what is a torque converter and what does it mean when is is out?

Question

I have an Audi A4 and that is what my mechanic told me it was.

Answer 1

It works as a fluid activated coupling between your engine and your transmission.The fluid being" transmission fluid".Anyway , as your engine increases rpm's from an idle ,usually around 700 rpm's , the torque converter activates.O.K. ,it looks like two round cake pans fused together.Inside it has spiraling fan blades in each half .As the fluid is churned by the engine rpms the opposing blades connected directly to the engine causes the fan blades in the half of the converter connecting to the transmission to turn , hence converting torque. What generally happens is that these blades wear down over time and/or break off.Your car may jerk at red lights or simply not move unless you really give it the gas.my advice stop driving immediately those broken blade parts will migrate through the fluid into the tranny and ruin it as well.this is the major cause of tranny failure.

Answer 2

The torque converter is what engages and dis-engages the transmission and engine. At idle it moves the trans back just enough so the car does not die. Once you apply gas the converter spins and engages the trans all the way. If you have ever driven a stick shift car and forgot to put the clutch in as you come to a stop and the car kind of lurches forward and the engine ends up stalling that what the convert keeps from happening.When it goes out the car could do 2 things stall when you come to a stop or slip when you take off. Kind of an unusual problem though.

Answer 3

If you mash the gas pedal and your car sets still but eventually moves then it is probably that. Make sure that the engine and transmission are warm and check the transmission fluid.It will do that if the fluid is low also. If it smells burnt then it may very well be your torque converter.

Answer 4

A torque converter is the "fluid drive" between engine and transmission. If it is broken, you can get it replaced with a new or rebuilt one.

Answer 5

without a torque convertor your tranmsision will have problems because in contril ans equalizes the energy in the car. It is possible to have loss of power and if bad may not even move. COST COULD BE HIGH.

Answer 6

Think of a plate with fins facing another plate with fins encased in a water tight enclosure with oil in it.
Do an image search on Yahoo or Google, you'll see what I mean. Anyway, the oil is leaking out and is starting to fail.

Answer 7

Go here to read all about it, it does the same in all cars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_converter