Help Please, changed torque converter and flywheel now will not drive., Automatic moves in reverse, does not go anywhere in drive (1,2 or 3) Options

[94celigts]

Please HELP>>>>> Last week my car stopped driving, the flex plate and torque converter separated and I was not able to move anywhere. Lots of noise and metal in the housing. Its a 94 with 70k on the engine (used) and 300k on the automatic transmission, I sourced the parts from a local jdm shop. A torque converter and flex plate and new bolts. It was done last friday, test drove it for about an hour it worked. Went to drive later that day and it felt like a loss of power or slippage at first. I ended up on a hill going no where in drive and my o/d light started flashing, I didnt catch the code. Any way, reverse gear works fine. I drove it back to my house in reverse and topped up the fluid thinking maybe it was low. Toyota parts desk sold me 4 quarts for the process and I cannot find for the life of me what the whole fill takes I read somewhere 7 quarts. I didnt want to overfill the transmission. It is still sitting in the garage, Ive checked all electrical connections and I dont believe its a sensor, I have read about shift solenoids on here and Im leaning towards them possibly being my problem. The only other thing I can think of is needing a new Transmission, but before the repair it worked so well.


1. How many quarts does the Automatic Transmission full fill take?
2. Why would it work and then stop working?
3. How do I test for codes?
4. There was alot of metal shavings around in the torque converter housing, could these have gotten into my solenoids?
5. Finally could it possibly be that i need a new transmission?

Thanks in advance guys.
Dana

This post has been edited by 94celigts: Jan 26, 2013 - 12:20 PM

[Special_Edy]

Lol, did you fill the torque converter before installing it? I imagine the torque converter holds 3-4 quarts and the transmission pan holds 3-5 quarts.
You are supposed to lay the torque converter on its engine side with the transmission input shaft side facing up, and then you fill it with as much fluid as it will take(which takes forever, it drains in slowly). Then you flip the torque converter onto the input shaft of the transmission as quickly as you can so you dont spill any.
If you have already run the car then the transmission pump has filled the torque converter for you, but I imagine your pan level is very low.
As Smaay said you should park the car on as level a surface as is practical(if it doesnt drive then do your best) and check the transmission dipstick with the engine running and the car in park.

And for gods sake if you havent already done so, remove the pan and replace the filter. The filter costs $10-15 and includes a gasket. Make sure to clean the magnet on the pan if there is one, most cars have a magnet to catch all the naturally occuring metal flakes. Its supposed to be done every 20,000-50,000 miles depending on your climate along with a total fluid change. Heat makes tranny fluid break down.

Of course my celica is a manual but this is all common knowledge about automatic transmissions.

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: Jan 27, 2013 - 3:18 AM