Torque Converter Lock Up Kit

[stevemc181]

Are these mainly used for towing or would you install one for day to day driving?

They state on the instructions that you simply won't need one if you aren't towing. This is a bit misleading as many of us have found. You would mainly use this in top gear on the hwy, or on long beach runs when you have settled into a gear.
The Paj seems to like keeping the transmission unlocked when you start to add weight and taller tyres, loaded roofrack etc. Once you really start to pay attention to the transmission temps and the revs it is easy to see how often the transmission stays unlocked on the highway and the temp rise is quite rapid. Mine was heading up towards the 120° mark, even on flat sections of hwy. This will solve that issue.

Earlier TC lock up devices were throwing a few fault codes, but these new Gen II units utilise Pule Width Modulation so they basically mimic the ECU signal to the Torque Converter and by all reports I have read they cause no issues. The biggest killer of transmissions is temperature, so the benefits of this are immediately noticeable.

[Naviguesser]

Will be watching this Steve.
Will be interested to get your feedback after a few more km

[Scouter1]

Will be watching this Steve.
Will be interested to get your feedback after a few more km

+1 very interested in this one as well.

Cheers,
Stephen

[KiwiNTPajero]

whats the approx cost if you also do the valve body.I want it for steep downhills which there are plenty here in nz

[stevemc181]

whats the approx cost if you also do the valve body.I want it for steep downhills which there are plenty here in nz

You'd be looking around the $2000 mark fitted.
$495 for the PWM Lock Up (Supply Only)
and pretty sure its around the $1000 mark for the exchange valve body, they will also require a deposit until they receive your old valve body.

[ticky]

Steve,

I am mainly interested in the kit for towing. Am I right in assuming it is an All Electrical Kit and can be fitted by anyone who has done a bit of Auto Electrical work, or do you need a Trans Specialist to install the unit (Not Interested in the Valve Body Kit)

ALSO, How much was the Kit Supply Only (No Valve Body Kit)

Thank you

Steve

[stevemc181]

I've just returned from a trip out to the Goldfields in WA and had a bit more of a chance to use the Lock Up switch. Everything seemed to be going well and the trans temps were rarely above 75° with the Lock Up engaged. However on the 3rd day of my trip, I was cruising along a relatively smooth dirt road at 105kph with the Lock Up engaged, Cruise Control On and the transmission in Drive. I had been cruising along for about ten minutes when the cruise control disengaged itself and the Check engine light, along with the flashing Neutral Light appeared.

I pulled over and scanned for fault codes with the torque app, I can't remember the exact code now and never logged it at the time. but it was something to do with the Torque Converter Solenoid. I managed to clear the code and carried on, but being in the middle of the boonies, I was reluctant to use the Lock Up switch again. Today I waited until I was back on the Great Eastern Hwy near Coolgardie and engaged the Lock Up again. I covered around 500kms with it engaged with no further issues.

The only thing I did differently was to only use it in manual mode. This has me a bit worried though, as I thought the 2nd Gen PWM kits had rectified the throwing of fault codes. I'll have a chat to Wholesale autos when I get a chance and see what they think the issue could be. The last thing I want is for the Lock Up to cause any issues when in the middle of nowhere. Fuel economy and trans temps were certainly much better than I have been getting, with an average of 12.8lph sitting on 112kph, no roof load on this trip though apart from a gas bottle.

[KiwiNTPajero]

very interested in outcome.I really want this switch to help on the descents here.Was with a mate in his old prado.They must have a lock up system when in low range first in the auto as it would hold on any grade,no brakes no throttle required to increase revs either.Select second and would just coast unless you did the throttle and brake thing.Seemed to lock up better than the pajero in first but hard to compare unless trying both vehicles n same slope.Other wise the auto was awful compared to the mitsi.much older vehicle tho to e fair(98 prado)

[Dicko1]

I've just returned from a trip out to the Goldfields in WA and had a bit more of a chance to use the Lock Up switch. Everything seemed to be going well and the trans temps were rarely above 75° with the Lock Up engaged. However on the 3rd day of my trip, I was cruising along a relatively smooth dirt road at 105kph with the Lock Up engaged, Cruise Control On and the transmission in Drive. I had been cruising along for about ten minutes when the cruise control disengaged itself and the Check engine light, along with the flashing Neutral Light appeared.

