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I've read a lot of comments on the 3rd gear hesitation, and I thought I would post my thought. On the one hand, I do think 3rd gear is too tall, but that is a separate matter. I'm talking about the part where it seems like there is a "weak spot" in the rpm band in 3rd gear because engine acceleration slows.
While it sounds odd, and looks odd if you're watching the tach, I don't think it's really a big deal. I'm pretty sure that "weak spot" is just caused by the torque converter locking. The engine seems to bog down because the tranny is slipping less. If you watch the actual speed, though, you are still accelerating, even if the rpms aren't. The tranny is just increasing it's effective gear ratio as the TC allows less slip.
Think of it like a bike on ice. You can pedal fast, but you aren't accelerating as fast as you should be, considering how fast you are pedaling. That's the tranny "slipping". Then, you catch traction and you suddenly can't pedal as fast, but you are accelerating faster. That's the torque converter locking.
Obviously the torque converter isn't allowing as much slippage as the bike on ice, but you get the idea. Just because the RPMs aren't accelerating doesn't mean the car isn't.
While it sounds odd, and looks odd if you're watching the tach, I don't think it's really a big deal. I'm pretty sure that "weak spot" is just caused by the torque converter locking. The engine seems to bog down because the tranny is slipping less. If you watch the actual speed, though, you are still accelerating, even if the rpms aren't. The tranny is just increasing it's effective gear ratio as the TC allows less slip.
Think of it like a bike on ice. You can pedal fast, but you aren't accelerating as fast as you should be, considering how fast you are pedaling. That's the tranny "slipping". Then, you catch traction and you suddenly can't pedal as fast, but you are accelerating faster. That's the torque converter locking.
Obviously the torque converter isn't allowing as much slippage as the bike on ice, but you get the idea. Just because the RPMs aren't accelerating doesn't mean the car isn't.