When I was thinking about all the cool things about a converter I couldn't have imagine the **** I'd do through after it was actually in. If everything happens for a reason I can't figure out what the reason is for this chain of events that's left me without a running car, and possibly a screwed up tranny that will have to be rebuilt. I'll keep this short and sweet while still including what needs to be said.

Picked the car up Saturday, converter worked fine. I'd bump the limiter on the 1-2 shift but besides that it was cool. Skip to Sunday, car still runs fine that day. It's pulling good at part throttle, locking up just fine in 3rd or 4th gears, feels good. Sunday afternoon around 6:00 PM I set out back home from Memphis. I get home last night at 11:30 PM About 45 minutes into the trip, after going up a hill, it seemed like 3rd and 4th gear had no pull at all. Not talking full throttle pull, but at part throttle NO PULL, like the gears weren't even there. Park it to check the fluid and thank God I was standing to the side, because tranny fluid shot a good 5 ft and I would have been covered from head to waist. The entire engine bay and front of the car is covered in fluid. Need to clean it off here in a second. Fluid level looked fine though and it didn't smell burnt. Still wasn't acting right though. Limped it to a gas station and added more fluid, and the car acted much better, but no lock up. I'm rolling on the interstate going 50 mph at 3000 RPMs and the damn thing will not lock to save my life. What about 60 mph, 3500 RPMs, no lockup, 70 mph and 4000 RPMs, no lockup. Funny thing was if I let off the gas RPMs would fall to 500 and then surge from 500-1000-500-1000 but no pull and when I stepped on the gas, lets say I was at 60 mph, the engine would free rev with no pull whatsoever until 3500 RPMs, then it would jerk into gear. I got the car home and a three hour trip turned into a five and a half hour nightmare

Call TCS this morning and explain the problems to Derek, he said they'll have me a new converter on the way in the morning because they want to minimize downtime on my car and also minimize money spent on installing and reinstalling converters between the 3500, stock, and the new one, and recommended a billet servo for the tranny and that he could get me one so thats on the way too, and I THINK he said he was going to give me $125 as well for reinstallation charges, but not sure on that. The converter thats leaving in the morning is a 2800/2.5, screw a 3500 stall. I was going to hit the dealership today and get the stock one put back in but he said hold off and he's send this one ASAP. He also recommended a shift kit so I'll order one from Thunder here in a sec maybe, have to check funds. Now to figure out where around here can do the swap for a decent price and also put in the servo and the shift kit. Anyways, BIG props to TCS for standing behind their products and wanting to have every customer be a satisfied customer. I was really worried they might pull some stuff on me but they were very willing to do whatever to make me happy. TCS is definantly a stand up company and they are living up to the exact reason I chose them in the first place, awesome customer service and an awesome warranty. Now lets just hope it was a converter problem and not a $1000 tranny rebuild problem, because if it is I dont know what I'm going to do, I can't afford that and there is no way I can get that kind of money. Onto the really scary part of all this......

I'm very lucky that I was able to get the car and myself home. I barely got the car to Jackson, TN before it really started acting up, and I almost stayed in Jackson for the night but decided I needed to get home and sleep in my own bed. When I wake up I hear on the news that Jackson got leveled with a tornado, and I do mean LEVELED, not much left of that town anymore. Thank God I was able to get out of there.

So all in all this converter experience has been a complete nightmare and I don't even want one in the car, but it's paid for, and I do want a converter just not all the headache this one has given me. I think a 2800 is enough of an increase over stock to make a difference but not enough to start worrying about drivability issues and whatnot. Lets just hope this new go around with the new converter and shift kit and servo works out better than the last round.

 

Whew! Bummer. I kinda skimmed your post, but do you suppose whomever installed the TC pre-filled it w/fluid? The A4 seems to be most temperamental GM trans when it doesn't get what it wants, when it wants it.
I've seen these trans after a TC install where the trans would never read the same on the dipstick twice,after driving unless idled for a while. I suspected a 'coupla times the TC was not filled-or at least enough- before installing.
To have the trans shoot fluid out the dipstick, that's unreal.

 

Wow At least you didn't get stuck in Jackson! A toasted converter would be the least of your problems. I have a feeling thats all it is and TCS knows it too. Not only did it screw up, it took a shot at you when checking the fluid! I would be pissed.
I just ordered a Midwest 3000/2.5 from HPR this morning...kinda nervous now. But John at HPR seems to be willing to do whatever it takes from what others have said. I almost took the advice of TCS and Yank to get a monster 3600-4000 stall unit. No doubt it would have been killer at the track but lets get real...my car may NEVER see a real tree. John and I talked it through and I think we made the right call for my situation and driving habits. Seems like the big converter problems I read about all have to do with a 3600 or greater stall.

Anyway, good luck with the new/next converter and feel good about getting your *** out of Jackson that night.

 

I've talked with TCS and they are stepping up to the plate in a big way. If it all works out and pulls through, in about 3 weeks you should be hearing some rav reviews from me I hope. No more converter nightmares but instead converter heaven is where I hope to be. Time will tell, but I'd just like to say the folks at TCS are great people to work with and really take care of their customers. I can't wait to get this new stuff in and be able to get on here and tell everyone how great TCS's stuff is, because I know their customer service is great, just have to try out their products when the new stuff comes in.

 

If you did not install a Cooler, sounds like the tranny overheated and went into the dreaded "limp mode". Happened to me when I had a 3000 stall(brand Y) w/2.0 STR.
I went to a Midwest 2400 stall w/2.55 STR and it drives very well.

 

I had a B&M 24,000 GVW on there as well, so overheating was not a problem. I believe it was just a one in a million faulty converter and as I said, TCS is hands down the best customer service I've dealt with, and are stepping up to the plate big time. Even though I've had these problems, I can't say how happy I am that I went with TCS for the customer service and help that Derek and the staff provide. Derek and I had a talk and I from having this converter working right for one day we deduced that a 3200/2.5 would be better suited to me, while a 2800 would be too tame. I've also dealt with HPA and I'd say they are at the very tip top on the service side as well, two very good companies IMO. Hard to go wrong either way. Give me about two-three weeks and I should have some very good news and some track numbers as well. Hopefully I can help out TCS as much as they're helping me out.

 

Damn man, this is exactly why I'm scared of going for a converter. However, I just might be giving TCS my business if they've treated you how they have.