How To Tell If Torque Converter Is Locking Up

How can you tell if your car’s torque converter is locking up and what can you do to fix this issue?

What Causes A Torque Converter To Lock Up?

It can be a bit confusing trying to pinpoint the cause or causes of a torque converter lock up. Cold engine temperature is one of the common reasons why this can occur. There have been some reported cases of the converter locking up due to a “locked-up” overdrive unit. To better understand this, read on for more information regarding lockup converters.

What Is A Lockup Converter?

Lockup converters are torque converter types that contain a clutch. The clutch will automatically engage at some point during acceleration, which locks up the engine to the transmission input shaft. This eventually delivers a direct 1:1 drive ratio.

Lockup converters are believed to promote fuel economy and are found in most modern vehicles. The lock-up clutch is designed specifically to take the stress off the fluid coupling in the converter. This is done to decrease heat generation at higher traveling speeds.

How To Tell If A Torque Converter Is Locking Up

You may feel like your car moved to a higher gear even when you’re already in the highest gear whenever a converter locks up. Yet, since this transition happens so quickly, many drivers may not notice it at all. With that being said, if you happen to feel a further shift while driving with the last gear, it could be a sign of a converter lockup. The good news is a converter lockup is not immediately a serious issue.

What To Do When A Torque Converter Locks Up

Most times, torque converters will lock and unlock without any particular reason. This means converters can lock and unlock automatically. Torque converters can lock up mainly due to acceleration and deceleration. Stay calm and take your car to the professionals if you suspect a locked up converter.