Not a problem, but a tranny question

[Southpaw]

What is the drawbacks of locking the torque converter while the truck is in Park and leaving it locked for up to a few minutes?

Anyone know?

[Dave]

I dont know if it will lock in park. If it reacts anything like it does when you lock it in 1st at idle its just gonna kill the engine anyway

[jamstoyz]

i think dave is right on this one but he could be wrong lol

[Southpaw]

It does lock in park. I have a switch for mine like a lot of guys do, and occasionally my kids or my knee will hit it by mistake and lock it. The truck will start and idle. Sounds different though, I think my tc might be going bad. Sounds like damn bolts in a coffee can well, almost....
Anyway, it will idle in park all day long with it locked, then like you said Dave, as soon as you put it in drive it bucks like dropping the clutch in a stick and the motor dies.
This gave me the idea to use it as a theft deterrent I always leave my truck running when I run a store for just a minute, so sometimes i'll lock the converter in park before I go in the store and leave it running knowing that if someone jumps in and takes off it will die.
I don't do it all the time, but I will if it is safe. Anyone know if it damages it at all?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Southpaw

It does lock in park. I have a switch for mine like a lot of guys do, and occasionally my kids or my knee will hit it by mistake and lock it. The truck will start and idle. Sounds different though, I think my tc might be going bad. Sounds like damn bolts in a coffee can well, almost....
Anyway, it will idle in park all day long with it locked, then like you said Dave, as soon as you put it in drive it bucks like dropping the clutch in a stick and the motor dies.
This gave me the idea to use it as a theft deterrent I always leave my truck running when I run a store for just a minute, so sometimes i'll lock the converter in park before I go in the store and leave it running knowing that if someone jumps in and takes off it will die.
I don't do it all the time, but I will if it is safe. Anyone know if it damages it at all?

If youve got the bolts in a coffee can sound you can plan on replacing your converter soon than later

[ipz2222]

It will not hurt the trans or converter to use the lockup like you are. It will hurt it if you keep forgetting to turn it off and kill the eng repeatedly.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Dave

If youve got the bolts in a coffee can sound you can plan on replacing your converter soon than later

I was exaggerating. It's not that bad, you can just hear a slight difference when it is locked.

Originally Posted by ipz2222

It will not hurt the trans or converter to use the lockup like you are. It will hurt it if you keep forgetting to turn it off and kill the eng repeatedly.

Yeah I don't keep killing the motor with it on purpose, I figured that wasn't so good for it.
I was just wondering if it was hurting it to lock it in park. So you say it's ok?
Should I be able to tell that it is locked by sound alone?
Is a perfectly working TC silent when locked in park?

Sorry for more questions, I just don't want to do this if i'm going to kill an already failing TC.

Thanks

[ipz2222]

Haveing never done that, I don't know if the sound is different but I can't see any reason it would be.(president, Fleet Transmission Inc.)

[kinghawg98]

It shouldn't make a diff. When in park the trans is essentially in "N" with the parking pawl engaged. So its just freewheeling anyways to circulate fluid, no matter if locked or not

[Southpaw]

That's kinda what I figured. Thanks for the replies guys. Since I can hear mine engage, I may just take it easy on it and let it be and when I get a new one put in(inevitably), then I may do it