break down..torque converter problem?

On Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:37:18 -0800 (PST), aspd watch
> wrote:

>Hello everyone,
>
>I have a question I'd like to ask. My dad has a 1994 chevy C-350,
>which comes with an automatic transmission.
>
>Just a couple of minutes ago, he informed me that his truck will no
>longer go into gear when shifting the transmission. The truck is
>making a whining noise, particularly when the transmission is set in
>neutral. He also told me that the torque converter is spinning when
>the trans is set in neutral, but I thought it's supposed to do that?
>
> When I drove the truck earlier today, I noticed that when I put it
>in reverse, there was a kind of loud thud noise immediately after the
>gear was shifted in reverse. It kind of sounded like the sound of a
>gear skipping over with some missing teeth. This has been going on
>for a couple of months, and we assumed that maybe some teeth were
>breaking off a gear from somewhere under the truck.
>
>Is this likely a torque converter problem, or could this be something
>else entirely?

The converter always turns. If it's 2 wheel drive, and the driveshaft
is not turning, then it's an internal trans problem. If it's 4 wheel
drive, it could be the transfer case.