torque convertor lock up speeds

smoo · 22-07-2010, 09:23 PM

Is there a way to adjust the torque converter lock up speeds? My wagon doesn't lock up until 95kmh, and never does at surburban speeds. As soon as I slow down to 90kmh it will unlock and sit at 2000rpm. where other AUs will usually lug down to about 80 kays locked up. I think this could be the reason why I cant better 10l/100km on the open road (where on the same route and driving style I was getting 7.5 in my Futura sedan)
All other AUs I've driven/owned lock up around 80-85kmh at about 1600rpm and at 50kmh at 1400 ish, under light load.

I know bugger all about autos and have never worked with them. I can't see any mechanical linkages to adjust and the Gregories workshop manual belongs in the shitta, is it possible to set it via the ecu?

Any help appreciated cheers.

sd1800 · 22-07-2010, 11:58 PM

hmm........

Mine locks up in 4th at approx 75kmph (3.23 diff gears). You sure you haven't had longer diff gears put in at any stage of the game?

Alternatively, if your putting around the city, if you keep it in 3rd, it will lock up in third(mine does at around 50-55kmph)

Jimmyd · 23-07-2010, 12:47 AM

Could potentially be an issue with your S7(from memory) solinoid - this drives the lockup clutch. This is the only solinoid you need to drop the complete box to replace; mounts directly in the pump body whereas the other 6 can be accessed from the pan.
Your local friendly Ford dealer or auto specialist will be able to run a diagnostic fairly quickly to see identify your problem.

Cheers

James

Mr Hardware · 23-07-2010, 10:25 AM

Yeah thats a bit sucky smoo. Your experiences of other falcons of how their torque converters lock up are usual, your current one is unusual.

adrian k · 24-07-2010, 12:00 PM

I am not sure mine is going into lock up in the XR8. in the TS i can see the revs drop about 150-200 when it locks up and you can feel it. the Xr8 doens't drop revs and i can't feel it. it sits about 2200-2300 at 110kph. what could the problem be? Ford just checked gear box out and found nothin wrong?

EV1LXR8 · 24-07-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrian k

I am not sure mine is going into lock up in the XR8. in the TS i can see the revs drop about 150-200 when it locks up and you can feel it. the Xr8 doens't drop revs and i can't feel it. it sits about 2200-2300 at 110kph. what could the problem be? Ford just checked gear box out and found nothin wrong?

my xr8 only does it at about 90 onwards its a second box and its still the same drops about 200 so im doin 2000 at 100kph i think its normal

smoo · 27-07-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyd

Could potentially be an issue with your S7(from memory) solinoid - this drives the lockup clutch. This is the only solinoid you need to drop the complete box to replace; mounts directly in the pump body whereas the other 6 can be accessed from the pan.
Your local friendly Ford dealer or auto specialist will be able to run a diagnostic fairly quickly to see identify your problem.

Cheers

James

Thanks for the info, took it in for a scan, no DTCs relating to the lock up. He cleared them on Friday and I did about 400km over the weekend, and nothing popped up. I managed a best of 8.75l/100km which is what I may have to settle for. That was after I cleaned out the throttle body and MAP sensor too.
I have been told that the S7 solenoid probably isn't at fault, most likely one of the inputs to it, but once again the Gregorys manual says **** all so google maybe the best option.

BTW the service manager I dealt with was an old bastard from South Africa, reckons the I6 is the best engine he has ever worked with, in his four years at Ford he has never seen one stripped down, just confirming what we know lol.

mik · 27-07-2010, 01:01 PM

my series 2 xr6 locks up at 98 kph.

smally289 · 27-07-2010, 09:46 PM

There are lots of variables that the PCM looks at to control the convertor lock up. Coolant temp, throttle position, A/C signal, road speed, manifold vacuum, gear position switch and the power/economy switch all play a part. If you want it to lock earlier, switch the trans to economy mode.

Auturbo6 · 30-07-2010, 11:50 PM

Drive in 3rd gear around town and torqre converter will lock in (wilst in 3rd) at around 65kph. In top however it's dependant on a lot of factors, engine tune, condition, etc, everything that will affect throttle position at a given speed. A 4 speed falcon if very closely watched will have what feels like 6 gears, 1st, 2nd, 3rd clutch off, 3rd clutch on, 4th clutch off, and 4th clutch on. Erratic throttle movement, even if only slight will affect clutch on time. Ive found that after driving with a lot of customers, that a lot of vehicle faults, are the cause of (for the lack of a better word) Nervous driver behaviour. E.G. Vehicle surge on highway: No faults found. However after driving with customer, realised and made them aware of the fact, that they were on and off the throttle constanly, therfore they were causing the surging through nothing more than a subconsious nervous behaviour.

