700r4 TCC lockup problems AGAIN!!!

[Gander]

Thought I had it fixed back at the start of the year. Bought a kit from Summit made by Bowler Transmissions. Came with a new solenoid, a 4th gear pressure switch, and a module that plugs in at the case in the 4 pin socket that gives a 10 second delay before lockup. I have a switch in the cab so I can turn it on and off at will. Until this week I haven’t had a problem with it.

Anyway, I usually leave it off unless I’m on the interstate, usually switch it on while I’m on the feeder road so that it locks up around 50-55 as I’m coming up on the highway. A couple days ago if felt like it was unlocking on the highway a couple times and then locking back up. I figured it might be the brake switch so I used the old “pull it up with your foot” and it didn’t seem to have any more problems that day. Today I was on the road a lot and coming home I noticed I have no lockup at all. Checked the switch, checked for 12v all the way down to the module/4 pin plug at the transmission case and have power all the way down until the brake pedal is pressed which drops it to 0v or the switch is turned off and cuts power. So the only things it can be are the module or the solenoid, right? How rare is it for the torque converter clutch itself to go out? I’d figure if that burnt up the fluid would be brown and it would be shuddering instead of just nothing at all. Anyway, my old 4 pin connector from before installing the kit is still there and I plugged it in too just for kicks and still no lockup.

So long story short, what do yall think the problem is? Solenoid? Module? Pressure switch? I sure hope it’s not the torque converter itself. The rest of that stuff I can fix pretty easy. Just have to see if Bowler or Summit honor the warranty without too much fuss.

 

[Ricko1966]

Thought I had it fixed back at the start of the year. Bought a kit from Summit made by Bowler Transmissions. Came with a new solenoid, a 4th gear pressure switch, and a module that plugs in at the case in the 4 pin socket that gives a 10 second delay before lockup. I have a switch in the cab so I can turn it on and off at will. Until this week I haven’t had a problem with it.

Anyway, I usually leave it off unless I’m on the interstate, usually switch it on while I’m on the feeder road so that it locks up around 50-55 as I’m coming up on the highway. A couple days ago if felt like it was unlocking on the highway a couple times and then locking back up. I figured it might be the brake switch so I used the old “pull it up with your foot” and it didn’t seem to have any more problems that day. Today I was on the road a lot and coming home I noticed I have no lockup at all. Checked the switch, checked for 12v all the way down to the module/4 pin plug at the transmission case and have power all the way down until the brake pedal is pressed which drops it to 0v or the switch is turned off and cuts power. So the only things it can be are the module or the solenoid, right? How rare is it for the torque converter clutch itself to go out? I’d figure if that burnt up the fluid would be brown and it would be shuddering instead of just nothing at all. Anyway, my old 4 pin connector from before installing the kit is still there and I plugged it in too just for kicks and still no lockup.

So long story short, what do yall think the problem is? Solenoid? Module? Pressure switch? I sure hope it’s not the torque converter itself. The rest of that stuff I can fix pretty easy. Just have to see if Bowler or Summit honor the warranty without too much fuss.

Easy enough. Remove the module, supply a power source, if you can lock and unlock the converter with your power source. It is the module or the wire to the module. You can check resistance on the solenoid, and cycle it on the bench with 12v to see if will pass air.. Not sure how the Bowler system wires up. Possibly 4th gear switch, depending on how their kit works. My money is on the module.

 

[Gander]

Easy enough. Remove the module, supply a power source, if you can lock and unlock the converter with your power source. It is the module or the wire to the module.

My original 4 pin connector still has power to it, I checked it with a multimeter. I removed the module/4 pin connector that came with the kit, plugged the original connector in and no lockup. If it had worked with the original connector I’d have just kept it that way for a while. The module causes a 10 second delay before lockup but it’s not locking up even with the module out of the equation entirely so it’s got to be the 4th gear pressure switch, the solenoid, or the wiring, all 3 came with the kit. I don’t think it could be the TC clutch itself since it’s not even trying to lock up and not chattering or rumbling like it would if it was trying and slipping and my fluid is still pink and fresh at least in the stick so I don’t think anything is burned up. Truck shifts great through all the gears, I just lost lockup.

This is the kit I used, bought it from Summit. I didnt use the supplied brake light switch since mine is working OK but used every other part of the kit.

Bowler 700-R4 Lock-Up Control Module | Complete Kit

Control your 700-R4 converter lock-up the right way. Complete Bowler kit with harness, solenoid, filter, gasket & brake switch. Smooth, reliable lock-up.

bowlertransmissions.com

 

[Gander]

Double post

 

[Gander]

Well, just got done changing the solenoid. Old one didn’t click when I put power to it. New one didn’t. Went to drive the truck, still no lockup. Guess that leaves the pressure switch, module, or converter itself. Ordered the pressure switch in at oreillys. I’ll change that when it comes in and mod that doesn’t do it see if I can get Bowler/Summit to send me a new module. If that doesn’t do it then I guess I start saving for a new converter though the fluid in the pan looked very clean, not like anything was burned up.

 

[Ricko1966]

Bench test your solenoids if one is good, If you're bored or curious you can eliminate the 4th gear switch . Ground one lead of the solenoid. Provide 12v with a toggle to the other side and go for a drive you should be able to lock the converter from the dash.

 

[Gander]

Bench test your solenoids.

I plugged back in the original TCC plug with the new solenoid and I’ve got 4th gear lockup back. Looks like the module is the culprit. I bench tested the old and new solenoids but didn’t blow through them. The one that was in it didn’t click. The new one clicked. I figured that old solenoid was the problem but after the swap with the module plugged in it wouldn’t lock up. Swapped the plugs and on the original TCC plug it’s locking up fine. So that rules out the pressure switch being a problem. I guess it’s a situation where the TCC solenoid and this bowler transmission module both popped the bed at the same time? Oh well,
I’ll wait to hear from Bowler about a replacement module but at least lockup works again and the torque converter is OK. I might just get rid of the bowler module and wire the switch in my dash into the stock connector and leave it at that.

 

[Ricko1966]

I plugged back in the original TCC plug with the new solenoid and I’ve got 4th gear lockup back. Looks like the module is the culprit. I bench tested the old and new solenoids but didn’t blow through them. The one that was in it didn’t click. The new one clicked. I figured that old solenoid was the problem but after the swap with the module plugged in it wouldn’t lock up. Swapped the plugs and on the original TCC plug it’s locking up fine. So that rules out the pressure switch being a problem. I guess it’s a situation where the TCC solenoid and this bowler transmission module both popped the bed at the same time? Oh well,
I’ll wait to hear from Bowler about a replacement module but at least lockup works again and the torque converter is OK. I might just get rid of the bowler module and wire the switch in my dash into the stock connector and leave it at that.

Personally I'd just wire up my own using a vaccum switch in the power supply and the 4th gear pressure switch. Anytime you are in the throttle vacuum drops, switch opens, converter unlocks,and only locks in 4th gear.