1995 Cabrio 4 speed automatic shifting problems
I bought a 1995 Cabrio 3 months ago. After driving the car for 1500 miles I noticed that it was running 3000 r.p.m at 65 mph. This seemed like a bit on the high r.p.m range for me. The transmission is a 4 speed automatic. I took the car to a transmission shop. The mechanic said that the tranny was ok, however, he said that the torque converter was not locking out. He said that the tranny was ok, however, the torque converter not working properly would cause the transmission to be no good. His diagnosis...replace the transmission. Took the car to a 2nd transmission shop. Same diagnosis, transmission shifting properly through all 4 gears, however, torque converter not locking out. Once again, diagnosis...replace transmission.
Took the car to my mechanic, replaced the tranny with a salvage yard transmission, reprogrammed the computer and boom...same problem. The transmission was working properly, shifting through all 4 gears but still high r.p.ms at highway speeds, 3000 r.p.m at 65 mph. Once again, the mechanic pulled the tranny and replaced it with another. Once again, same problem, all 4 gears working but high r.p.m.
Now my mechanic says that the problem is in my head after replacing the tranny two times and it still runs the same. My mechanic is saying that the 4 gears in the transmissions are changing and working properly. He says that the 4 speed automatic with overdrive means that 4th gear is the overdrive, and the torque converter locking out is not the overdrive. I only drove this car for 1500 miles before I noticed this but do not think that it was running 3000 r.p.m at 65 mph. I think that it was running about 2400 r.p.m at 65 mph. My mechanic said that the Vw Cabrio runs around 3000 r.p.m at 65 mph. When driving the car, it feels a bit high.
My question is: Does anyone know if I may have a transmission problem or torque converter problem? Is the 4th gear in the transmission considered the overdrive or is the locking torque converter considered the overdrive? Is 3000 r.p.m at 65 mph normal is that high? After countless hours of research and phone calls to numerous mechanics I still cannot get any answers! I have put approxiamately $ 2500.00 into this problem and still have the same problem but now do not know if I even have a problem!
Any help with this would be greatly appreciated...