Torque Convereter Questions

[jhoff8487]

My parents have got a 2007 Saturn VUE AWD V6 with 17,000 miles on it. For the last couple months it's been making odd shakes and vibrations. They've taken it in a few times complaining of it but Saturn can't ever replicate the problem. It's gotten progressively worse over the last three or four months and finally, this past week, Saturn recognized there was an issue. They kept it for the day and decided that the torque converter is going bad and needs replaced. My question for you all is how much extra wear and tear has the transmission or powertrain had on it since the torque converter has been slipping for four months straight? Saturn is going to warranty it and repair it but how will longevity out of the transmission be over the life of the vehicle? It's extremely doubtful Saturn will do anything in that regard but the thought is, we can sell it while it's still worth something and get something else if it'll be an issue.

 

Thanks in advance, fellas.

[Schmids5.3l]

I can see where it could effect the transmission, but I also think that the drive train will be fine if the torque converter is the problem. I don't think the TC slipping would create vibrating and shaking, I mean when it is disengaged you simply spin more RPM than when it is engaged. If it truely is slipping that is generating heat which isn't good. Really..who knows..only time will tell.

[VMax2007]

I can see where it could effect the transmission, but I also think that the drive train will be fine if the torque converter is the problem. I don't think the TC slipping would create vibrating and shaking, I mean when it is disengaged you simply spin more RPM than when it is engaged. If it truely is slipping that is generating heat which isn't good. Really..who knows..only time will tell.

 

A bad TC can certainly cause a nasty vibration/shake. Haven't you heard about the Tundra's TC issues? They are replacing those faster than they can make'em.

[Schmids5.3l]

True, I thought I read somewhere that he thought it was "slipping" His shuttering problem can come from several things, like overheated trans fluid, which is a possibility if the TC is slipping and making lots of heat, and a large cause of TC shutter is the TC lockup clutch having problems locking which is caused by low apply pressure which is supposedly an internal transmission problem, but that doesn't seem true if a new TC is the fix. IDK if the Tundra's just have junk converters or what

[Schmids5.3l]

I just read an article dated late October of last year about the Tundra's problems. They were investigating the problem still, they knew the problem was the TC locking (or I should say attempting to lock) and having problems, but they didn't know where the problem came from. If the TC gets weak apply pressure the clutch is getting abnormal wear every time it tries to lock, which eventually would lead to a failed TC, so replacing it with a new TC would solve the problem..temporarily I guess. IDK, I drive a Silverado It's possible their TC plant made a bunch of junk converters.

[jhoff8487]

Saturn is going to put in a new converter sometime next week and hopefully that'll take care of it. I question the longevity but I reckon my parents won't have it more than 5 years and the powertrain is covered until then anyway. Thanks for your input, guys.