Well, after 6000 mi and ~15 trips to the track, my ST3500 is making a shudder and a noise when it locks and unlocks, as though the converter clutch is slipping. It does it sporadically, but it's getting more and more frequent. Sunday evening, I e-mailed Mike Senia to give him the situation and told him I'd call him Monday morning to see if they could do anything about it. When I called Monday, the secretary told me he was out until late that afternoon and that I should not call him back and he would not call me back, but would answer me in e-mail today (Tuesday). Well, it's 10 PM and I've received nothing. I sure am glad this isn't my daily driver! I was disappointed that I was basically informed that he would not discuss this with me on the phone and even more disappointed that he didn't even e-mail me back today. One reason I chose a Yank converter over a Precision Ind. was that I had heard Yank had decent customer service and stood behind its products. I hope I don't have to find out the hard way that that's not true.
Has anyone else had problems with a Yank converter and gotten decent customer service? Any experiences you can share would be helpful so I'll at least know what I'm dealing with (repair, replacement, money back, or nothing at all).
Thanks.

 

They gave me great customer service on my tp4600.I emailed them about trading it in and got a response the next day.Call them again bro I am sure they will deal with it plus you have a warranty on it anyway.

 

Bro? lol

I'll try again today. I plan to keep the board updated on this so that people will know what to look forward to if they have problems with Yank products in the future. It may also help prospective customers make a decision on which converter to buy <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

2001 was my year for converter's and trans problems..

I just had a fresh trans rebuild..My Yank converter balooned and took out my trans..It took 3 weeks for the converter (No Charge)to come back with no compensation for the trans rebuild again..One time I called and they said call back in anhour..were having lunch..LOL

Second time the flex plate broke and riped the bolts off the converter..sent the flex plate and converter back on a monday and was back by friday..$400.00 charge for that.That was great customer service that time <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

It's kinda hit and miss..I hope you hear soon from Yank Kristy <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> Good Luck!

 

Kristi,

Mike was in Las Vegas attending races of "Desert Trucks" that Yank is so heavily involved with. He got back in the office Tuesday morning. I'm surprised that Carrie (the girl answering the phone) told you not to call Mike to speak with him about your problem. Your problem sounds too difficult to describe on an e-mail and I would encourage you to call Mike personally and address it with him.

If Carrie really said that, I will have Mike set her straight...that's no way to build customer confidence.

 

She didn't say "Don't call back" or anything rude like that. She (nicely) told me that he would not be back until Monday afternoon. I asked if he could call me back or if I should try him back. It made no difference to me. She said, "No, he'll just e-mail you back. You should have some word by tomorrow afternoon" (not verbatim, but as close as I can remember). I said that was fine, and it was. I would have appreciated at least SOME acknowledgement by yesterday evening, even if it was just letting me know that he was aware of my problem. This morning, I sent a follow-up e-mail politely asking for some response ASAP because I need to make plans to get the converter taken out to be returned and the stock converter put back in. I realize he's probably very busy, but so am I, with school, work, and racing.
So hopefully I'll hear something back today. Thanks you guys. I'm getting some very interesting e-mail about this in addition to what's been posted here.

 

I had a quick question to ask Mike yesterday about a lock up switch for this Converter I have. Carrie said he was too busy yesterday and that SHE would get back to me ASAP and lemme know what mike THINKS about a lock up switch. 24hours later, never heard back....

 

Kristi: Try putting your stock MAF ends back on and see if that effects the problem. It's going to be one of the things he will tell you to try once you tell him all your mods.

Also make note of whether it happens at all speeds and throttle postions.

Also have you changed your fluid and filter? If your line pressure drops, that can create shudder at lock-up.

 

Wouldn't the aftermarket MAF ends cause the problems right way with the converter if that was the cause?

