TC issues

[Geoturbo]

Have an issue with a TC.

I swapped TC on the Mazda this past Saturday and something is not quite right.

I previously had an 8" Converter that I was pushing through, so I ordered a PTC 10.5 unit. Gave them my specs on the car and the drivetrain and had it to me within about a weeks time.

Weird thing is that now the car turns off as soon as I try to put it in gear.

First thing I thought is that it may be way too tight as I ordered it to stall at about 3000-3400. But turning off at idle to gear transition just does not make sense.

I tried taking out some idle timing, bumped it down to about 14* and it still turned off, added timing to about 32* still turned off. It does it when trying to go into D or R; so its pretty much as soon as it sees load.


Spacers between TC and flywheel are 1/8"

Only other thing that I can think of is that perhaps the TC did not sit in all the way in on three clicks.

Anyone else experience a similar problem?

[digitalsolo]

Only things I can think of:

Converter too tight against pump.
Converter not fully seated.
Converted bad, clutch or something inside is locking it up.

[Geoturbo]

Converter too tight against pump.

I installed the recommended minimum spacers/washers for 1/8" between the flywheel and TC, Should I try some thinner ones, to bring it away from the pump a bit?


Converter not fully seated.

This was one of my initial thoughts as well, however if it did not seat all the way, would it not be too loose and not engage instead? Perhaps I'm confused on this part.


Converted bad, clutch or something inside is locking it up.

Yes it feels like it locks up immediately.

I spoke with Lane a few minutes ago (Great Customer Service BTW) he said with all the specs they made it for it should transition into gear no problem. He went over all my paperwork and build sheet and everything seems to check out.

He did mention that if I send it back they can check in anything is wrong with it internally and re-stall if necessary.

Before I do that I want to make sure that it is not something on my end or something on the install.

I'll likely pull the TC out tomorrow and re-install just to make sure it seated all the way in (3-clicks).  Should I also use thinner spacers?

BTW thanks for the help Blake, I do appreciate the input.

[digitalsolo]

Geo,

1.  If you unbolt it, does it have "play" against the spacers?  It should have ~1/8" free play, which it sounds like you do.
2.  Do you have pressure in the transmission?   The last "click" is the pump if memory serves, if it wasn't seated, you'd have 0 pressure and honestly, I doubt it would have fit at all.
3.  Something internal seems like the most likely to me at this point.   Maybe they sent a converter with a lock up circuit in it and you have a non-lockup tranny and it's causing it to push fluid into the circuit and lock the clutch?   Dunno, just making guesses, automatic transmissions are voodoo after all.  LOL

[Geoturbo]

1. Yes, it has a good 1/2-3/4" of play when unbolted, I had to add the spacers to get it to 1/8"

2. Honestly I did not verify pressure, but you are correct last click is the pump. Without the third click it wont let the Motor and trans come together.

3. Maybe they sent a converter with a lock up circuit in it and you have a non-lockup tranny and it's causing it to push fluid into the circuit and lock the clutch?
  I think this is exactly what happened; it feels like it is locking up as soon as it goes into gear I even tried giving it a bit of throttle while putting it in gear to keep it on and it goes into gear violently, like an over exaggerated shift kit....lol..and it still turned the engine off in gear.

[freeskier7791]

I think you found the issue, that sucks.  In my experience with turbo 400s, we had about 0.090" of pullup to the flywheel, but I dont think having 1/8" would cause any issues.

[Geoturbo]

I think you found the issue, that sucks.  In my experience with turbo 400s, we had about 0.090" of pullup to the flywheel, but I dont think having 1/8" would cause any issues.

Yea, I believe it may be a lockup converter.  I just wanted to make sure it was the converter and not somehting I may have missed on the install..lol...kind of like a sanity check, PTC is a great company but sometimes human error happens.


The 8" converter did not have much play from the converter to the flywheel on it as this one does.