Torque Converter Replacement

Friz · March 2, 2006

My nephew's 2002 S-10, 4 cyl, 4l60 has been diagnosed by the dealer as having a bad torque converter. The dealer wants $1500 to replace it.

I called a tranny place here in town and the replacement converter is only $155.

Since most of my mechanical experience is on old stuff, I have never replaced a lockup converter. Is there anything special that I need to know? Any surprises?

Chilton's will not even list the converter in the manual that I have for my full size ride.

juiced01s10 · March 2, 2006

My nephew's 2002 S-10, 4 cyl, 4l60 has been diagnosed by the dealer as having a bad torque converter. The dealer wants $1500 to replace it.
I called a tranny place here in town and the replacement converter is only $155.

Since most of my mechanical experience is on old stuff, I have never replaced a lockup converter. Is there anything special that I need to know? Any surprises?

Chilton's will not even list the converter in the manual that I have for my full size ride.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

about a 8hr job on my V6 S-10 so I wouldn't think it would be much longer then that

trever1t · March 2, 2006

I'm haveing one done right now, $450 in labor on a 4x4! $1500????? Can you say ripoff??

Friz · March 2, 2006

Yes, it is a ripoff.

Since I can do it for basically nothing (my sister owes me a bottle of Ketel One for my trouble), I am happy to oblige.

dougmac · March 18, 2006

My nephew's 2002 S-10, 4 cyl, 4l60 has been diagnosed by the dealer as having a bad torque converter. The dealer wants $1500 to replace it.
I called a tranny place here in town and the replacement converter is only $155.

Since most of my mechanical experience is on old stuff, I have never replaced a lockup converter. Is there anything special that I need to know? Any surprises?

Chilton's will not even list the converter in the manual that I have for my full size ride.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Be careful about going cheap on the torque converter. Your truck has GM EC3 converter application strategy. Because the electronic system varies the rate of clutch slip, the proper converter clutch material must be used. I believe you need one with woven carbon friction material for the system to work properly. If you don’t get the proper material, the converter clutch may chatter or fail prematurely.

Doug

drumset5994 · March 19, 2006

I had this EXACT same problem with my S10...it chattered since day one (30,000 miles) and eventually started to slip at 90,000 miles...i was quoted $800...a little too much for my spending, so i dumped it for my Silverado.

zippy · March 21, 2006

I wouldn't expect it to cost more than about $500 for labor and that's on the high side. It's easily accomplished by anyone with any mechanical ability. There isn't anything special to replacing one on that truck, very easy. I would however recomend having the spacer plate replaced as that oftend causes the converter to go bad on that trans.