94 GA quad 4 automatic won't run in drive

Car starts fine, idles great in park or neutral. Drives perfect in reverse.
When you shift to drive it sputters and shuts off. Pops, spits sputters,
and if you are real good you can nurse it into moving. If you get it up to
35 mph it stops sputtering. Runs smooth at 65 as long as you don't try
to accelerate. Tried all forward gears when running and they all do the
same. Reverse, neutral, and park runs great. You can rev it up and it
sounds normal in those 3, just don't try to go forward. Service engine
light has been on for a long time. When sputtering and before stalling
the service engine and temperature light flash back and forth. I have
gauges and it isn't running hot at all. Lights on shifting console also
flash as it is sputtering until it stalls and they stay on. Do I need an
excorsist, or should I just drive everywhere in reverse??? Any help is
appreciated.

Hey Scott181. Had this problem on several GA's i've owned. Sucks real bad when u hit every stoplight red.LOL! Didnt now what the part was called till GTP Dad said something about it. the TSS sensor in the transmisson. U have alot of miles on this Demon?

Yes I do, about 194,000 on it. Service engine light
has been on since about 150,000. Changed O2
sensor about 2 years ago, since that was the error.
It didn't help. I've been told fuel filter, but I know
that isn't it, since it will idle for hours, and runs
good in reverse. Has to be something with the
computer or transmission since it knows when I put
it in any forward gear. Thanks for the reply.

Made a couple quick phone calls. Wow, the local
autozone didn't know what a TSS sensor was. I
have a couple of sites on the net where I can check
how to install parts and it knew exactly what I was
talking about.... Go autozone, LOL. Anyone else
have any input on this problem??????

ya the TSS is in the trans. so not all parts stores carry them.

Ok, so far it sounds like the TSS in the tranny.
Anyone else have any input???? I'm ready to put
the cash into it, and fix it, I'll post my results since
this is one weird problem so that if anyone else runs
into this they will know. I just want to make sure I
am fixing the right part!!!!! I did get a break down
on the TSS and it says there are 3 different parts.
A switch, a selonoid, and something else.... Help!!!

i had mine replaced on an 86' GA, a 93' GA ,and a 95' GA which was someones i worked on. I did not relace the part myself, so I'm not sure what it involves replacing the TSS (transmission shift seloniod). I took the cars/trans. to a trans. shop and it cost aboot 350-400$ parts/labor. Now days I could probley change them since i have the right equipment, but I havnt had one go bad. But they all had about 165-186k miles on them when they needed replaced. Hope this explains a little better. Good Luck

The transmission has to come out to change the tss. Its a labor intensive job as there really isn't alot of room to manuver things around there. Take the driver's side strut, knuckle, and suspension support out, remove the torque strut, starter, electrical connections, shift cables, transmission cooling lines and drive axles. Unbolt the transmission and catch it with a jack, lower it and the tss is right inside the housing behind the torque converter. Good luck, its a job I won't do.

Yes that explains a bit more, but from the sounds and the cost It might be cheaper and just as easy
to replace the tranny??? If I have to drop it anyway
might as well replace it. Even if it is just one little
part inside of it. It still confuses me how a solenoid
would shut the car down like that. Is it something
that plugs into the computer to tell it what gear it's
in, or some safety switch??? Give me an old 350
chevy to work on with no computer crap and I'm
happy.....

Before you go replacing or ripping apart your tranny, you mights want to try replacing the MAP Sensor. I got a 94 Grand Am with the V-6 and it was doing the EXACT same thing that you are describing. Somebody else on here told me about the TCC and also suggusted the MAP. Being cheaper and easier, I replaced the MAP Sensor and the car now seems to be running normal again.
Just a suggestion to hopefully save money and hassles.



LostOne01
94 Grand Am 170,000 miles
97 Hyundai Accent 90,000 miles

I'm all for saving money!!!! LOL. Ok, by map I'm
assuming you are talking about the manifold air
pressure sensor?? Forgive me but the newer cars
with all the sensors and computers just drive me
nuts.... I priced on at about $50, which if that is
the problem then GREAT!!!!! Is there a way to test
the old one?? Bypass it to see if that could be the
problem??? I'm not trying to keep from replacing it, I
just don't want to empty my bank account trying
to get the right thing. Thank you for the input, I
really do appreciate all the help that everyone out
here has given me!!!!!

It could be the TCC soleniod that is causing your problem, but first things first.
What code are you getting out of the ECM?
The TCC solenoid is more labor intensive than anything else..it all depends on if you have a mount that goes across the side cover of the trans.

Hey scott181. You had the MAP right Manifold pressure. The Map can be tested to see if its working. if u have a voltage meter that is. I dont hav time to write it out here, but heres a link to the Zone. http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/56/95/0900823d800e5695.jsp
This should cover what u need to know, and then some other stuff for future use. Hope you get it going.

Well I don't know what code I'm getting as I have
never had it checked. Any place I've taken it to
just to get them to hook it up and give me the code
says it will be a minimum of $45. Autozone says
they do it for free. Well for some reason they say
they can't on a 94 grand am. Something about the
year and a changeover..... I tried 3 different places
and they all say the same thing. I read about doing
the jumper thing to get the service engine soon
light to blink you the code, except on a 94..... I
think I picked the worst year of car to own. I found
the m.a.p. sensor, and I know it isn't the best way
to check it, but I unplugged it just to see. Same
exact thing happens. I was kinda hoping it would
make the car die in all gears or not start, that way
I knew it wasn't that. Actually I accomplished
nothing by doing that..... I have an actual mechanic
that is suppose to stop over this weekend and take
a look at it and give me his opinion. I'm just shaking
my head.... What happened to the good ole days???

Xeroinfinity, Thank you for the link. It did answer
me as far as how to test it. I should have aprox 5
volts between a and c and aprox 1.5 volts between
a and b. I get 5.97 on the first and 1.45 on the
second. I think that is within tolerance. Next I start
the engine and test again. I should get an increase
of aprox 1.5 volts at idle and 4.5 volts with a full
throttle. At idle there is no change, no one home
right now to mash the peddle, and to tight to reach
in while holding the meter and probes and all that.
So it is possible it is bad..... I just don't understand
why it would only do it in forward gears??? That's
why I am leaning more towards something with the
tranny. Although if I don't get a different reading
when I mash the peddle, then I'll replace it. Thank
you for your input, whether it is right or wrong it is
help, and I appreciate it.