Automatic trans issue

[Importroller]

I think my Torque Converter is going bad. Lately, I've been having problems getting the car to roll once it goes into low gear from a dead stop or low speed acceleration. I did a stall speed test, and the RPMS went up over 1000rpms more than its suppose to do stock. SO now, I have to replace the TC

i just went in the garage and toyed around a bit to see if the TC was acting up.

at first, I would put it in gear, and I would need to push on the gas for the car to start moving. So I jacked it up, got the wheels off the ground and did the same thing. wheels only moved when I gave it gas. Its suppose to move automatically if its in gear and no brake is being applied. So I get under the car, to see if I had access to the TC bolts access panel, and the center cross member has it blocked. So, I cant get to it. but while I was under there (car still in gear) suddenly, the wheel (dr side) starts turning on its own. So now, I think it maybe a Valve body body or TCU (transmission Computer Unit) problem. I ran a self diag on the trans computer, and it came up normal..No problems. But there is a problem. So then I did anothe stall speed test. this time, it went up about 400rpms higher than normal, but quickly dropped back to the normal 2300rpms. So now, I dont think its the Torque Converter, but it maybe somethine electronic. But I know the TC isnt and electrical component, its a mechanical one. So even if there was a problem elsewhere, the stall speed shouldnt change. Im getting a VB upgrade in the next 2 or 3 weeks, and I think im gonna get a transmission flush this friday to see if that helps

[PinsNNeedles]

you know, i have been having the same exact problem w/ my 91, and everyone that i have tried to get to assist in trouble shooting has all said the same thing.......

get a 5spd swap!

-as that is not in the budget for the time being, i am thinking i will also have to go w/ the transmission flush & *hope* that will fix the problem. one question though, where is the tcu? is it under the center console or is it remotely close to the ecu?

[Importroller]

the TCU is in the passenger side kick panel. Im gonna go get a transmission flush right now. So I will see if that helps. I personally cant afford to do a 5spd swap either. there are way more important things in life than that

[Importroller]

well, I got a flush. no real emidiate change yet, but we will see as i drive around later.

Pins: How long has yours been doing this?

[PinsNNeedles]

maybe 2 weeks, but it has not been an ongoing thing. that is what makes me think that it is the tcu or the ecu one, but not entirely sure. have you tried resetting your ecu?

[Importroller]

see, mine isnt constant either. when I first start the car, and go driving, it drives perfectly fine. but after a few minutes of stop and go, or highway driving, it starts to act up and do that BS with the bad shifting in low gears. I reset the TCU, and Im gonna do the ECU later this week. I have a recall to take the car to nissan tomorrow, so I will ask them to reset the ecu all the way instead of by turning the screw on the ecu like we normally would do

As for what i told you about the location of your TCU, im not positive if its in that spot on the 240s

[PinsNNeedles]

ah.....didn't catch that U instead of an S...oops..i suppose i should just break down, take a weekend & do some hardcore trouble shooting.....let me know how it goes.

[Importroller]

I got the flush and that didnt really help because they dont service the filter or check in the pan for signs of damage. So yesterday, I dropped the pan, and found the magnets in the pan had a lot of metal shavings on them. after I cleaned the pan, i found more aluminum shavings. So something metal inside is wearing down dramatically. So my guess is, i will either need a rebuild, or just swap trannies. either way, im not looking forward to it at all. luckily the car is still driveable, I just cant beat on it. Now, i just cruise along

[Importroller]

its a lil fuzzy, but you can tell how much shavings are on the magnets

[PinsNNeedles]

geez, that's horrible...i REALLY hope that is not what is up w/ mine...i am seriously considering taking out a loan on my car to fund an sr swap w/ the drivetrain (or at least the majority of one), but who knows.....i first have to pay off one of my other cars & sell it, but in order to do that, i have to fix the transmission on it too.

I SWEAR IT NEVER ENDS!

[Altiman94]

i would look for a used transmission. Mod that transmission wtih your vb and possibly a high stall converter then swap it in the car. Use the old one to drive around on while the work is being done on the transmission you buy

[UncleBen]

Please dont take out a loan just to get a motor for your car. Thats overkill. Be smart about this and ask yourself if you would be happier down the road if you take out a loan for a motor and in 10 years are still paying it off cause interest is redicuous (exagerationg, but seriously).

[PinsNNeedles]

well, i understand what you are saying, after all, i am not a big fan of having any more monthly obligations than i have to, but a stock, malfunctioning automatic is driving me nuts. I guess there is always the option of keeping the ka & just putting a 5spd in it also, but i suppose i should check to see if i can get all of the parts for that for what it would cost me to get another auto & do anything with it....

[Importroller]

OK, New problem. I now dont have Reverse. If I put it in reverse its almost like its stuck between neutral and reverse. I think the half shaft on the driver's side is bad cause it chatters when it tries to move. But Im not sure. This thing is pissing me off. Plus, if i put it in N, the front wheels start turning like it was in drive, but it doesnt switch gears. So i dont know what is messed up. I checked the linkage, but its in the right spots

[PinsNNeedles]

hmmm....that's just wierd. i ended up putting a new ecu in mine & resetting it, and that fixed everything, leading me to beleive that i didn't really need the new ecu after all, but oh well.as far s your issue is sounding, between the reverse problem & the shavings in the bottom, it sounds like there is some serious wear to the internals on yor transmission. has there been any excessive wear & tear on it, or have there been any neutral drops? otherwise i would be lead to beleive that there is some other sort of problem like a lack of cooling that is the root of the wear.

then again, a licensed mechanic i am not, so i could always be wrong!

[Importroller]

I never nuetral drop. Learned that lesson years upon years ago. When I have the car off, and put it in N or P, it will start up. But if i have it in N when I start it, it will go into gear once the car is running. But with the car off, it will be in N with no gear engagement. So i figured something isnt meshing correctly when the car is running. If I put it in R while running, the car acts as though Im doing a stall speed test, and wont rev over 2300rpms and if the R decides to engage it chatters and the whole damn car shakes like its about to fall apart. But i took the wheel off, started it, put it in R, gave it some gas and watched and listened, and it sounds like the half shaft is locking itself to either the hub or the trans. Hard to tell when i dont have a helper.