92 corolla torque converter or a/t?

[waynetherooks]

I have a 92 corolla with the 1.6L engine with 170K miles, engine runs like a champ in park or neutral, but I put her in gear and I hear a scraping sound like the torque converter is not bolted to the flywheel. No idea what this could be but when it all started I was going 60mph and the car jerked as if i momentarily stomped the brake pedal, it quickly released and continued down the highway as if nothing happened, yet it was randomly shuddering as if I were driving over the small speed bumps at 4 way stops. In the beginning it was a tolerable sound that didn't seem quite like an emergency, but it gradually got worse every time i drove the car. Eventually it got to the point where it wouldn't go one mile per hour in gear without making this grinding sound, so i had it towed home. Now I am in the process of removing the transmission to take a look at the torque converter and flywheel in hopes that this is not a bad transmission. I'm a mechanic, but have never had torque converter problems so I'm not sure exactly what the symptoms are.. As far as the tranny goes, it shifts smooth and on time, every time. It has shown no signs of going out. The fluid is still a good red tint and free of the glittery sparkly metal flakes, but that's just whats on the dipstick as I haven't drained the fluid yet and looked in the pan. Any ideas? I will get back on with an update after transmission and torque converter are out of the car.

[blb]

There are two necessary fill points for ATF on this transmission. One through the dipstick tube (for the tranny) , and one through the plug on the side of the trans that faces the firewall (for the gearbox). I'm betting you let the gearbox go dry.

[Donald]

Originally Posted by blb

There are two necessary fill points for ATF on this transmission. One through the dipstick tube (for the tranny) , and one through the plug on the side of the trans that faces the firewall (for the gearbox). I'm betting you let the gearbox go dry.

You mean differential, not gearbox, right?!

[waynetherooks]

I've actually heard the same thing from a buddy, that it sounded like the spider gear in the differential was gone. I was unaware that you needed to put fluid in another place on this transmission, do you just use regular ATF? Is it expensive to have repairs done on the differential or is it something i could do myself without buying all kinda special tools?

[blb]

Originally Posted by Donald

You mean differential, not gearbox, right?!

You are correct!

[blb]

Originally Posted by waynetherooks

I've actually heard the same thing from a buddy, that it sounded like the spider gear in the differential was gone. I was unaware that you needed to put fluid in another place on this transmission, do you just use regular ATF? Is it expensive to have repairs done on the differential or is it something i could do myself without buying all kinda special tools?

Yes, the Toyota Corolla owner's manual specifies Dexron ATF for both fill points. I've never bothered to repair differentials that were run dry. I always found it less expensive, easier, and quicker to just swap in a whole known good transmission from a wrecked Corolla or Prizm of the same vintage.

[Donald]

Originally Posted by blb

Yes, the Toyota Corolla owner's manual specifies Dexron ATF for both fill points. I've never bothered to repair differentials that were run dry. I always found it less expensive, easier, and quicker to just swap in a whole known good transmission from a wrecked Corolla or Prizm of the same vintage.

+1

Differential repair requires shimming, assembleing the case halves, doing a drag check, dissassembleing again and re shimming.

Much easier to swap out with a working salvaged transmisson.


Read here:
http://www.wcengineering.com/articles/toyotatrans.html