longer time to get the truck moving ,but shouldnt feel like slipping