I don't think the torque converter is supposed to "unlock" under load, because the resultant slippage will generate a lot of heat.
I would say the problem is ATF related at best, lock-up clutch fault at worst.
Gerhard Fourie
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
Gerhard,
I only know from what I experience and what I have learnt on this forum.
I didn't even know about the little clutch, untill the guys in the know made me aware of it.
Here is what I experience: it is the same for my last three Pajeros (2xDiD LWB GLS and my current 3.8V6 SWB).
Normal cruising under "moderate load" will result in a fixed rpm at a fixed speed (cruise control). This I now know is cruising with the clutch engaged. When you apply more load on an uphill, then the clutch disengages and there is a step-up increase in revs (200 - 300rpm). Should the load increase even more, the gearbox will gear down. Should you lock the tiptronic in 4th gear now, the clutch will engage as soon as the load moderates.
The implication is that when you tow a heavy load, don't "force" the car to stay in topgear with the tiptronic option. You could end up running extended periods with the clutch disengaged and the torque converter generating heat. In normal auto mode, the box will gear down and the clutch engage in 4th untill the load is reduced enough to allow 5th to be selected again.
The exact opposite is also true. When cruising with the clutch engaged and you reduce the load considerably (back off the accelerator), then the revs will drop when the clutch disengages.
I only know from what I experience and what I have learnt on this forum.
I didn't even know about the little clutch, untill the guys in the know made me aware of it.
Here is what I experience: it is the same for my last three Pajeros (2xDiD LWB GLS and my current 3.8V6 SWB).
Normal cruising under "moderate load" will result in a fixed rpm at a fixed speed (cruise control). This I now know is cruising with the clutch engaged. When you apply more load on an uphill, then the clutch disengages and there is a step-up increase in revs (200 - 300rpm). Should the load increase even more, the gearbox will gear down. Should you lock the tiptronic in 4th gear now, the clutch will engage as soon as the load moderates.
The implication is that when you tow a heavy load, don't "force" the car to stay in topgear with the tiptronic option. You could end up running extended periods with the clutch disengaged and the torque converter generating heat. In normal auto mode, the box will gear down and the clutch engage in 4th untill the load is reduced enough to allow 5th to be selected again.
The exact opposite is also true. When cruising with the clutch engaged and you reduce the load considerably (back off the accelerator), then the revs will drop when the clutch disengages.