I have a 90 Caprice 305 with a 700R4 tranny, 129,000 miles. I changed the tranny fluid and filter under 6,000 miles ago.

Here's my problem.

When the car is cold she runs great, gears change fine, I can get up to 70mph and come down to a stop with nice clean shifts.

As soon as the car warms up a little, the transmission starts giving me issues.

At around 35mph it shifts into over drive, dropping my RPMS way down, I get bad detonation if I give it gas, and the accelleration is poor. Leading me to think it's going into OD way to early.

If I'm on the highway, after this has started, and start slowing to a stop the car shifts really rough, with a bouncey in and out of gear feel.


Another issue, that happens very rarely and ususaly only if the car has warmed up, is the car will stall when coming to a stop or just getting in to 1st gear. From what I've read here that's a solenoid problem, but I'm not sure if the two are related. This has happened only 3 times in a year.


Thanks for any and all help,
Jason

It sounds like you are having a Torque Converter Clutch issue. Generally, the issue has to do with the TCC solenoid, located above the pan, on the front pump. There is a small hole in the solenoid in which oil flows will sometimes get plugged, leading to this behavior.

Thanks again. I'll dig around for a how-to and get back if replacing it helped.

Torque converter lockup is programmed at a minimum of 36MPH, with release at 35, Older models were worse, with lockup as low as 27 MPH. Depending upon load, engine temperature, and TPS, the ECM will lockup and hold the converter at that MPH. If the engine lugs at that speed, the MAP should drop, indicating the incrased load, and release the converter. Some ECM programs had longer delays to prevent TCC "hunting", and this aggravates the lugging problem. If the condition persists after you resolve the TCC release problem, you may want to look into reprogramming to resolve that and some other possible issues.

Quick question, does this sound like the correct part?

Sorry I can't provide a picture, we're moving in two days and I packed the camera.:banghead:

Oreilly's seemed to be at a loss on a Torque Converter Clutch solenoid.
The part they sold me was a Transmition control solenoid.

It's T shaped with what looks like wrapped copper inside a housing at the top, with a 2 inch white stem that gets wider at it's end with an O-Ring at the tip, making the bottom of the T shape.
It has two leads and two mounting brackets at the top on either side of the housing.

Quick question, does this sound like the correct part?

Sorry I can't provide a picture, we're moving in two days and I packed the camera.:banghead:

Oreilly's seemed to be at a loss on a Torque Converter Clutch solenoid.
The part they sold me was a Transmition control solenoid.

It's T shaped with what looks like wrapped copper inside a housing at the top, with a 2 inch white stem that gets wider at it's end with an O-Ring at the tip, making the bottom of the T shape.
It has two leads and two mounting brackets at the top on either side of the housing.

http://www.silicon212.org/TCC_Solenoid.jpg

The image above is for a TH2004R, but you get the point.

That's the stuff, thanks! :bigthumb:

So far, so good. I've yet to do any long trips, but from the 20 miles I did yesterday all seems well. Thanks again!