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I have a two questions related to the torque converter and shifting.
First, is it possible to lock the torque converter on first gear if I press the gas pedal hard?
Second, is shifting while the torque converter locked good for the car's transmission?
Thank you!
The torque converter locks when the engine rpm (impeller/housing speed of converter) and the transmission input shaft (turbine speed of converter) are roughly equal -- thereby improving efficiency for cruising, but also mitigating any torque multiplaction effect of the torque converter. With the TC locked, the engine is effectively directly coupled to the transmission input, and no longer uses a fluid drive.
This is controlled by the transmission control module (TCM), and usually is only activatd in top gear, and at steady cruise (low throttle position).
In some cases (my '95 Bronco, I think), this can happen in 3rd and 4th gear. In some cases (my '95 Bronco for certain), this can be defeated with a switch, and a light comes on (mislabeled "OVERDRIVE" in my opinion), which is useful when towing heavy loads and some converter "slip" is warranted.
Any input from the accelerator decouples the TC friction clutch, and the transmission reverts to a fluid drive scenario with torque multiplication. This also occurs while shifting (if any), as such a shift would be very harsh wihout the fluid damping effect of the TC. So in most vehicles, a downshift to 3rd would uncouple the TC clutch. I'm not aware of vehicles that lock up the TC clutch in lower gears, as this wouldn't make much sense. Lifting the throttle usually commands the transmission into the highest gear (for fuel efficiency) unless your TCM has a "sport" mode or some such that holds it in gear longer.
The torque converter lock on a typical 90s 4 speed automatic won't engage unless the transmission is in the highest gear, and the throttle position is fairly low. The over drive cancel will make 3rd the highest gear and then it can lock in 3rd on most transmissions.
More modern 6 speed transmissions keep the torque converter locked even when shifting. The gear ratio differences are much smaller which allows for smooth shifting even with the TC locked.
Pressing hard on the gas will do just the opposite! It will make the torque converter unlock. This improves the drive-ability of the vehicle and makes shifting smoother. It also reduces wear on the bands because the torque converter can take some of the slip instead of having the transmission bands drag the engine to the new speed when shifting.
Shifting with the torque converter locked the won't damage the transmission because the transmission control unit is designed to not allow this to happen unless the transmission is designed to handle it. If you modify your transmission control logic then it's a different story.