I pulled over and scanned for fault codes with the torque app, I can't remember the exact code now and never logged it at the time. but it was something to do with the Torque Converter Solenoid. I managed to clear the code and carried on, but being in the middle of the boonies, I was reluctant to use the Lock Up switch again. Today I waited until I was back on the Great Eastern Hwy near Coolgardie and engaged the Lock Up again. I covered around 500kms with it engaged with no further issues.

The only thing I did differently was to only use it in manual mode. This has me a bit worried though, as I thought the 2nd Gen PWM kits had rectified the throwing of fault codes. I'll have a chat to Wholesale autos when I get a chance and see what they think the issue could be. The last thing I want is for the Lock Up to cause any issues when in the middle of nowhere. Fuel economy and trans temps were certainly much better than I have been getting, with an average of 12.8lph sitting on 112kph, no roof load on this trip though apart from a gas bottle.

Things like that scare the bejeezuz out of you alright. I am thinking of getting one on the NW as well. I will keep an eye on this and hope that as the "guinea pig" you have no more issues and all is plain sailing. Hopefully the suppliers will be able to answer all of your questions and restore absolute faith in the product. I mainly want it for highway cruising.


cheers

[old Jack]

These modern automatics with electronic control are all wonderful when they work but when they throw a wobbly in the bush and go into limp mode you need to have a scan tool to read the code and reset it.
Most problems a communication errors caused by loose plugs, dirty connections or crushed wiring. Car will still run and drive with most fault codes but in some cases engine and gearbox performance is right off the pace so expect fuel economy to worsen and the use of manual gear shifting.

Steve, code may be stored in Freeze Frame Data in AT ECU. If so then a MUTIII should be able to read it. I doubt whether it is the TC override kit with PWM unless there is a connection issue, most fault codes with dampener clutch solenoid store either high or low voltage, incorrect duty cycle or communication error with CAN system.

cheers, old Jack.

[Dicko1]

These modern automatics with electronic control are all wonderful when they work but when they throw a wobbly in the bush and go into limp mode you need to have a scan tool to read the code and reset it.
Most problems a communication errors caused by loose plugs, dirty connections or crushed wiring. Car will still run and drive with most fault codes but in some cases engine and gearbox performance is right off the pace so expect fuel economy to worsen and the use of manual gear shifting.

Steve, code may be stored in Freeze Frame Data in AT ECU. If so then a MUTIII should be able to read it. I doubt whether it is the TC override kit with PWM unless there is a connection issue, most fault codes with dampener clutch solenoid store either high or low voltage, incorrect duty cycle or communication error with CAN system.

cheers, old Jack.

You must spend a lot of time looking into various issues with the challenger/pajero Jack. I wouldn't have the patience. I find your input very interesting and informative. I reckon you have helped out quite a few on here.

Cheers

[old Jack]

Thanks Dicko,
Unfortunately I have had to learn about all this stuff as I have had issues whilst remote solo travelling. I am lucky my day job involves the trouble shooting of high speed packaging machinery and the intergratiion of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and electronic systems so at least this gives me a head start over most at working through these sorts of issues.

cheers, old Jack.

[stevemc181]

Unfortuantely the issue will need to wait for a couple of weeks. I am heading overseas for work tonight and just ran out of time to look into it further at the moment.
I am convinced however that it is to do with the PWM Lock Up kit, the fault was Torque Converter Solenoid Clutch or something similar. I didn't think to record the fault in the Torque app as I thought it would record it automatically, but have since found out this isn't the case and I should have saved the log.
It's too much of a coincidence for this to be the first time I have given the TC Lock Up switch a good long run and have a fault code appear. Never had one at all before fitting it.

I'll try and reproduce the error when I return and have a bit more time to investigate.

[kiwi1973]

Did you manage to get any further with this yet Steve?

[stevemc181]

Did you manage to get any further with this yet Steve?

Sorry Mate, just haven't had the time to go for a good long run again. I've used the Lock Up without issue on a few freeway drives but needs more testing before I'll be confident in it again. Just had too much on with work and renovating the house these past few weeks

I'll be heading off for an overnighter in a couple of weeks time with a couple of the forum guys and will give it a run for a hundred km's or so.