PjLex

Factory service manual? Where would be a good place to get that at?

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Dealer, used book store or that auction site.

That auction site:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-Lexus-LS-400-Service-Repair-Shop-Manual-2-Volume-SET-OEM-DEALER-FACTORY-/300888062033?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&vxp=mtr&hash=item460e537851
Lextreme's site might also be of help since the crowd there tend to wrench quite a bit of mods.
http://www.lextreme.com/

PjLex

I have a shop service manual already. I look in the automatic transmission section of it. And find nothing about how to take out the torque converter. Is it in another section possibly? Or maybe my manual is not exactly complete.

PjLex

I was told by some mechanics that the torque converter should just slide out. At the most I would have to use a couple of screw drivers to pry the torque converter out. They told me that nothing is really "holding" it in. Nothing like a snap ring or anything to that effect.

PjLex

Update:
Just came back from messing with car again. This time I got off the torque converter successfully. I tipped it up slightly as i was pulling it out this time, and that made all the difference. I moved it around and flipped it over to drain the fluid inside of it. From just moving it around a little like that, I hear and feel something moving around inside. A torque converter shouldn't make any noises or have things moving and clunking around inside right? LOL, glad I didn't get a full manual just to "remove the torque converter".

cobalt91

you are correct. A torque converter should not clunk. Is there any play in the input shaft?

PjLex

So, I went ahead and got a used transmission and torque converter. Now I am going to install the unit. Does anyone know if I should use thread locker on the bell housing bolts? Also is there any things I should replace at this point or check? Given that I have the tranny dropped and all. Thanks much!

YoshiMan

no thread locker, those are tough to get out as they are, you don't need to be adding difficulty to that!

PjLex

they were a ***** to get off. And that is why I though they originally had thread lock on them. Good I will use no thread lock.

PjLex

Does anyone know if the torque converter has to be aligned in a certain way with the flywheel? I see yellow paint dots on fly wheel, and yellow mark on one of the torque converter's bolt holes. Do these need to be matched up?

PjLex

While I have it apart I am going to replace the rear main oil seal. Anything else I should check or replace while I have the transmission down?

cobalt91

How do the transmission and motor mounts look?

PjLex

Overall, given the age and miles, they look good. The tranny mount is more worn out, but not bad. I am going to go ahead and replace the tranny mount. The engine mounts look good from as far as i can tell. I am on the fence about replacing them.

LScowboyLS

I sure hope that towing company paid you a lot of money for messing up your tranny in the first place!

did you replace fluid & filter and clean the transmission pan?

make sure to use the genuine Toyota tranny filter and Toyota type T-IV fluid!

YoshiMan

While you got it apart, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to do the input shaft seal as well on the transmission