Torque converter stuck locked? Freed?

2011 DCSB TRD O/R 2WD AUTO. Had the truck for over 2 years. Bought with 113k on it, currently has 124k. Use it as a second vehicle. I have always had issues with truck around 30-40mph. Never felt "right". It would be in 5th gear around 1000rpm and when i would give it gas it wouldn't do much and eventually downshift into 4th. Read about people having torque converter lock/unlock issues on these forums. Sucked not having much throttle response and "sketchy/firm" downshifts would annoy me so I did tranny flush about a year ago at 118k. Shifts got much better, but still the same annoying "hunting" from the tranny around 35ish mph. Cleaned MAF, changed plugs. A little better as far as throttle response, still same issues. Eventually just started riding around town in 4th, and just using 5th on the highway or above 45-50mph.

So it snowed a little bit last night, and I went to go grab something from the gas station. Decided to use the E-locker for the differential in the neighborhood just to see how it drove in the snow. Never used it before, except maybe one time I think I hit the button just to see if it worked when I first bought it. Turned e-locker back OFF. Anyways so I get out on the main rode I notice the truck is actually responding great at 30-40mph in 5th gear.

So do you guys think the torque converter was stuck locked this whole time, and it somehow got unlocked by the computer when I turned the e-locker on? Does the e-locker also somehow lock/unlock the torque converter? The truck is definitely driving like the torque converter is actually working like it should now as I have driven it all over in 5th with no issues that I was having.

BTW, this is my first post on TW (Been a long-time lurker). Tons of great info here, done a ton of maintenance using how-to's from the forum.

 

its all in your head. Elocker and torque converter are two separate entities, about the only thing that MIGHT occur on a 2wd truck with the elocker is the ecu not allowing the truck to upshift to 5th or use the torque converter lockup clutch... MAYBE.

FYI right around the 35mph mark is where the stock trans tune likes to do 5th lockup after a shift to 5th around 31mph... so in that 30-35mph you will get a good chunk of hunting always by the nature of the trans.

 

Not sure how the pre-runners handle that to be honest.. I know in 4x4 trucks, you have to be in 4Lo to use the locker. And the TC never locks up when in 4Lo from what Ive read. Not sure if the pre-runner share that logic or not.

I think its just the way these trucks are programmed, keep the RPMs low. If Im on winding back roads in the 30-40 mph range, Ill usually slap it into 4th gear to prevent it from hunting.

To give you some rough estimates, cruising 65-70 mph on the interstate runs close to 2100 RPM. Step on it a bit for a hill say, just enough to unlock the TC gives ~2500-2600RPM. And 4th gear = ~3k RPM
Those numbers are all from memory, but still you should be able to tell the difference

 

Appreciate the replies. Heres another scenario. So BEFORE I would be at say 2000 RPMs with the gear selector in 4th around 40mph. The truck would just pull without any increase in revs (EDIT: no increase initially, truck obviously increases in revs with speed) while giving it throttle like driving a manual transmission. Now I do the same thing and revs jump up a little and then the truck goes. I understand the e-locker button and torque converter lockup are two seperate entities. And I thought it was all in my head as well but its acting like a normal auto should now....

And BEFORE in 5th when throttle applied it would be like LUG LUG Downshift GO, now its revs raise some and smooth go all while staying in 5th.

 

Try a brake tap test
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...th-pics-for-second-gen-4-liter-trucks.289913/

 

Not having any shuddering problems..

 

Rodger that
The brake tap test can also be used to determine if the locking converter clutch is functioning correctly

 

I guess it just comes down to if its possible for the converter clutch to get stuck in the "on" position all the time.

 

No. if the torque converter lockup clutch was stuck... you would stall everytime you stopped, just as if you were in a manual trans and didnt push the clutch in.

Like stated, its in your head. The TCC might act differently with the elocker engaged (not allowing lockup, just like 4low in the 4x4 trucks not allowing tcc lockup), but when not engage it will act no different that stock. There are defined threshold curves related to speed (for all intents and purposes) and accelerator pedal position wherein the torque converter will lock and unlock in 4th and 5th gear. All the scenarios you describe is how the trans should act in a stock form.

 

Thanks. Whatever happened to the TCC after engaging the locker last night made a huge difference.