Torque converter is bad, Options?

[racer2086]

I am going to PM you, since I don't want to take over this thread. Fascinating stuff...I developed a shudder under acceleration, so I think you may be right... I did the fluid change over 4 years ago, but my thread on it gets bumped at least once or twice a year.

[M I C H A E L]

If its a torque converter it would fail within 80-100 miles of the first indication of problems and throw a TFS all the time after that. The first indication is shuddering during constant speed cruise when you press the gas pedal slowly. Will accelerate fine with moderate acceleration, then deteriorate to TFS and nothing else.

Your problem sounds like a drum issue (clutch failure), so you need a rebuild. Doing fluid changes etc at this point is just wasting time and money.

You're at a decision point in the car's life. We can't make that for you, its all about how much you want the car to stay alive.

Odd. I have none of those issues transmission shifts perfectly fine, when I dropped the pan I only had metal shavings on the magnet, codes been on for around 9k miles. So now that's starting to lead me to it being something else and not the TC...

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[robo740il]

I'm not a trans expert, I just slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night..

That's strange, all the crews seem to be on the Marriott shuttle bus when I get off a Southwest flight. 🙂

[Sundaycruzer]

Can the pressure regulator valve cause TC shuddering? Wouldn't there be other symptoms in the trans if that was the issue?

The valve regulates pressure to the entire shifting system, so yes it causes the tc lock up solenoid to lose pressure which then starts damaging the tc causing shutter. I can’t for the life of me remember what it’s called but most trans failures for hp24’s is caused by this valve loosing pressure to the valve body. The sad part is there’s been a fix for years but you have to take the valve body off to repair


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[racer2086]

The valve regulates pressure to the entire shifting system, so yes it causes the tc lock up solenoid to lose pressure which then starts damaging the tc causing shutter. I can’t for the life of me remember what it’s called but most trans failures for hp24’s is caused by this valve loosing pressure to the valve body. The sad part is there’s been a fix for years but you have to take the valve body off to repair


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Well taking the valve body out isn't nearly as hard as removing the transmission, so I'd do it if I knew that would fix the shudder. I just can't imagine my transmission would run as good as it did if that valve was leaking like that, but maybe that is the cause of my occasional weird shifts. Is there a separate valve that regulates the TC? Could that one be bad also?

[Sundaycruzer]

Well taking the valve body out isn't nearly as hard as removing the transmission, so I'd do it if I knew that would fix the shudder. I just can't imagine my transmission would run as good as it did if that valve was leaking like that, but maybe that is the cause of my occasional weird shifts. Is there a separate valve that regulates the TC? Could that one be bad also?

There’s only one upgrade part it’s called a valve body pressure regulator. This valve according to my trans guy causes every problem our transmissions have. But once the problem has worsened usually the tc will have to be replaced or rebuilt. It’s funny to me cause when my tc started to shutter I had no metal at all in the pan like I’ve read in other post. I used mr tranny and drove the car for another 30k before the a drum broke then I had metal in the pan and I will say right before the a drum failed my trans shuttered like crazy for a day then bang no forward. Yes there is a separate solenoid for the tc but that is electrically controlled the pressure valve is mechanical(as far as I know) and takings the valve body off does require some sort of book or diagram just in case lots of little parts. Go you tube it


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[cazal740i]

This is the back of my transmission pan

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[cazal740i]

So I knew I was low on fluid.
I decided to add the transmission fluid dipstick, Pentosin ATF1 fluid and Dr Tranny

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[racer2086]

The dipstick makes a world of difference working on these! Good choice! It's so much easier to fill...takes all the stress out of it.

Sundaycruzer, I've been reading about that pressure valve. Sounds like you can drop the front valve body and work on it on the bench. The pressure valve seems to cause other shifting issues, which I'm not sure I'm experiencing. But it also is one of those things it doesn't seem like anything bad comes from changing it either.

The TC mechanical valve...does that ever go bad like the pressure regulator?

[cazal740i]

I dropped the drain plug and got 3.5liters out. Installed the dipstick ( frkn genius mod) poured mixed Dr Tranny and Fluid and the same amount 3.5 liters thru the top of dipstick tube, started engine to warm. Installed the magnetic leveler on the bottom transmissin pan and drove around neighborhood Drove amazingly smooth. Like new and quiet. Got to temps 100c on engine and parked car in spot where the tranny was level. Left engine running and checked the dipstick. Was low so I added .5 liters more. Drove around some more and shifting is smooth as silk. Upshifting and downshifting.
Parked car in garage.
The next day started engine and drove around again. Parked car on driveway where the tranny Is level and was low on fluid. Added another .5 liters.
Now fluid level is correct. So I added total of 4.5liters

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[NordmanMg]

happened yesterday I hit the gas and the RPMs went high and bang into gear...Happened again same scenario down the street. Drove to work and back and tends to do it only when I get aggressive on gas pedal. If I drive steady and normal shifts perfectly ALTHOUGH I no longer have SPORT mode? Im no expert so I think its just the TC and not my Gear box.
What do you guys think??
options:
1)New TC and rebuilt tranny $2800
2)TC and soft rebuild(valve body) $1900
3) buy a used sport tranny for $600(144k miles) slap it in?
4)part out

For less then that 1900 you mentioned, you can 6-Speed swap it and call it a day

[cazal740i]

For less then that 1900 you mentioned, you can 6-Speed swap it and call it a day

no way , really?

