Your Volkswagen Golf’s torque converter is responsible for converting the energy generated by the engine at the flywheel and transferring it to the transmission, creating a bridge between the engine and the transmission.
Full Answer
What is a a torque converter?
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling, which allows the engine to spin somewhat independently of the transmission.
How does torque affect my golf clubs?
When you have more torque in your club shaft, the twisting of the shaft can result in a ball flight slightly left or right of target. This also means you can hit the ball a little further, because at the time the club strikes the ball the torque can cause the club head to go faster. There are pros and cons.
How does a torque converter work when idling?
However, on a torque converter setup, there is a jackshaft that connects the driven pulley to the rear axle via sprockets and chains. When idling, torque converters are fully disengaged.
What causes a torque converter to break?
There are several common ways a torque convertor may break down, some of which can be dangerous. Continuous high levels of slippage in the converter can cause overheating, which can damage the elastomer seals that keep the transmission fluid in the converter.
What happens when your torque converter goes out?
When the torque converter starts malfunctioning, you may feel shuddering and even slipping in overdrive. You usually notice your car shuddering because it feels like it's vibrating. Your car will vibrate even when you're not going very fast. The shuddering makes the car lag and is very noticeable.
What are the symptoms of a failing torque converter?
6 Signs of a Failing Torque ConverterLoss of Acceleration. ... Slipping Between Gears. ... Vehicle Won't Shift at All. ... Transmission is Overheating. ... Transmission Fluid Leak. ... Bad Transmission Fluid.
What is the main purpose of a torque converter?
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that transfers rotating power from a prime mover, like an internal combustion engine, to a rotating driven load. In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter connects the power source to the load.
Does the torque converter affect the transmission?
Can A Bad Torque Converter Damage A Transmission? Yes, absolutely. Bad torque converters can cause overheating, friction damage, and transmission fluid degradation. The longer these problems continue, the more damaged your transmission will get.
How do I test my torque converter?
Put the pedal to the metal While pressing on the brake pedal, press the accelerator to the floor for two to three seconds. Don't exceed five seconds, or you risk blowing out the transmission. The RPM the engine maxes out at is the stall speed.
How much does it cost to fix a torque converter?
Most auto repair shops will charge someone anywhere from $600 to $1000 for a torque converter replacement job. If you would rather do the replacement job yourself, then a new torque converter will cost anywhere from $150 to $500. The exact cost depends on the make and model of your vehicle.
What causes torque converter failure?
Many torque converter failures can be caused by excessive friction, which means the torque converter's needle bearings are damaged. Also, a faulty seals or faulty clutch solenoid can be to blame. A faulty seal can allow fluid to leak and become contaminated. A bad torque converter can damage a transmission.
Is torque converter a clutch?
A torque converter provides the same function in an automatic vehicle as a clutch in a manual vehicle – allowing the engine to keep running as the wheels come to a stop.
Can a torque converter lock up an engine?
There are basically three ways a torque converter lockup clutch can fail: It can stay locked up, stalling the engine when the car is braked to a stop; it can never lock up, which shows up as an increase in fuel consumption and radiator temperature; or it can slip when engaged, allowing engine speed surges at a constant ...
Will a bad torque converter cause shifting problems?
Slipping A torque converter can slip out of gear or delay a shift its fin or bearing is damaged. This is because the torque converter changes the engine's torque into hydraulic pressure that is required to ship the transmission's gears.
Can a torque converter keep a car from moving?
The most common symptom of a bad torque converter is a slipping transmission during acceleration. You may also notice issues like a rough idle, rough acceleration, and noises from the transmission. Sometimes, your car won't even move when the converter is bad.
Does torque converter affect acceleration?
By redirecting fluid flow, the converter multiplies the torque produced by the engine enough to propel a vehicle down the road. Most converters multiply torque by a ratio of at least 2:1, improving vehicle acceleration substantially.
How much does it cost to replace a torque converter?
If you plan on replacing a torque converter yourself, then you should expect a repair cost that ranges between $150 and $500. If you plan on visiti...
What causes a torque converter to fail?
Most of the time, torque converters fail due to excessive friction, which also means that the torque converter's needle bearings may be damaged. In...
What are the symptoms of a failing torque converter?
When your torque converter starts to fail, you may feel the vehicle vibrating or perhaps even slipping during an override. Your vehicle may also vi...
What does a bad torque converter sound like?
You could hear a variety of noises if your torque converter has gone bad, including whining and even when the car is in park.
How does torque converter work?
Modern torque converters can multiply the torque of the engine by two to three times. This effect only happens when the engine is turning much faster than the transmission. At higher speeds, the transmission catches up to the engine, eventually moving at almost the same speed.
Why is a torque converter important?
Benefits and Weak Points. In addition to the very important job of allowing your car come to a complete stop without stalling the engine, the torque converter actually gives your car more torque when you accelerate out of a stop. Modern torque converters can multiply the torque of the engine by two to three times.
