I pulled out my 3 speed automatic for my 2000 cavalier this weekend and the torque converter needed to be replaced. i got the tranny rebuilt but my question is when i pulled the torque converter out there was fluid in it. when i put the new one in do i need to put tranny fluid in??? and is there any torque requirements or a certain way the torque converter should line up to the fly wheel??
Yes the TC needs fluid in it, if not it will not move the pump and no fluid will move, let alone the damage it would do to the TC Clutch. Just keep putting fluid in and working the air out till you can't put any more fluid in, this can take a while.
There are only 3 bolts that go through the
flexplate and bolt into the TC. Torque the bolts to 52 ftlbs. You'll need some way to block the flexplate from turnining while torquing these bolts or the engine will rotate.
you don't need to fill the tc up before you put it in the tranny. the input shaft for the pump is splined directly in to the tc cover. the cover is bolted to the flexplate which turns with the engine. if the input shaft for the pump only turned when the turbine (in the tc) moved then you would have no line pressure when the car was sitting still or anytime unless the car was moving. thats why theres seperate input shafts. i know you can do this becuase i did it to my car a few months ago and it worked fine. plus thats how my insructor told me to do it and hes ranked 3rd in the top 10 master mechanics nation wide for g.m. so i think he knows what hes talking about. well good luck.
nathan
Yes, fill the converter to be safe. There is no reason to take an extra risk when there is no difference in work.
What is the oil doesn't flow for a second or two?
You would also prime a new engine first. Why not a converter?
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Thanks alot guys really helped alot
whats its going to hurt in the converter if no fluid flows? nothing. the tcc is not applied. theres nothing rubbing together. you can waste the time and fill the converter but you will probly be there a while. i see no point but i guess its up to you. good luck.
It will burn out the bearing and the clutch. Go try it.
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maybe people should learn about what there posting on before they post. let me say this again. it won't hurt the tc at all if you don't fill it before you put it in. like i said in my last post. i didn't fill my tc before i put it in the tranny and it works perfectly fine. lock up is really good and doesn't slip at all. i checked it with the tech 2 at work. i work in a gm dealership and non of the techs fill the tcs. it doesn't even say in the projedures to fill the tcs before instalation if it would hurt the tc by not filling it up, it would either come with fluid in it or there would be a big warning sign saying caution, no fluid. must fill before installation. i've never seen that on a tc. my buddy from colloge works at his dads tranny shop, and they never fill up the tcs before they put them in and they don't have a problem. my instructor at college worked at a tranny shop for a crap load of years and never filled the tcs. its something you don't have to do. you can if you want but you don't have to do it. as long as you put in plenty of fluid before you start the car (no more than 6 qts.) and don't drive it on the road until the tranny is full, it won't hurt anything.
the transmission shop where mine was rebuilt and installed filled mine partially. they also deal with MANY performance transmssions and have cars and bikes to back their work.
although just becuase one works at a dealership, doesnt mean much, especially just because one works at gm..... i;ve seen plenty of screw ups from gm employees.
and just because nothing happens right then and there doesnt mean you didnt do damage that will occur long term. hell you can add an ebay resistor to your car and it wont kill it, but over time it will.
the GM;s i go to fill em partially.
the race shops i go to fill em partially.
the people i know who run 10's and below always fill em, even the RWD folk...
extra insurance never hurt anyone or anything....
only a dumbass would risk parts like that for less than $5 worth of AT fluid
