Transmission

CREGAN107

MEMBER
2003 ACURA TL
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
118,000 MILES

Transmission failure, torque converter fried. First diagnosis was that the control for fluid going to the cooler failed.
Aamco store owner now claims that he discovered that the ground wire from the battery to the car was disconnected. And because of that, the electrical system "found ground" through the torque converter and fried it. Sound pretty fishy to me.

4 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Well that is just so much rubbish, a blocked cooler will cook the trans.

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Sunday, August 7th, 2011 AT 12:11 PM

CREGAN107

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thanks. He said that the cooler was blocked. But this electrical thing sounds like a way for him to say it's not his fault. He did the new transmission 2 years ago. What would cause total blockage of the cooler? He said he couldn't blow it out at all.

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Sunday, August 7th, 2011 AT 12:15 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Often this is a resault of years of build up, even if it was flushed out not all core tubes will be clean, I always get a new cooler when I fit trans to customers cars, I was caught out once by just cleaning and it cost me over 2K, so every trans I fit gets a new cooler and I have never had a come back since.

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Sunday, August 7th, 2011 AT 12:19 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Prior to transmission failure, debris would often be sent to the coolers and they can never be flushed clean, a new one is the answer.

If the cooler is reused, the clogging would get worse and it would only be a matter of time before they give way completely.

The missing ground would most likely fry the electrical components rather than the torque cponverter.

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