Torque Convertor lock up instal

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

Hi all, where is everyone?????? Has anyone done anymore testing on the 5 speed auto lock up kit. I would love for a few inventors out there to chuck out a little bit more in on their finished products and maybe a price to build and supply a lock up kit as I'm sure that there are others out there that have been watching these conversations as I have that would gladly purchase. Thanks and Cheers Bill.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Bill. our 5speed kit so far has been reliable. Not ready to do a kit just yet but may look at after our trip in June July.
The kit we made has a push to lock and to release a touch of the brake light circuit. Two wires from the ecu need to be used, one for the ecu the other for the slu solenoid on the gearbox. Also required is fused power and earth. Will need to do a lot more research on any difference in models as well.

Rusty.

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

Hi Rusty, That sounds great, A lot of work going into it I see. Would it be possible to have it without the brake release system for down hill towing with a van where the system was being used for braking and odd times you would need to be using a small amount of brake as this would keep switching the lock up off. Looking forward to hearing more as it progresses. Take care, Cheers Bill.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

so far the lockup downhill has not been very good, what i mean it doesn't slow the car a lot. Would not use it in first as this will be bad for the gearbox.
Not hard to change our system to button on / off just use the brake wire input to a push button.
What is really good is climbing toowoomba range in 3rd gear no slip and low temp in the gearbox. Down from 125 TC and 100 gearbox to 85 in both when locked.

Cooler fitted.

Rusty.

[Rusty62 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rusty62]

Back from annual leave. 11000km from Brisvegas to Broome via Gibb River and Tanami Desert to Alice, Mt Isa via Sandover Hwy.

The lockup worked great, able to hold 5th gear when the ecu wanted otherwise. Going into headwinds the ecu would want to unlock and change to 4th a lot. Heat is now a thing of the past, even better with the cooler fitted.
Looking at building a new version unit with a pulse width modulator so we can have a 'soft lock' instead of the abrupt lock we have now. Don't think we will build for sale as if the unit hurts the ecu who pays?

Rusty.

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

Hi Rusty, Sounds like the holiday went off like clockwork( and the lockup kit). I have been driving with my nephew who fitted a kit to his 200 series for heavy towing. It has been in now for a couple of years now and he loves it. The kit was from Wholesale Automatics I think. What I am getting at is what you and some of the other boys have done is amazing compared to the heavy pricing of the bigger companies and you have proved that your kits are safe and reliable as well. I think with the Kms you and the other boys have done without any mishaps that you have a good kit so why not have a go at the sales bit. Im sure there is a few out there waiting. Safe driving. Cheers and take care. Bill.

[Davis Dieso Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davis Dieso]

FYI,

Back from our annual trip up north and another 5,000km towing our heavy camper trailer through some of the roughest tracks you could possibly tow through. Thought a bit of feedback should be given. My lock up is still working better than ever. I could not imagine towing without it. Second, third and forth gears get changed the whole time with the convertor locked while towing (and not towing). The trans is still good as ever, no difference to the way it shifts and oil clean.
I now have no apprehension about the longevity of the trans.
Some great work being done by others on this thread for the 5 speeder, well done guys. I read with interest.

Cheers, Jamie

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

MRW82 Hi Mark are you still on the air???? How is the lock kit working???how many KMS have you put on it now??

Jamie, Sounds like you did a good job in the first place mate and is good to hear that everything is holding together after so long. I have great faith in my beast every time we go on a trip. I am coming up to 160,000kms and have only changed one noisy injector and cleaned all the bloody gunk out of the intake system. I recently replaced the big cat converter with a 200 cell free flow one. It makes a bit of difference to pick up and a tiny bit more noise, but I have noticed that there is a fair bit of gain on the fuel usage on a trip. I am really hoping to get a lock up kit in soon then I might be a happy chappie. OK Mate take care and keep that converter locked. Cheers Bill

[MRW82 Member Find all posts View Profile Close MRW82]

Yes mate still kicking. The lockup kit is still in and working well, never had any CEL light up from it. Haven't reported much on it as I haven't used it much. Only really need it towing and haven't been doing much of that in the last 6 months.
Last time I towed I wasn't happy with the overall performance of the Prado (regardless of torque convertor operation). Where I would have liked the transmission to kick back to 4th it would kick back too many gears, back to 3rd, making the engine rev quite high where there is no torque/power. Even not towing I had noticed this trait. Since changing my injectors (yes, again) the transmission seems to be performing much better, not sure if this is an engine/power related thing or a reset of the computer by having the battery disconnected thing.

