Torque Converter Lockup Issues

Edward Myers

Edward Myers

New member
Hello Everyone,

I'm having issues with my torque converter lock up, (03 4R70W), the converter is locking up fully way to early, sometimes 30 miles an hour at light throttle, and wont unlock unless I put a good amount of throttle into the car for a downshift. I just recently changed the fluid, filter dropped the valve body and shift kitted the car. Cleaned everything real nice, the car had locked up too early prior to this issue though. No codes, im at the point where im thinking of putting in a lockup switch or controller, the tranny works beautiful when its cold so I dont believe its mechanical, maybe just something electrical like really bad tuning or something.

All inputs are appreciated thanks.
 
Do you have a Lidio, Reinhart, Marty tune? Or is it stock?. Stock shift schedule sux, it does it for economy. if driving around town, shift OD off. But if you don't have a tune, you need one, it will correct the shifting and wake up the car
 
the tune is not from marty, or the other people mentioned and to be quite honest, I dont think it did anything transmission wise, I've heard that stock shifting sucks but if I`m correct converter lockup is disabled until at least 40 MPH so my lockup occuring at 30MPH led me to believe more of an issue rather then stock shifts points, when the converter isn't locking early the shifts points are pretty good, its just when the converter starts locking its way below stall speed so its hard to power through the gears.
 
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Sounds like factory spec right now. Stock it can be in overdrive and converter locked at 35 mph. Marty can fix it easily.
 
Get a flash tune for the vehicle from one of our vendor's. That will solve your problem. I remember my car's locking the converter in 3rd gear around 35mph and it would shift to OD around 41 or 42mph and lock the converter too. It was awful.
 
8UWITH6 said:
Get a flash tune for the vehicle from one of our vendor's. That will solve your problem. I remember my car's locking the converter in 3rd gear around 35mph and it would shift to OD around 41 or 42mph and lock the converter too. It was awful.
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Amazing that it would be that awful from the factory. looks like im off to the vendors
 
Mo's speed shop. 770-222-5015, his wife Val runs the office, Tell her you are interested in knowing More about the Marauder tune. She will have Marty call you.
 
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I'll still look into a tune from the vendors at one point but whats your opinions on a control switch for the converter so that its just an on off application? Anyone ever done that? thinking of doing a three way switch which will allow the pcm to control lockup for economy on trips on one setting or on the second setting it disengages lockup for performance, the best of both worlds if you will. Just curious as towards your thoughts.

Sent from my SM-G715U using Tapatalk
 
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Was it a name brand shift kit or "J mod"? Some shift kits for the 4r70w try to mechanically do things that are pcm controlled.
I would not install a separate switch for lockup, likely to cause more problems than it solves. A tune from a reputable tuner will "fix" the shift points and make them much more enthusiast oriented rather than the factory meh that'll get it down the road with the fewest complaints shift schedule.
I personally recommend Marty @ Mo's. I have only had pleasant and informative conversations with him and have only heard good things from others.
My car consistently shifts into 3rd gear and immediate lockup at 29-30mph. I'm pretty sure it's in the tune which is leftover from the previous owner, have a few things to fix/upgrade before Marty works his magic. I do vaguely remember reading something about a check ball that wears in the valve body and can cause early lockup. I could be wrong, I'm still running my spare trans and with the trilogy/4.10s low end torque isn't lacking.
 
Grimrepairman said:
Was it a name brand shift kit or "J mod"? Some shift kits for the 4r70w try to mechanically do things that are pcm controlled.
I would not install a separate switch for lockup, likely to cause more problems than it solves. A tune from a reputable tuner will "fix" the shift points and make them much more enthusiast oriented rather than the factory meh that'll get it down the road with the fewest complaints shift schedule.
I personally recommend Marty @ Mo's. I have only had pleasant and informative conversations with him and have only heard good things from others.
My car consistently shifts into 3rd gear and immediate lockup at 29-30mph. I'm pretty sure it's in the tune which is leftover from the previous owner, have a few things to fix/upgrade before Marty works his magic. I do vaguely remember reading something about a check ball that wears in the valve body and can cause early lockup. I could be wrong, I'm still running my spare trans and with the trilogy/4.10s low end torque isn't lacking.
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I will tell you this, the tranny did it before the kit, I was doing a trans service, so I figured id drop the valve body while i'm in there, I put a Superior Products shift kit (doesnt mess with TCC) and Tuff Plate (Thicker and pre drilled out) in there (I think JMOD is a little janky), and I did know of the check ball issue and replaced them all with better harder ones, but unfortunately non of them were really beat so my hopes of finding one beat and fixing the issue were kinda low. My prediction was correct as my problem still exists hence why I`m creating this thread on the forum. I just never thought that the base parameters were THAT bad, considering that most TCC`s are disabled until 40 MPH and also the fact that this is a marauder, would never think ford would release such terrible profiles on a performance car. Thought it could be something unknown to me, but considering a couple people here said that seems about right for base profiles my disappointment in ford grows LOL

P.S. I see your from califon NJ love to hear from NJ, I`m in ocean county
 
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