[Sundaycruzer]

The dipstick makes a world of difference working on these! Good choice! It's so much easier to fill...takes all the stress out of it.

Sundaycruzer, I've been reading about that pressure valve. Sounds like you can drop the front valve body and work on it on the bench. The pressure valve seems to cause other shifting issues, which I'm not sure I'm experiencing. But it also is one of those things it doesn't seem like anything bad comes from changing it either.

The TC mechanical valve...does that ever go bad like the pressure regulator?

Tc is not mechanical it’s controlled by a electric solenoid and yes they can go bad but usually it’s the harness from what I’ve read if that’s the problem as far as the pressure regulator valve I’ve never done one just you tube it. I had a shop build mine, trans rebuilds are too messy for me


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[Sundaycruzer]

So I knew I was low on fluid.
I decided to add the transmission fluid dipstick, Pentosin ATF1 fluid and Dr Tranny

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Where did you get the dipstick? And I’m glad the mr tranny worked I got 20-30k out of mine after adding


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[NordmanMg]

no way , really?

Michael (Aquilla) just parting out E39 540i/6, (120k miles) contact him , car even have fresh clutch kit (flywheel, clutch, basket)
get everything for the swap and get going

[cazal740i]

not out of the woods yet.....The clunk is coming from the rear...I believe what I have is a failing or failed Differential. It happens when I press the gas coming out of a turn into a new street...

[setconstr]

A stick shift is nice just not in LA yesterday at 3:00 PM I drove 100 miles got there at 6:30 PM average 20 MPH Thank God for an automatic !!!

[cazal740i]

Update
Car drove good on casual acceleration like it was a new car but hit the gas heavy after slow downs and rpms shoot high and bang. Transfailsafe kicked in for 1st time. Tranny is toast

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[setconstr]

Thats to Bad give Steve a call He's a young guy and really knowledgeable on all BMW's and has a 7 sport of his own has a nice shop

[cazal740i]

With tranny Level and slightly warmed tranny..I checked the fluid with dipstick...The fluid was at the 1 dot level...I said "f" it and added 3/4 Liter Pentosin fluid....Drove to work and Zero slips...Did kickdown mode and the SOB took off...Hmm...Was it low fluid this whole damn time?

- - - Updated - - -

Thats to Bad give Steve a call He's a young guy and really knowledgeable on all BMW's and has a 7 sport of his own has a nice shop

My finances are spread thin at moment... I cant afford $3k into a rebuilt....I went to some guy in Fullerton - Bimmer merchant..He had a 5Hp24 tranny with high stall converter 145k for $400.00...When I got there the tranny looked like it was under water...rust on top and all over ..The Torque converter was labeled N35...That's not the HIgh Stall converter ..L35 is the 1 I have and need....He had another off a 2003 540i and that was super clean but had the N35 too and 1 of the rear brackets of the tranny was broken off( where the engine mount connects to) that would of been Vibration city....He told all u do is remove the back end cover of the tranny and swap...Im no dummy...U have to take it apart from other side thru the guts to get that out....I left ASAP from there..

[setconstr]

You can probably find a parts car with Bad guides and a good tranny for $1000.00 if you have a place for it I see them every so often on CL...........

[cazal740i]

Murad motors has them 400-700 dollar range...but so far so good...Went to lunch for work and no issues again....Im just hoping my problems r past me

[clarkitect]

Sounds like good news! Hope that takes care if it for you.

You had mentioned that you’d get the TFS message once in a while. Think that could be related to low fluid? Were you getting that while it was slipping when driving?

[cazal740i]

Sounds like good news! Hope that takes care if it for you.

You had mentioned that you’d get the TFS message once in a while. Think that could be related to low fluid? Were you getting that while it was slipping when driving?

TFS was not coming up at all until that day I mentioned and it was after the Dipstick and fluid change...So far so good again Day 4 without slipping...Daily driver

[M I C H A E L]

If its a torque converter it would fail within 80-100 miles of the first indication of problems and throw a TFS all the time after that. The first indication is shuddering during constant speed cruise when you press the gas pedal slowly. Will accelerate fine with moderate acceleration, then deteriorate to TFS and nothing else.

Your problem sounds like a drum issue (clutch failure), so you need a rebuild. Doing fluid changes etc at this point is just wasting time and money.

You're at a decision point in the car's life. We can't make that for you, its all about how much you want the car to stay alive.

Good thing I got rid of it then, been gone since November of last year. It needed far too much work.


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