Draining Torque Converter

[mrflint]

Hi All. I changed the transmission and filter on my 2002 SES. When the pan was off, I was looking for the torque converter and didn't see it. I was planning to drain it. Gave up looking and reassembled. I reused old solid gasket, filter was same as old one, but gasket was wrong (19 bolt holes and bigger larger than original). It took 6 quarts of Mercon V

My previous experience was years ago on fwd cutlass cierra

Can you tell me how to drain torque converter?

Thanks for helping

[wafrederick]

There is no way to drian the conver and has no drain plug.Do not have the transmission flushed,all I here are problems after a flush.When the flush machine is used,it back flushesthe dirt in the lines and goes into the valve body.The dirt gets stuck in the valve body and will cause problems.I know one transmission shop that does valve body cleanings and transmission rebuilds because someone had their transmission flushed.

[way2old]

Remove the little torque converter shield between the engine and transmission. Mark the flywhwwl and slowly turn engine by hand to see if there is a drain plug. They were installed both ways, with and without drain plugs. If your vehicle had a normal mileage for the year, you can have the transmission flushed with no il affects. It is only when there has been no maintenance on a transmission that a flush may cause a problem. Good luck.

[Huney1]

We've had this "flush or not to flush" debate a few times. I checked around and the Ford place does it for $100. FYI - I asked the service writer if he remembers cars coming back with tranny problems after a flush and he said none he can recall, and I know he's worked there six years or more.

If you get it done elsewhere make darn sure they use Mercon V and not regular Mercon.

[Millermagic]

The problem isn't flushing, but power flushing. Powerflushing is forcing new transmission fluid through the transmission. Flushing it and using the transmission itself to pump out the old fluid and suck in the new fluid isn't bad and it will also let the fluid in the torque converter get flushed.

[fdunford]

One can flush the TC at home. I have yet to try it.

http://www.taurusclub.com/wiki/index...ission_at_home

[wafrederick]

That is a flush and I did read that.The other problem with the machine is that it uses more fluid.I heard of one going bad after being flushed recently,It shifted fine before the flush and had to warm it up to shift it after a flush was done.The oil change place that did it did not change the filter.Change the fluid and filter after that and did not fix it.It needs a rebuild after being taken to a transmission shop

[Millermagic]

The link to tcca is what I'm going to be doing soon.

[way2old]

Originally Posted by wafrederick

That is a flush and I did read that.The other problem with the machine is that it uses more fluid.I heard of one going bad after being flushed recently,It shifted fine before the flush and had to warm it up to shift it after a flush was done.The oil change place that did it did not change the filter.Change the fluid and filter after that and did not fix it.It needs a rebuild after being taken to a transmission shop

The problem with your logic is the "oil change place" hires people off the street that do not know about cars. Most of them are paid comission if they can sell another service. I believe if you go to a reputable trans shop, garage or dealer, there is little to no danger of ruining the transmission. So think of us professional technicians before you lump all of us in with the "oil change place". Thanks.