Disco Td5 autobox: replacing torque converter

thebiglad said:

No I haven't yet mate. I'm giving serious consideration to finding a manual box car.

For me the thing that I can't get past is the fact that, imo, LR have fitted the wrong TC from outset and it really bugs me that I have to pay a substantial sum to put right something that should never have been wrong.

It's just another example of poor LR car building.

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... what do you mean by that?

Bogthebat said:

... what do you mean by that?

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I mean that, imo, LR should have put the v8 engine TC from the outset, as Ashcrofts are now doing. It means there is much less slip therefore much direct drive and less wasted energy.

It annoys me intensely that I will have to pay to put this poor design right.

but maybe harsher torque for box to deal with

jamesmartin said:

but maybe harsher torque for box to deal with

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Hi James, not sure what you mean by 'harsher torque'. The actual max figures for torque between the 2 engines are very similar it's just that one has max torque at about 1950rpm and the other at 2650rpm.

The stall speed is the key to the TC debate, the V8 one is 2200rpm whereas the TD5 one is 2600to 2800rpm - the absolute inverse of what it should be for the lower revving engine.

If you speak to peeps who've done the mod it transforms the TD5 auto drive experience.

i was just thinking when post popped past on lz live the biggest problem with diesels and autos is not max torque but harshness in its delivery ,diesels are harder on boxes than petrols ,wondered if lr thought that

jamesmartin said:

i was just thinking when post popped past on lz live the biggest problem with diesels and autos is not max torque but harshness in its delivery ,diesels are harder on boxes than petrols ,wondered if lr thought that

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I see your point but the autobox itself is identical, it's just the torque converter that's different. Maybe LR thought it might 'cushion' the the autobox a bit more but what it definitely leads to a loads of wasted power dissipated by heat and a poor driving experience.

I've had three or four TD5 autos now and wouldn't have another. I know the manual box/clutch/DMF have their issues as well, but it'll be manual for me next time.

yes boxes are the same and share the same components as earlier disco rrc ,later do have uprated clutch A and freewheel clutch,what you say tis what i wondered

Finally I changed the converter with HD one, but the car is moving extremely low now .... I mean when I leave the place, you must press harder on the accelerator

Hi,
Apologies for waking up this thread after such a time but rather than open a new thread on the same subject I’m looking for some feedback from anyone who has replaced the torque converter now and what your now longer term experiences are with the modification?

To set the scene, here is my (short) story so far,
This is my first post here, I’ve been reading quietly in the background picking up as much as I can given I’m very new to Land Rover ownership.
6 weeks ago I bought my first, a 2003 Discovery 2, TD5 Auto with 166,000km on the clock (103k miles)

I live in Norway so I’ll try to covert things between km & miles as I go.

Here in Norway the speed limit is very much slower than the UK with most places the limit being 80km (50mph) and given the terrain around where I live this is only in relatively short stretches at best.
My initial thoughts with driving were that it was struggling to get up into 4th gear, I now know that this is actually the TC engaging and the TD5 engine seems to just love it when that thing engages, at most other times I feel like its screaming at me!

So you can probably sense my interest in switching the TC because right now I have to break the speed limit to get it to engage then I can steadily drop my speed back again, …but then the next bend comes and were back to 3rd/4th again…
If the TC replacement does what people say it does then I think it could be a good move for me as I’ll be getting up into at least 4th much faster and then hopefully get the benefits of the TC much sooner too.

On another point, I’ve not ventured off road yet to be honest but for people who have replaced the TC how would you say it effects any off road experience?

Thanks,
Chris

Anyone???

Or has everyone who's done this met with an untimely end?

Run a stall test first to make sure it's the torque converter or not

from Workshop manual:

Stall test
$%44.30.1
Testing
1. Chock the wheels and fully apply the
handbrake.
2. Start the engine and run it until it reaches
normal operating temperature.
3. Apply the footbrake and select 'D'.
4. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and note
the tachometer reading. The figures should be
as given below. Do not carry out stall test for
longer than 10 seconds, and DO NOT repeat
until 30 minutes have elapsed.
l V8: 2200 to 2400 rev/min
l Diesel: 2600 to 2800 rev/min
5. A reading below 1300 rev/min indicates a
torque converter fault, ie stator free-wheel.
6. A reading between 1300 and 2200 rev/min (V8)
or between 1300 and 2600 rev/min (Diesel)
indicates reduced engine power.
7. A reading above 2400 rev/min (V8) or above
2800 rev/min (Diesel) indicates clutch slip.
NOTE: The figures quoted above were
measured at sea level with an ambient
temperature of 20 C (68 F). At higher altitudes
or higher ambient temperatures, these figures
will be reduced.

Thanks for your prompt reply.
My original post maybe wasn't clear enough. I believe my torque converter works correctly and as it should and it engages at the correct rev count.
My interest in the updated Ashcroft TC is that it should lower your rev counts across the board with the knock on effect of reducing your fuel consumption. As the TD5 engine probably runs at its quietest and most efficient once that TC engages, my query is more for my own driving around here where the driving speed limits are lower so I very rarely get the TC to engage. Therefore if I'm romping round mostly in 3rd & 4th then with lower rev counts in those gears I will get improved mpg, and in theory will I get the TC engaging more often?

Thanks,
Chris

Register here The D2 Boys Club. - Index page , then go to Mods/Upgrades section and u'll find thread "Heavy Duty Torque converter" 11 pages of reading about it and how it works

sierrafery said:

Register here The D2 Boys Club. - Index page , then go to Mods/Upgrades section and u'll find thread "Heavy Duty Torque converter" 11 pages of reading about it and how it works

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Perfect, thanks for that I'll start reading now.

Chris