89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter?

Posted By: 98RAM1500

89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 04:12 AM

Does this trans from a 89 D150 parts truck have Electronically Controlled Lockup converter? I just got it checked out at a transmission shop and ready to installing without knowing that. So will it even work in the 84 D150 318 4BBL truck? if this is true can I get a different converter for it to work?

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 07:50 AM

Is it a 3 speed or 4-speed (overdrive) auto. Both can have the electric lock-up. If its a 3-speed with lock-up it will have a one wire connector on the back left side of the trans and if a 4-speed it will have 3 terminal plug on the left side of the trans facing upwards behind where the linkage goes on the valve body shaft. I am not talking about the neutral saftey switch plug as they will both have that. If its a 3-speed without lock-up the only plug it will have is the 3 terminal NSS and not the single connector in the rear. The 4-speed will have the 3 terminal connector on the left side facing up but you will have to look in the connector to see if it has 2 or 3 terminal pins in it. If 2 its just a non lock-up 4-speed overdrive trans and it it has 3 pins it has the lock-up also. Ron

Posted By: 98RAM1500

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 12:24 PM

Its a 3spd auto, so basically most of the 80's 904's & 999's where electronically controlled converters? Is there anything I can do to get rid of the electronic crap? Because im not wiring up a switch to turn it on & off. What years 904's do I need to look for that's not Electronic Lockup?

Posted By: Supercuda

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 03:32 PM

Quote:

Its a 3spd auto, so basically most of the 80's 904's & 999's where electronically controlled converters? Is there anything I can do to get rid of the electronic crap? Because im not wiring up a switch to turn it on & off. What years 904's do I need to look for that's not Electronic Lockup?

To the best of my knowledge NONE of the three speed TF's have an electrically controlled lockup, they are hydraulic controlled.

Some cop trans did have an electrical UNLOCK solenoid to improve acceleration at WOT, but if you don't connect it the lockup still functions properly.

Posted By: scratchnfotraction

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 03:44 PM

yes, late models have noids on the VB to lock-unlock the TC - a wire goes in the back of case of trans small sender looking thing with push on connector like a water temp sender. driver side rear flat area of case next to tail housing.

I droped that VB and installed a hydraulic operated VB, it has a small tube snaking over top of the VB to work the lock up feature.

I also add the kit to raise the rpm/lock up point on it as well as the kit to pump fluid in park.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 10:53 PM

From what I remember it should use a lock-up relay that is controlled by the PCM. That way the PCM know when its in 3rd gear and know the eng temp , TPS volts , vehicle speed and MAP volts to determine when to apply the lock-up. You can leave it unhooked and it just wont have the lock-up. On that year it will set a code but should not turn on the Ck Eng lite. Or you can use the lock-up which is a good idea for cruising as I believe there are some aftermarket kits around that will apply the lock-up by speed along with eng vac and temp. I dont know if the aftermarket kit will monitor TPS. Maybe someone will chime in who knows what company makes the kits, Ron

Posted By: draginmopars

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/20/14 11:30 PM

A-999
they are hydraulic controlled.

we used to have to change the spring in the valve body
to delay lock up

Posted By: 98RAM1500

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/21/14 02:00 AM

Yeah mine does have the switch at the back above the pan rail & I just got through talking to the transmission shop (I was having a hard time getting ahold of him), he said just to leave it unhooked that only I would not have lockup which is fine that it will just shift like a regular 3 speed & they claimed that it wouldn't hurt anything & he's built a lot of Chrysler transmissions for 40 years. He's built most of my trans when they've needed to be rebuilt, but thanks for the reply & help

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/21/14 04:25 AM

Quote:

A-999
they are hydraulic controlled.

we used to have to change the spring in the valve body
to delay lock up

They use a solenoid in the trans on the valve body that has a relay in the circuit and is controlled by the PCM so I would call it electronically operated. Sure the lock-up still uses hydraulics to apply it but the solenoid closes a vent so the pressure will push the valve over. I figure your talking about the older ones that are all hydraulic as it uses gov press to move one of the valves to apply the lock-up and if you changed the spring on them it will change the speed it comes on. But I think they stopped using the fully hydraulic one by the mid 80's. Ron

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/21/14 09:39 PM

No 3-speed Torqueflite has electrical lockup, only the OD trans has it.

The electrical connection on some late 904/999 is to unlock the converter only.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/21/14 11:51 PM

Quote:

No 3-speed Torqueflite has electrical lockup, only the OD trans has it.

The electrical connection on some late 904/999 is to unlock the converter only.

John what do you mean unlock only ? Heck my 88 pick-up had the 3 speed with the lock-up but they do call the relay the Part throttle unlock relay. Course how can you unlock it without it having a lock-up converter ?

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/22/14 12:34 AM

The converter locks up hydraulically with no electrical assist, it can unlock either hydraulically or on electrical command from the controller.

Of course, this is predicated on it being a lockup trans.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/22/14 04:40 AM

I agree but I always considered it electrical because from what I remember the solenoid has to be closed to close the bleed off vent or it wont build the pressure to move the valve. Not trying to make a big deal out of it but I just called it an electrical lock-up because of that. Thanks for the reply.

Ron

Posted By: 98RAM1500

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/22/14 04:52 AM

So if I leave it unplugged what will happen?? will it lockup but then not unlock??

My friend (known him for 20 years) that owns the transmission shop told me that "If I left it unhooked then I will have no lockup at all and that it would shift like a regular 3spd" He's never steered me wrong before and has built trans for me in the past

, plus the 40 years experience building transmissions that he has.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/22/14 06:45 AM

If you leave it unpluged it should not work and it will work as a standard converter. With it unhooked it wont build enough pressure to move the valve and it wont work the lock-up. Ron

Posted By: John_Kunkel

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/22/14 08:10 PM

Simple enough to test for yourself, disconnect the wire and let it shift through the gears at very light throttle....watch the tach for an rpm drop after the 2-3 shift is complete or wait for the feel of the lockup.

Posted By: 383man

Re: 89 D150 A999 auto have electronic LU converter? - 03/23/14 04:42 PM

I believe I see what you mean John. With the solenoid wire unhooked at the rear of the trans it will still have the lock-up work because the solenoid is closed keeping the bleed closed when unhooked. I just always looked at it as an electrical lock-up since a solenoid was in the circuit and I figured the solenoid was open when off and closed upon start up and then opened when comanded by the PCM. Which says I was wrong and it should work with the wire unhooked since the solenoid is closed when unhooked. Ron