 

I had the same problem with my ST3500, only in OD while accelerating. I ended up trading it in for a PY3400E and had no problems since. I think it's BS that any other parts are causing this. As far as customer service goes, forget about getting emails or phone calls returned, it's not gonna happen. I've been trying to get my tranny core and converter trade in refunded since September. I finally got the converter refund after several emails and phone calls, then they tell me they have no record of the tranny core charge, so I fax them the my credit card statement to prove it, that was 2 weeks ago and still not even a phone call or a refund. I'm just tired of this crap and ready to fill out an affidavit for fraudulent credit card use. I feel your pain, I really do, Vig next time..

Dan

 

(sigh) <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0">

 

Kristi: What is this shuttering that you are hearing or feeling? I recently installed a TP4400 in my 99 TA and it feels to me like the car has a shutter or something pulling against it when I am not on the throttle. I had a SY3500 prior to this and it worked great. I understand that the converter is going to "slip" more than the SY but this "tugging" feeling is worrying me. Any ideas?

Jim

 

Jim-
What you're describing sounds like an entirely different scenario than what I'm getting. A constant shudder can't be good. And "pulling against it" when not on the throttle sounds to me like it's not locking up, but I'm definitely not a resident expert on this. I would advise calling Yank or posting here for ideas on what that could be.

What I get is a very brief but very noticeable shudder and grinding noise at the instant the converter locks up and unlocks in normal, around-town driving. It doesn't last more than a second, but it's enough to make someone in the car go "WHAT was that!?" if that illustrates it any better for you.

Good luck.

 

Kristi, I get the same thing. When it locks up at around 40, I hear a screeching/grinding noise. I sometimes think its my tires screeching but I know its not that. I thought it was because of a bad install but I dont know what it is. Ive had it the day since Ive installed it. (6 months ago) I also get the shuddering I mentioned earlier but that happened in the last week. The shuddering I get is under normal acceleration at around 50-60mph.

I'm changing my tranny fluid this week and see if that helps. <img src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" border="0" alt="[whiner]" />

[ January 30, 2002: Message edited by: Loco ]</p>

 

Does everybody understand why it could be the ported MAF ends? When you run a ported MAF end, the MAF reads less incoming air, which tells the pcm that there is less of a load. When there is less of a load, the pcm lessens line pressure. When you have less line pressure, the clutch won't have as much holding capacity and it will have a tendancy to slip or chatter.

There is a direct correlation between trannies burning up, clutches slipping/chattering and running ported MAF ends...it's been proven. Now that's not to say that this is the exact cause in Kristi's case, but it's a strong possibility. Tires, exhaust? Hah! Swap back to stock MAF ends, reset the pcm and report back. Changing fluid and adding a few quarts of Type F fluid might help too.

 

Stock MAF ends are back on, but I can't drive it yet because my Tahoe, which is parked behind the TA in the garage, now has a battery as dead as a doornail. So I have to drive my Galant to get a battery for the Tahoe so I can move it and THEN I can drive the TA... whew!
Tomorrow, it's getting a trans filter and fluid (Type F) change. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon.

 

Patric, I agree with the theory although I didn't know it was proven to burn up tranny's, that's good info to know. Thing is, I went through all that and it still screeched and chattered, infact it just continued to get worse over time. Has there been any issues with built 4L60E and ported MAF ends? Has anybody else had these issues with something other than the ST3500. I never heard of these problems with Vig. converters and I'm not having it with my PY3400E..

Dan

 

Kristi, sounds great! Don't forget to reset the pcm!

 

Dan,

Lots of people have burned up built 4L60Es because of running ported MAFs. The loss of line pressure is DEATH at WOT. The best solution to that is running a vacuum modulated 4L60E vs. a pulse width modulated (pcm) tranny. Yank is now building those kind of trannies for those who insist on running ported MAFs.

 

That was quick <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">
So, I should just stay with stock MAF ends, or Get a vacuum modulated tranny?

Can I just update/mod my pro Yank tranny if I wanted? Kinda glad this topic came up..