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yea, my dads changes into 4th at 40mph, but that's depending on what the person in front is doing! but looked at the one on autotrader and that is a nice one, but there is a stunning example on ebay motors on a classified add for 2295, and its perfect for what i want, i just haven't got the money at the moment so i cant really do anything, if i did i would have called him tonite and gone and looked this weekend! full history, in grey i think, and alloys, harmon kardon, Manuel, 2.5, very well looked after and one owner, flipping perfect! to be honest if i find one like that again, ill be surprised! just curious guys, can you explain torque lock to me as iv never herd this phrase before, i may know what it is, but not the phrase! anyway, thanks guys! i cant wait to have one, but want one on air as it ruins them on springs! but i want a manuel, defo, as i will get bored of auto, and the auto needs more maintenance, filters and regular oil changes to keep in shape! thanks guys! tom.
Torque Converter Lock up....
As you know, the engine is connected to the box through the torque converter...this thing is like a clutch filled with a viscous fluid, as the engine speed increases, this churns up the fluid which in turn start to flow round and round, like stirring a glass of water with a spoon....if you spin the spoon fast enough the drag of the water on the glass makes the glass start to spin...this is what happens in the torque convertor...the engine spins the fluid and the fluid drags the rotor disc connected to the gearbox...
this is why a autobox is less efficient, cos some of the engine power is lost in the transfer across the TC....
in order to try and regain some of the loss of efficiency at higher engine and road speeds, the TC contains a mechanical lock up clutch that is hydraulically operated, at a certain road speed the gearbox ECU engages this lock up clutch to effectively mechanically link the engine to the gearbox just like a manual gearbox clutch... this prevents loss of energy across the TC and makes the box more efficient.
Some think this is a 5th gear engaging as it feels like an upshift and the revs drop....it feels like this cos the drive is now direct to the engine giving maximum torque and power transfer and also the revs drop because now the TC is no longer slipping, it is locked up...!!
