Hi All,

My 1999 KH Verada experiences transmission shudder between 60-80kmh, whilst cruising and in overdrive only. I've been told my people that it is a common problem with the tranny, being the torque converter in particular. Its like driving over a corregated road!!

I've checked service bullitens and in the USA there is one issued that lists this problem for the diamante, but no such listing in Australia. I had the tranny power flushed at the problem went away for about 3 weeks, but then returned.

Has anyone else experienced this and if so, how did you go about fixing it, if you bothered to fix it at all.

Thanks,

Fab

Yeah seems like a common problem but it usually seems to be when accelerating from slow in second gear and building up. Never experienced it in 4th cruising. Yeah is related to the damper clutch in the torque converter. Doesnt fully grab when it should. It is there to make changes as smooth as possible acting like a clutch in a manual but when the car doesnt need to use the torque converter (speed and revs are right) then the damper clutch should fully release and no clutch is used. The shuddering as far as we are aware is the clutch not fully released so like a slipping feeling.

Dont know if there is a fix for this other than pulling out tranny for major work.

When you had the tranny flushed, did they just change the oil in tranny sump, or connect it up to a continuous feed and drain everything even in torque converter? They disconnect a line from the transmission and they continously pour new oil on one end when running, while draining it out the other until you get back to a nice new red oil look. Some mechanics just drain out in tranny sump which is only about 40% of all the transmission oil so you are just mixing some new oil with old oil.
You can usually tell by the price. Standard flush will be round $60-80 and full flush will be round $160 - 180.

A full flush is all i can advise to help but sounds like you have already had that done.

Its was the full powerflush, where they hook up the machine and contiuniously feed the entire tranny fluid thru it until it returns to a rich red colour. It cost me about $170.

I guess its either do this every now and then or have the torque converter replaced.

You can dissconnect the damper clutch to see if that is the problem. From what i understand if you disconnect it, it is always fully engaged. Have tried it before and the gear changes are very harsh but atleast you know if that would be the problem i guess.

I have the same problem with my TF wagon. I've had it for 2 years and the problem hasn't got any worse, or better after a service. Does anyone know if it can lead to bigger probs?

I doubt it will cause any probs. You cant really get rid of it so we have to learn to live with it.

I just cant get over how much smoother the gear changes are now that i had the tranny oil flushed. I cant even feel the changes like when it was new. And the guy said that my oil wasnt even that bad to start with. If your tranny is getting rougher in the cahnges then i highly recommend having a full flush done.

I'm having mine flushed next week. I will let you all know how it goes.

Thats exactly what mine is doing
im biting the bullet and doing a manual conversion :S

i too have started to experience this problem although it does not happen very often at all like, a manual conversion financially is out of the question so is there any other cheaper alternatives to correcting this, like upgrading the original auto transmission and torque convertor. If I could find an answer for about 1500 that would improve performance too then I would be interested in doing it. Anyone know anymore?

Best way to fix this problem cheaply, is to disconnect the torque converter lock up wire, my old TN had the same problem, disconnected the wire and it ran nice, but as already said, the changes are kind of harsh.