Torque Converter Lock Up Switch

[Derek_Z10]

I was reading the tech library and found an article about locking up your TC with a switch. It leaves many questions to be asked still. It never specifies a year engine and transmission. So does this work with every ranger? I have a 2004 4L 4x4 XLT with a 5 speed. I don't want to screw up the electronics by grounding pin 53 on a vehicle that's different. The guide also says the torque converter will stay locked up in 3rd and overdrive. What happens in 4th gear?

 

[Quartermile]

If you have a 5 speed, manual i assume, you dont have a torque converter. Unless you mean 5 speed auto. Then you do, but doing things like this usually ruins a computer or wire harness.

 

[Derek_Z10]

No it's the auto. It just seems so wasteful on gas to drive 35mph at 2000rpm because the TC will not lock in 4th. Sometimes it will depending on driving conditions and go to 1800 revs and it seems so much more responsive when accelerating because when unlocked it has to rev to 2200 to start to speed up. I am pretty much just wasting gas to rev the engine and to pump high friction hydraulic fluid when it could just be locked.

I know it's a huge drain on gas too because it locks up in 5th gear at 43mph. When it does finally lock, without even giving more gas, it will speed up to 50mph unless i let off some. And when slowing down it unlocks at 40mph i have to give more gas to keep it from slowing down faster than I want to.

If I could just have the TC always locked when in 4th and 5th it would probably put this truck above 20mpg, I get 16-18 now with mixed driving.

I for sure as hell don't want to ruin the computer that's why I asked before doing this.

 

[Derek_Z10]

Anyone?