What happens when a torque converter spins?
As it spins, fluid is flung to the outside, much as the spin cycle of a washing machine flings water and clothes to the outside of the wash tub. As fluid is flung to the outside, a vacuum is created that draws more fluid in at the center. The pump section of the torque converteris attached to the housing.
What is the housing of a torque converter?
Stator. Transmission fluid. The housing of the torque converter is bolted to the flywheel of the engine, so it turns at whatever speed the engine is running at. The fins that make up the pump of the torque converter are attached to the housing, so they also turn at the same speed as the engine.
Why do you have to press harder on the brakes when you step on the gas pedal?
This is because when you step on the gas, the engine speeds up and pumps more fluid into the torque converter, causing more torque to be transmitted to the wheels.
Where is the torque converter located?
The torque converter is situated between the engine and the transmission. Just like manual transmission cars, cars with automatic transmissions need a way to let the engine turn while the wheels and gears in the transmission come to a stop. Manual transmission cars use a clutch, which completely disconnects the engine from the transmission.
What causes a car to spin?
The turbine causes the transmission to spin, which basically moves your car. You can see in the graphic below that the blades of the turbine are curved. This means that the fluid, which enters the turbine from the outside, has to change direction before it exits the center of the turbine.
What is torque converter?
The torque converter is what transmits that torque from the engine to a rotating driven load. In an automatic transmission car, the torque converter connects the power source to the load.
What keeps transmission fluid from hitting the converter housing?
The stator keeps the transmission fluid, which is turning in the opposite direction of the engine, from hitting the converter housing and slowing it down. A torque converter also has a housing that is attached to the engine along with the impeller.
What happens when a stator clutch is out of fluid?
The fluid will start to leak out, and when the system runs out of fluid, it may stop functioning altogether. Your stator clutch may also seize or break. During seizure, the inner and outer elements of the clutch can become permanently locked, causing a huge drop in fuel efficiency.
How does a stator work?
Efficiency. One of the stator’s biggest jobs is to make a torque converter more efficient. By redirecting the fluid coming off the turbine, the stator can harvest that kinetic energy and put it back into the cycle. This allows torque convertors to multiply torque for greater acceleration.
What happens when the RPM of an engine increases?
As engine RPM increases, the impeller starts moving faster, which makes the turbine start to move faster. But the impeller is still moving more quickly than the turbine at this point. Coupling is what happens when you drive at high speeds.
What is an impeller?
The impeller is a piece with tilted blades that look somewhat like a fan. This piece is turned mechanically by the engine. As it spins, the impeller pushes transmission fluid through its blades; the faster it goes, the faster the fluid moves.
Can a torque converter break down?
There are several common ways a torque convertor may break down, some of which can be dangerous. Continuous high levels of slippage in the converter can cause overheating, which can damage the elastomer seals that keep the transmission fluid in the converter.
What is torque converter?
A torque converter is basically a fluid coupling with a torque multiplier, which takes the place of the clutch assembly that you find on manual-shift vehicles. These are a sealed hydraulic unit ranging in size from 9 to 15 inches and shaped almost like a balloon tire.
Why is the torque converter sealed?
Because air would eventually compress when forced to move at a higher speed, the torque converter is sealed and filled with transmission fluid. Transmission fluid, the fifth main component, is thicker than air, and will not compress when it is subjected to additional pressure from the impeller.
How does an impeller work?
The impeller rotates in the same direction as the engine turns. The impeller is driven by the engine, and pumps hydraulic fluid inside the converter body. The impeller also provides fluid pressure to drive the transmission oil pump. Also inside a torque converter is another fan (this one is referred to as the turbine), ...
Why does a converter spin?
A converter spins because of engine rpm. As it spins, transmission fluid is directed into the impeller (or pump) and is forced outward by the use of centrifugal force. This fluid begins turning the turbine. The fluid then continues on its way toward the center of the turbine where it enters the stator assembly.
Why are lock up converters used in computer controlled vehicles?
Most lock-up converters are used in computer-controlled vehicles because, although the action of the lock-up is mechanical, the signal to tell the converter to go into lock-up mode will be computer-generated.
How many rpm does a converter need?
Numbers can range from as low as 1,800 rpm to as high as 5,800 rpm in some race applications. A converter rated at 1,800 rpm means you should be able to foot-brake-stall the converter at 1,800 rpm which will give you more engine rpm to launch from a dead stop and/or to be used to accelerate through the gears.
Is torque converter in automatic transmission?
For many quarter-mile racing enthusiasts, and especially backyard mechanics, there seems to be a mystery about an automatic transmission's torque converter. Many people do not understand how it functions, let alone how one can work to your advantage when trying to improve a car's performance and efficiency. The torque converter is really not all ...
What does torque do to a golf club?
In simple terms, torque does two things, it helps control the club face through impact and it provides the feel of the shaft. If you are using a torque that is too high, say someone with a fast swing using a shaft with a torque of 6, you will hit low hooks. The club will feel like a whip, not in a good way.
