Torque Converter Solenoid

[jbrote47]

I have a 1997 1500 with a 5.9, automatic tranny with O/D. Bought it used 3-4 months ago. most times when driving over 40-45 mph, a shudder starts and stops when I either accelerate or take my foot off the gas. The previous owner said he was told that it was the torque converter solenoid. Could it be that, and if so, what's the fix? Is it something that I can do myself?

[Tbird100636]

I have a 1997 1500 with a 5.9, automatic tranny with O/D. Bought it used 3-4 months ago. most times when driving over 40-45 mph, a shudder starts and stops when I either accelerate or take my foot off the gas. The previous owner said he was told that it was the torque converter solenoid. Could it be that, and if so, what's the fix? Is it something that I can do myself? A TCC solenoid will not cause a shudder. The torque converter clutch itself may be on the way out. Inside of the torque converter, trans. would have to come out. Have you tried driving with OD off yet??? This will prevent the 3-4 shift and that way you can see if in fact it's a TCC issue or a 4th gear issue, which is in the overdrive unit portion of the trans. (extension housing section).

[jbrote47]

I did try driving with the OD off and there was no difference. One thing is negleted to mention is that when the check engine light light came on, I hooked up the computer and the reading indicated the Torque Converter solenoid. Another thing that didn't occure to me to mention at the time is that the shudder only happens when the operating temp reaches it's normal. The shudder never happens when cold.

[Tbird100636]

I did try driving with the OD off and there was no difference. One thing is negleted to mention is that when the check engine light light came on, I hooked up the computer and the reading indicated the Torque Converter solenoid. Another thing that didn't occure to me to mention at the time is that the shudder only happens when the operating temp reaches it's normal. The shudder never happens when cold.
That's because the TCC isn't applied when cold. Where it isn't an overdrive issue, you can start by dropping the pan. Don't dump all of the fluid out when dropping the pan. Carefully lower it, then with a seperate drain pan, drain the pan until you can see the bottom of the pan. The magnet shouldn't look like a huge porcupine. If you see allot of gold dust/sand at the bottom of the pan, the TCC is definetely on the way out. If there is only a miniscule amount of gold dust, or none at all, then a TCC is the most logical cause.