A340 lock up issues... have i blown the solenoid????

[TheStitt]

Hi all

I have a fully manualised A340e behind a 7M

Now the car has had some issues and has been on and off the road. I have just finished the latest build and am having issues with the lock up.

when the car was first made auto Lock was working and would come on straight away as soon as I flicked the switch. Now its not coming on at all

When the car was last on the road I did the wrong thing and forgot lock up was on and shifted a couple of times.

In the last few days when I have had the car on the road, lock up after the switch was flicked was taking any where up to 10 secs to engage, and was really vague on disengagement. To the point now its not working.

It worked this morning with cold trans temp, then wouldn't engage later.

I am about to go and check wiring and make sure I don't have a loose/dirty wire, however do these sound like symptoms of a dead lock up solenoid or have I done more damage to the box??

Other than this issue the box is performing very well.

If it is a solenoid are they hard to change??

Stitt

[1JZ-Rolla]

Hard to say if you've done damage from shifting with it on mate........ I'd not expect the shock loads to damage the clutch itself though, more the other internals in the box.

Solenoid failing is unlikely, but worth checking if you can trigger it with the car off with an independent power source, you'll hopefully hear it click.

Odd about the cold vs hot fluid issue........ have you checked the oil level with the car running after a decent drive once the oil is up to temp? The A340 can be a bit precious about the oil level either being too high or too low.

[Typhoon86]

Probably burnt out the lockup clutch on the converter. They can't handle much torque, which is why they're set up to only engage under low load/cruise conditions.

[1JZ-Rolla]

Except when they've been upgraded by MV autos, in which case they are tough as nuts

Yours was a built/modified converter wasn't it Stitty?

[TheStitt]

IS an MV converter Higher stall not sure about the lock up though,

Box is over filled Im lowering now and will be test driving soon.

I physically heard the solenoid working last night. Engine off, in O/D and in 3rd I could here it working

[1JZ-Rolla]

Fingers crossed for you mate.

Mike generally upgrades the clutch in the 2800rpm stallie that he does, even if you haven't specified it. Can never be sure though.

[TheStitt]

well still no lock up, came back dipped the box, I took to much out, so just topped it up, will let it flow down and then go for another drive, Im starting to think the dubbo fuel bill is going to be horrible

[1JZ-Rolla]

mate, if you're worried about your fuel bill for the Toyotanats, then you've got your priorities all up to shit to begin with, and might have to question why you are going at all Haha

The extra bit of fuel you use on the highway will be nothing on what you use once there.... if the past is anything to go by

[TheStitt]

true true...

Im thinking of giving MV a call see if they can diagnose over the phone, cause they will probably be the ones to fix it

[cambelt]

Drop the Pan off , then filter and pull the very front solonoid out and check to see if there is any shit in the hole , clean it then operate the solonoid while blowing thru it and make sure it shuts off and then flows as you power it up . If the solonoid works perfect then it Could also be a stuck lock up relay valve but that's valve body off for that one .
Dave

[Typhoon86]

Except when they've been upgraded by MV autos, in which case they are tough as nuts

Yours was a built/modified converter wasn't it Stitty?

Except that it's impossible to mod the torque converter clutch to handle lots of power, which is why it drops out under load in any auto box, in any car of any power.

[TheStitt]

So its fixed, accidently grabed lock up on the way home from dubbo and it worked.


What happenned over the weekend was that phil adjusted the line pressure cable. I had way to much tension on the cable so the box was under a lot of pressure. Did this fix it not sure.

Did a full day of flogging at the drags or the really hot oil on the way up help it?? Not sure

But its working now

thanks guys

[blakeg]

it just needed an italian tune up.