Has anybody else disabled their lock up solenoid?

It seems to work pretty good for me so far, just disabled it 3 days ago.

The RPMs are not very different...

Push the OD off button, I do that when I am towing under 60MPH with a load more than 5K.
Why butcher the wiring when all you need to do is push the button?
Why disable the lock up clutch in the torque converter?
It cuts down on fuel consumption and reduces heat build up in the trans.

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2006 Pearl Green CRD
Magnaflow 2 1/2" Cat Back
KJ Extra Leg Room Brackets, Carter Lift Pump, V6 Airbox, ORM
Fuel cooler, Oil Separator, Progard 7
Gauges EGT Boost Trans Temp Oil Pres, Michelin LXT AT2 245 70 R16
7,000# Draw Tight hitch, PML EX Deep Trans Pan
Centrifuge, SunCoast, Transgo, RAM TCM, InMotion Stage 2
Wife's 99 TDI VW Beetle

Didn't have to touch the wires, per se, there is a specific connector for the converter solenoid.

I disconnected this on my previous Jeep early on in the buildup. It was a case of too big of tires, and too high of gear ratio. Worked great for the 6 years that I drove it.

This time I am trying to eliminate what I believe to be converter shutter.

If you turn off O/D your transfer will stay in 4th gear...good for towing but too many rpms for good MPG.

My friend disabled his clutch lockup and picked up MPG...

On our transmissions 4th and 5th are BOTH over drive ratios so the tranny would stay in 3rd

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Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

Which gear is it? 3rd, 4th, or 5th? How do you disable? Pics?

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2005 Red KJ CRD, TOTALED 12-21-11

2005 Blue KJ Sport CRD, GDE, Magnaflow muffler, Destination AT, Amsoil filters, Fumoto, Timing belt and waterpump @ 99,600, 11 blade nylon fan, 2905 hayden fan clutch, EURO TC




Arguing about whether the glass is half full or half empty misses the point: the bartender cheated you.
Unknown

Here's the rest of the story...

Bought a CRD...

Transmission seemed to be fine...couple weird shifts but nothing slipping or anything...

Did the glow plugs and ECO tune...

Now when I drive on hilly 2 lane hwy with cruise on @ 60mph it seems to shudder going uphill occasionally.

Turned the O/D off and drove for awhile...no shudder (lost 2-3 MPG).

Back to normal and a 3 oz. of shudder fix fluid, still occasional shudder.

Figured out that with O/D turned off you only have a 3 speed transmission.

Unplugged connector for the torque converter solenoid (I think?).

No more shudder (of course.)

I am checking fuel mileage with solenoid unhooked...will post later.

BTW it is easy to locate, passenger side of transmission, toward the back, right next to an exhaust hanger, it is a square connector with a red safety lock. The kind you have to slide out before you can unplug....

http://s19.postimage.org/8k5unt5rn/IMAG0160.jpg

P.S. If your JEEP Explodes with this unplugged or something else bad happens to it...I wanna see pics of the carnage...but I can't be held responsible. I'm sure this plug has a "DO NOT UNPLUG UNDER PENALTY OF LAW" tag on it somewhere!?

no offense - but why don't you just fix the transmission?

yeah - it's a bit expensive now - but if you compare that to exploding somewhere you have to be towed in from - and then you have to try and clean the garbage out of the lines to try and prevent it from dying again - or replacing the entire unit - that's expensive.

get the newer 'Euro' style torque converter and swap it out - it'll save a lot of future headaches.

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2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

The eco tune is limited to 270 ft*lb in lockup. Your converter is just a borderline unit. I would recommend plugging the wiring back and running with the shudder until you decide to upgrade the TC. It could last a year or two if you drive around the shudder by backing off throttle a bit (no cruise up a hill) or going full throttle to get a downshift whenever shudder occurs. Prolonged shudder further weakens the lockup clutch springs and wears friction material away on the clutch disk. The TC won't grenade from this, it just slowly becomes more annoying when driving.

If the trans does not engage immediately after a cold start when put in gear it might signal a problem with the filters and then it would be worthwhile to invest in a new TC soon to avoid risking other issues.

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Providers of wholly developed aftermarket solutions for the KJ CRD.
(248) 977 - 9531

After I check my mileage I'll plug it back in to see if shudder returns.

I will probably swap it out later this summer or fall but didn't really want any more wear on my lockup mechanism and that stuff will be passing through my trans

I don't see The engineering advantage of the lockup. Does it really help mileage that much.

But then again I'm not an engineer...those are the guys who spec'd out our egr systems

The lockup feature is huge for mileage. When the TC is unlocked it is always slipping so engine revs a couple hundred rpm more and the transmission fluid is heating up more than it should. The extra heat generated is lost fuel economy and higher rpm is lost fuel economy. It would explain the 3 mpg drop you noticed.

_________________
Providers of wholly developed aftermarket solutions for the KJ CRD.
(248) 977 - 9531

16 MPG is what it came out to...My normal is 19 or 20

This might be OK if you have major prob with converter and need to drive home but it appears the mileage suffers alot more than I thought it would.

But, it is good to know, contrary to what some have said, that my Jeep is safe to drive for a little while atleast until I get my parts and stuff together...

I will now plug this solenoid back in and order some parts...

Haven't plugged it back in yet...

Another fillup and got 22 MPG!

That improves average to 20.

Which is normal for my Jeep.

This experiment continues to tantalize...