Help '94 Torque Coverter Won't Lockup

[BadTrak]

What would prevent the torque converter from locking? All the wires are good and it will lockup manualy by grounding the ALDL pin but it won't do it automatically. There are no active codes (no engine light on). Someone said to start with the throttle position sensor but what effect does this have on the transmission?

[ericn1300]

most common cause is trottle valve cable adjustment.

my tranny guy wanted to put a ford torque converter to eliminate the lockup. should have done it. it would tow over the mountains better.

[BadTrak]

The '94 has the 4L60E which is the electronic version of the 700R4. So I do not have the TV cable. Any other ideas?

[Chris Stewart]

Good work on forcing the lockup through the ALDL.
I don't have a '94 manual but I do have a '97 manual that some general info may help.
Stepping on the brake pedal releases the TCC, is there one or two switches operated by the brake pedal?
The motor and trans has to be normal temperature on a '97, are there any trans. fluid temperature switches unplugged on the trans fluid lines?
Does your motor show normal coolant temperatures?

[BadTrak]

Thanks Chris.

I have checked the switches, does it say which one controls the TCC (wire color or something)? The engine comes up to temp, I will have to see if there is any trans. temp. sensors. Does ABS come into play at all?

Thanks,

John

[maxwedge]

A trans capapble scanner should come up with a code it can also command the pcm to actuate the tcc, this will help check the circuitry.

[biv343]

I had a problem with the coolant temp sensor on my 85 S-series pickup. Everything seemed fine, no check engine light, but the torque converter wouldn't lock up. Replaced the coolant temp sensor on the advice of a mechanic friend, and all was well.

That being said, I'm sure there are differences between an 85 transmission and a 94 transmission.

[Chris Stewart]

This is still from my '97 manual....
The brown and purple wires coming from the brake pedal switch are TCC wires going to the VCM. The switch is open with the brake pedal depressed. The circuit must be closed to lock up the converter.

[Chris Stewart]

Hey Maxwedge, what year was the factory lightweight Mopars with the 426 MaxWedge Super Stock motors? Do you know how many were produced? I like'em.
"sittin' inna rickety old garage
was a brand new, shiney red Super Stock Dodge"

[maxwedge]

I was the Nhra record holder back in the early 80's with a 64 Ply Belvedere Max wedge, won a lot of races in those days on the east coast. Lots of 63's, not so many 64's especially aluminum fr. end, then came the hemi SS in late 64.

[Chris Stewart]

Do tell...I know something about how hard you have to work to set an NHRA record. I help on 4 cars that currently hold or have held records...I work on heads, intakes & carb. spacers at Bridges Perf. in Nashville as a hobby.
I'm glad you know the Max Wedge motors, I think they are an unexploited combination in SS. It's really too bad Robert Pond got in line before Joe Alluise Jr. in the race to the 9's in Stock...I guess it's all history now. I haven't seen Alluise in the lineups in a long time.

[maxwedge]

Aluise has run some 9.70's but this is far from a legal SS car, non stock heads, cubic inches and induction system, I helped run a 64 Doge back then in SSEA and 10.70 was it, the limiter was the lack of a real performance intake for the cossram, Diamond Engine made some but they took forever to get and barely .1 improvement. These cars are best suited today in a/sa and b/sa running low to mid 10's.

[maxwedge]

pS Aluise is running in the Top Stock open class now, his 9.98 was fantastic in A/sa, but the track and the day, I heard, was really fast. Back then Jerry Stein, in the red 64, and my partner Ron Domini had at it at almost every big meet we ran out at, it was a great time.

[Chris Stewart]

Top Stock...we did some #401 aluminum heads for McFarland's 396, took a coupla months to find what those heads wanted with .520 max. cam lift.
Does anybody besides Mopar cast a Max Wedge Crossram? Have you seen the "crossram" the Ogburn's cars run? They look a whole lot different than the intake on the Tueton's cars.

[maxwedge]

Diamond used to custom make a crossram modified stock manifold for SS classes for the wedge, stock can only use the stock manifold. The Hemi cross ram in SS is a thing of the past they are all using custom sheet metal manifolds the just barely pass tech with the carbs being slightly offset.