MajorCommonTransmission

Renault Laguna: DP0/AL4 4-Speed Auto Torque Converter Lock-Up Shudder

DP0/AL4 4-Speed Auto Torque Converter Lock-Up Shudder is a common transmission fault on the Renault Laguna on the 2001–2007 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 8 documented faults on the Renault Laguna.

Vehicle: Renault Laguna
Years: 2001–2007
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the Renault Laguna as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Renault Laguna faults8 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A cutaway automatic transmission torque converter showing the internal turbine and stator. — A torque converter, sectioned. The lock-up clutch inside is what shudders.
No machine-readable author provided. BerndB~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The DP0/AL4 4-speed automatic torque converter used in Laguna II employs a lock-up clutch that mechanically couples engine and transmission at highway speeds to eliminate torque converter slip and improve fuel economy. The lock-up clutch friction material degrades progressively when transmission fluid is not changed at shortened drain intervals, as the fluid carries away friction material particles that contaminate valve body solenoids. As the friction material wears, the clutch shudders on engagement rather than locking cleanly, producing a rhythmic vibration at 60-100 km/h that can be misidentified as an engine misfire or drivetrain imbalance. Continued operation accelerates internal contamination and leads to clutch pack and solenoid failure.

What you would notice

Rhythmic shudder or vibration felt through vehicle at 60-100 km/h in cruising gear
Vibration disappears when lightly accelerating or lifting throttle at cruise speed
Sensation similar to driving over rumble strips at highway speed
Transmission fluid appearing dark brown or smelling burnt on dipstick
Check Engine light with torque converter lock-up fault code stored

How to check it

Where to look. DP0/AL4 torque converter housed at the bellhousing end of the transmission unit, forward of the main gear train

Road test at steady 80-100 km/h in lockup gear to reproduce the shudder and confirm it disappears under slight throttle change; check transmission fluid colour and smell on dipstick for contamination from friction material; scan OBD for P0741 or related torque converter lock-up rationality fault codes; inspect fluid for fine black or metallic particulate matter indicating advanced clutch material breakdown.

Parts involved: Torque converter.

What it costs to put right

$2,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does the car vibrate or shudder at highway cruising speeds?”
“When was the transmission fluid last drained and replaced?”
“Has any vibration or shudder been diagnosed or investigated?”
“Have there been any transmission warning lights?”

Now check the Renault Laguna you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Renault Laguna buyer questions

Is dp0/al4 4-speed auto torque converter lock-up shudder serious on a Renault Laguna?

We rate it major and common on the Renault Laguna. The DP0/AL4 4-speed automatic torque converter used in Laguna II employs a lock-up clutch that mechanically couples engine and transmission at highway speeds to eliminate torque converter slip and improve fuel economy. The lock-up clutch friction material degrades progressively when transmission fluid is not changed at shortened drain intervals, as the fluid carries away friction material particles that contaminate valve body solenoids. As the friction material wears, the clutch shudders on engagement rather than locking cleanly, producing a rhythmic vibration at 60-100 km/h that can be misidentified as an engine misfire or drivetrain imbalance. Continued operation accelerates internal contamination and leads to clutch pack and solenoid failure.

How much does it cost to fix on a Renault Laguna?

$2,200 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Renault Laguna years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2001–2007 Renault Laguna. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.