How to increase torque on steel shaft?
To increase the torque of a steel shaft you need to add more material, this just makes it heavy. Graphite shafts or composite as they are known in the industry are multi-material products. This means that torque is more of a factor and can be changed without adding too much weight. Don’t worry about steel shafts for this one, it isn’t relevant.
What is the difference between flex and torque?
The flex of a shaft is a measure of how much it bends under pressure i.e. your swing. The torque is how much it resists twisting under pressure. A player with a high swing speed will require a stiffer shaft with lower torque as the shaft will be under more pressure during the swing.
Why use a low torque shaft?
If you think of a high speed swing, the club is under more pressure during the action and will be more prone to twisting, a low torque shaft will help the stability of the club. In order to help maximise swing speed, a higher torque will help lower swing speed golfers. You will find it easier to deliver a square clubface with a higher torque shaft ...
What shafts are good for a slower swing?
If you have a slower swing speed and feel like you need some help from your shaft with the driver, the UST Mamiya Helium shafts are a great place to look. These super-lightweight shafts have a high torque but still remain nice a stable.
What does a high torque shaft feel like?
A shaft with a higher torque will feel more “whippy” or smooth even if it is extra-stiff. Likewise, a regular shaft with a low torque can feel very stiff in your hands. So this is very much about the feeling of your club during your swing.
Why is torque important in steel shafts?
Whilst torque is a factor in steel shafts, because they are all made of steel they all act in a very similar manner. This is why you will never really see a manufacturer of steel shafts talk about the torque of their products. To increase the torque of a steel shaft you need to add more material, this just makes it heavy.
Parts
Let’s first have a look at all the parts of the comet 30 series from their user manual. (The 40 series also works on a similar principle, the major difference is the weights and the spring inside the clutch of the driver pulley)
How it works?
Now with the basic understanding of what happens as the throttle opens and with all the parts described, let’s look into how it works.
Gear Ratios
The torque converter will give you infinitely different gear ratios. The ratio will be higher when you are just starting out and will decrease as the engine’s RPM increases. This means it will create more torque to start with and decrease in torque with more speed, making it ideal for most situations.
Spring Adjustments
If you’re looking to get a better launch then changing the springs and weight is your go-to option, the harder springs are going to require higher rotations to engage, similarly, the lighter weights will also require more rotations to engage.
Conclusion
Torque Converter/CVT really are well-engineered, the different gear ratios it provides give you great mechanical advantages, no wonder that so many people prefer it over the centrifugal clutch.
What happens when you have less torque in your golf club shaft?
When you have more torque in your club shaft it is said that your shots can be less accurate but go further and have a nice soft feel.
Why is shaft torque important?
Shaft torque becomes increasingly important the faster you swing. Torque is the measure of how much the shaft twists during the golf swing. It may be hard to imagine this even happening, but shafts are made with that particular fact in mind. They are even made to resist it more or less, depending on your swing and what kind ...
Why does a steel shaft have less torque?
A steel shaft will have less torque simply because of the material it is made of. A degree of 3 to 4 is normal for a steel shaft. Graphite shafts can have a lot more torque. Since graphite is not a solid piece of material, the torque can be much higher; to degrees of 7 or 8.
Does Tiger Woods know how much torque he needs?
Certainly Tiger Woods knows exactly how much torque he needs for every club in his bag , but for a beginner it won't matter much. Torque should be one of the last things you look at when trying to improve your game. Golfweeks' Adam Woodard breaks down the results from the match.
What is torque converter?
A torque converter is a mechanical device that is attached to the side of the engine. As you can see in the image above, it runs on a two-pulley system. The smaller pulley, called the driver pulley, is attached to the engine’s crankshaft. The larger pulley is referred to as the driven pulley. The driver pulley is connected to ...
What is a transmission in a go kart?
A transmission provides controlled mechanical power from the engine to the rear axle of the go-kart. You’ll most likely come across go-karts that use a torque converter or a clutch, as a transmission. When it comes to transmissions, there is a long-standing battle between torque converters and clutches. There is no doubt that both of these ...
What is a go kart clutch?
On the other hand, a go-kart clutch is a non-variable transmission. This means that it has a fixed gear ratio, which is set by the crankshaft sprocket and rear axle sprocket sizes. The gear ratio remains the same across all RPM ranges of the engine.
Does a go kart move?
This means that even though the engine has started, the go-kart doesn’t move. Once the engine reaches an RPM of about 1,500+ the driver pulley starts to clamp on the belt, which in turn engages the driven pulley. The rotational force is subsequently applied to the jackshaft and rear axle, giving your go-kart motion.
Is a torque converter the same as a clutch?
A torque converter has the same function as a clutch. They’re both different types of go-kart transmissions, but they each have their own distinctive advantages. Before we explore them further, let’s take a look at how both transmissions work on a go-kart.