I am trailering my zook over cunninghams gap this weekend so will see how it goes, I have recently added a Scangauge to my list of gadgets so will monitor transmission and torque convertor temps both unlocked and locked.

Will give some updated feedback next week.

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

MRW82 Hi Mark, Good to hear alls well with you. What happens when your injectors go. I am pushing 160k now and all is feeling good. I have a DP Chip installed and I always use "Diesel Power" fuel additive ( have used it since new). Have you replaced your exhaust and do you have a Catch can in place. I went into Hilux forum and saw the photos and the condition of the EGR valve and inlet manifold which scared me into action straight away. what a mess. Could be a part of your problem. How many KMs do you have.
I find Chardo is running quite sweet at the moment. It is going to get new donuts very soon. I have been running Dick Cepek FC-11 tyres and 92,000 not even a puncture, so I am going for the new ones out that replace them. They are called "FunCountry", weird name but supposed to be better than last ones. Im off. take care and cheers Bill

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

MRW82 Mark, The Forum is NewHilux.net. Very informative, lots of photos of stripdowns. Have you seen it yet. I have been watching the Scanguage as well, but didn't know enough about it. Look forward to hearing about it all. cheers Bill.

[Davis Dieso Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davis Dieso]

MRW82 Hi Mark are you still on the air???? How is the lock kit working???how many KMS have you put on it now??

Jamie, Sounds like you did a good job in the first place mate and is good to hear that everything is holding together after so long. I have great faith in my beast every time we go on a trip. I am coming up to 160,000kms and have only changed one noisy injector and cleaned all the bloody gunk out of the intake system. I recently replaced the big cat converter with a 200 cell free flow one. It makes a bit of difference to pick up and a tiny bit more noise, but I have noticed that there is a fair bit of gain on the fuel usage on a trip. I am really hoping to get a lock up kit in soon then I might be a happy chappie. OK Mate take care and keep that converter locked. Cheers Bill

Heh thanks Bill,
Yep it sure makes a difference, and yes I'm glad its all holding together. As I've said, the more I drive it the more I'm convinced it'll hold together.
Your's being a D4D and waiting for one of the boys to come up with the more complex system (5 speed) that some on these pages are doing great work with. Hopefully won't be long and you'll be in business. I'd like to see the 5 speed with the lock up. The more gears the auto has the better. Less of a gap in ratios for the clutches to deal with.
An interesting thing, Our FG XR6 (6 speed) as far as I can detect (and its hard) only changes up 5 gears, and its already locked the convertor. When it does it I can't detect?? Its like its locked early in the gear changes but I can't figure it out?? Weird heh? Such a good box (ZF).
Anyway, where was I? Good luck.

Cheers, Jamie

[chardo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chardo]

MRW82
Hi Mark, I have just come back from a run to Darwin this afternoon and while cruising around I noticed just how much the trans drops in and out even at lower speeds around town. I decided I would ask you if you were happy with your kit if you would update your earlier diagrams as I may have a go at it myself. I would rather pay you or Rusty for a kit but I will have a go if necessary as I am thinking of pointing Chardo into the wind again soon. Anyway mate let me know what you think. Thanks and cheers Bill

[delicar Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close delicar]