Jimmyd · 31-07-2010, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auturbo6

Drive in 3rd gear around town and torqre converter will lock in (wilst in 3rd) at around 65kph. In top however it's dependant on a lot of factors, engine tune, condition, etc, everything that will affect throttle position at a given speed. A 4 speed falcon if very closely watched will have what feels like 6 gears, 1st, 2nd, 3rd clutch off, 3rd clutch on, 4th clutch off, and 4th clutch on. Erratic throttle movement, even if only slight will affect clutch on time. Ive found that after driving with a lot of customers, that a lot of vehicle faults, are the cause of (for the lack of a better word) Nervous driver behaviour. E.G. Vehicle surge on highway: No faults found. However after driving with customer, realised and made them aware of the fact, that they were on and off the throttle constanly, therfore they were causing the surging through nothing more than a subconsious nervous behaviour.

Spot on here, + rep for you. You've unearthed some fond memories of my time as a Ford Service Manager; and paradoxically exactly why I left the automotive industry to count beans for a living - I hate dealing with the public.........

Cheers

James

Mr Hardware · 31-07-2010, 10:54 AM

This is true

if you hold the human race in high esteem, just spend even a few weeks in a customer service role dealing with computers or cars or anything like that - you'll find that the majority of people are incredibly terrible and stupid very quickly.

GK · 31-07-2010, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

This is true

if you hold the human race in high esteem, just spend even a few weeks in a customer service role dealing with computers or cars or anything like that - you'll find that the majority of people are incredibly terrible and stupid very quickly.

Bit harsh don't you think? LOL!

It would certainly get frustrating dealing with people's dodgy habits that they think is an issue in their vehicle or other product.

Good to remember though, that the general motoring public doesn't have our passion, knowledge, understanding and experience of cars, that took us time, interest and patience to develop.

GK

Mr Hardware · 31-07-2010, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Bit harsh don't you think? LOL!

Yes i suppose so
I didn't word it quite right, most people who are great usually don't need to bother mechanics all that often, so you get a skewed view of 'the bloody public' very quicky.

xl88 · 23-02-2014, 08:33 PM

Hey Smoo My Au series III Ute is doing the same thing and it's frustrating the hell out of me! I just did filter change and flush with castrol tq95 and didn't make any difference. So yeah. . My refuses to lock up 3rd at all and locks up 95-100km onwards on and off when it wants to. because of it, the fuel economy in these big motors isn't there. If anyone knows what it could be please let me know. Thanks

fordba1 · 30-08-2014, 10:55 PM

I have also recently noticed the converter is not locking at all I think, I have tried when driving at 60KlmH moving the gear shift lever to performance mode and then moving the lever to select 4 it goes into full converter lockup revs drop. but when in normal D mode the converter does not lock up revs are higher. Any way still testing. some have said the neutral start switch my be faulty, But I am not sure?

SPArKy_Dave · 18-05-2017, 01:39 AM

A faulty/ (out of spec) Intake Air Temperature Sensor (IAT), will cause the Torque Converter Lockup in the BTR's, to behave erratically.

Just a point of direction, which may help someone.

mcfly94 · 18-05-2017, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPArKy_Dave

A faulty/ (out of spec) Intake Air Temperature Sensor (IAT), will cause the Torque Converter Lockup in the BTR's, to behave erratically.

Just a point of direction, which may help someone.

How does that work? i thought torque converter lock up was based on tailshaft rpm.

I set my lock ups by adjusting tailshaft rpm, and those lock up rpms did not change when i moved the IAT to the inbuilt HPX sensor, which is (out of spec i would say) What function links the two together?

SPArKy_Dave · 20-05-2017, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcfly94

How does that work? i thought torque converter lock up was based on tailshaft rpm.

I set my lock ups by adjusting tailshaft rpm, and those lock up rpms did not change when i moved the IAT to the inbuilt HPX sensor, which is (out of spec i would say) What function links the two together?

I'd say it makes the ECU perceive an increased engine load, from hot/cold ambient temperatures.

Same with the Climate Control/Aircon.
It also affects the lockup algorithm apparently.

Along with the TPS and VSS.