Hi all!
I refer to my post #224 where I stated that I was going west and would report back on the simple lockup I fitted, WELL 10.487ks and 106 days later we have arrived back home here in cold old Adelaide after a fantastic trip towing the Cub up hill and down dale, being winched out of sandy river beds or just cruising the highways we had a ball and the Prado with the thumb control lockup performing faultlessly, just so simple with the thumb switch just driving to the conditions and switching on /off with ease. No revving and roaring stuck in 3rd down dirt tracks just lock it up and sit on 60 ks at 1300rpm even down to 50 at 1100, sometimes even slower by clicking over to 3rd and then locking up, all in all my experience has been good with no signs of any complaints from the gear box and as such I cant recommend this mod highly enough for my model of Prado.(4 speed). Overtaking was much improved although it would still tend to go back to 3rd and rev and roar but only if I belted it gentle acceleration was OK and it even after awhile it even behaved itself reasonably well in cruise control which I used a lot.
Our trip.
Adelaide-Nullabor Plain-Kalgoolie-Coolgardie- Northam- Guilderton-up the west coast-into Tom Price-Karagini-Marblebar-back to coast-Broome-Derby-Gibb rv rd-Wyndam-Kununara-Katherine-Alice springs-Finke rv gorge nat pk-A Springs-Binns track-Mt dare-Oodnadatta track-Borefield Rd-Andamooka-Roxby Downs-Spudsroad house-Adelaide and a zillion little places in between.
To set up the Prado for this trip I fitted A full set of Bilsteins with Dobinsons springs + polyairs resulting in a 2" lift coupled to Coopers AT3s, this combination combined with correct tyre pressures resulted in a hassle free and pretty smooth ride over all the rough roads.
cheers Mick.
Thanks again to Davis Dieso (Jamie) for all his help and advice both before and during our trip and one for you Jamie "Mate if it aint a Cub it aint a campa"

[Davis Dieso Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davis Dieso]

Hi all!
I refer to my post #224 where I stated that I was going west and would report back on the simple lockup I fitted, WELL 10.487ks and 106 days later we have arrived back home here in cold old Adelaide after a fantastic trip towing the Cub up hill and down dale, being winched out of sandy river beds or just cruising the highways we had a ball and the Prado with the thumb control lockup performing faultlessly, just so simple with the thumb switch just driving to the conditions and switching on /off with ease. No revving and roaring stuck in 3rd down dirt tracks just lock it up and sit on 60 ks at 1300rpm even down to 50 at 1100, sometimes even slower by clicking over to 3rd and then locking up, all in all my experience has been good with no signs of any complaints from the gear box and as such I cant recommend this mod highly enough for my model of Prado.(4 speed). Overtaking was much improved although it would still tend to go back to 3rd and rev and roar but only if I belted it gentle acceleration was OK and it even after awhile it even behaved itself reasonably well in cruise control which I used a lot.
Our trip.
Adelaide-Nullabor Plain-Kalgoolie-Coolgardie- Northam- Guilderton-up the west coast-into Tom Price-Karagini-Marblebar-back to coast-Broome-Derby-Gibb rv rd-Wyndam-Kununara-Katherine-Alice springs-Finke rv gorge nat pk-A Springs-Binns track-Mt dare-Oodnadatta track-Borefield Rd-Andamooka-Roxby Downs-Spudsroad house-Adelaide and a zillion little places in between.
To set up the Prado for this trip I fitted A full set of Bilsteins with Dobinsons springs + polyairs resulting in a 2" lift coupled to Coopers AT3s, this combination combined with correct tyre pressures resulted in a hassle free and pretty smooth ride over all the rough roads.
cheers Mick.
Thanks again to Davis Dieso (Jamie) for all his help and advice both before and during our trip and one for you Jamie "Mate if it aint a Cub it aint a campa"

Heh thanks Mick,
Like the dig about the camper...... Great to hear your trip went so well with no problems. Thats a big plus. And the all important lock up doing its job superbly. How good is it? Really makes you wonder why manufacturers can't do it?? Though new vehicles are now doing it.
Very interesting trip you had Mick, A lot of which I have done and well worth doing. Tick that one off your bucket list.
Cheers, Jamie