Problems with my 89' Cavalier

Hopefully someone can help me out...

My 89' Chevrolet Cavalier (Automatic) starts up and runs nice, then stalls out and dies when I come to a stop after it's been running for about 30 minutes. When it's about to happen the car struggles up hills and doesn't accelerate very good. I can start it back up and the engine runs fine while in park or neutral, but as soon as I put it in drive it stalls out and dies, again. I've been told that the problem might be either the coil, fuel filter, or the spark plugs, but I don't really know what to think because I'm a new driver, and not a car buff. Haha. Any advice will be GREATLY appreciated!

thanks

It sounds like the problem i had with my 91. It is very possible its the TCC Solenoid. All you have to do to check this is unplug the 4 wire connector near the front driver side wheel well. You should be able to notice it. If that doesnt work. Try changing your plugs and wires first. That will start narrowing it down to what it is. If it still gives you problems thats when you look towards the coils. But hope its not those if your are replacing yourself. But if you have any issues or question feel free to ask, or go to your nearest auto body store (auto-zone, advanced auto parts) and pick up a Haynes Repair Manual for your vehicle. I will do what i can to help you out i will do it, even though im having issues with mine.

It sounds like the problem i had with my 91. It is very possible its the TCC Solenoid. All you have to do to check this is unplug the 4 wire connector near the front driver side wheel well. You should be able to notice it. If that doesnt work. Try changing your plugs and wires first. That will start narrowing it down to what it is. If it still gives you problems thats when you look towards the coils. But hope its not those if your are replacing yourself. But if you have any issues or question feel free to ask, or go to your nearest auto body store (auto-zone, advanced auto parts) and pick up a Haynes Repair Manual for your vehicle. I will do what i can to help you out i will do it, even though im having issues with mine.

Thanks a lot, numerous people said it might be the TCC, and i'd check that if i knew exactly how, i literally know nothing about cars. Haha. Right now my car is getting a tune up, and the guy is replacing the coils in it along with the spark plugs and fuel filter.

You probably have a bad torch converter lockup solenoid. does the car shake before it stalls? It took me nearly a year to discover that on my 94 cavalier rs and will finally be fixed next week. of course,i unplugged it from the sensor.

If you open the hood and look down below the air intake,there is a blue plug. Let me know if you find it! Also if you find it,unplug it,and drive it for awhile,and if the car doesn't do the stalling thing,you've found the problem. if thats the problem,you should be able to buy the part for around 30 bucks. Labor could be 75-200 bucks. I'd replace it,its eating your gas mileage.

You probably have a bad torch converter lockup solenoid. does the car shake before it stalls? It took me nearly a year to discover that on my 94 cavalier rs and will finally be fixed next week. of course,i unplugged it from the sensor.

Yeah right before it stalls, it shakes alot, so i'll try and find the blue plug you're talking about and then post my results! Thanks alot

Assuming that you find it,and you drive it and doesn't do the stalling thing,I strongly recommend that You fix it yourself if you can or take it to a mechanic if you want your gas mileage back! Another thing is it won't downshift. It also won't idle properly. I'm not trying to be your boss,but i'm a cavalier fan of all years! My new Torch converter lockup solenoid is being put in for 75.00 plus tax for labor and they say it'll take a few hours. But thats only because they don't have to take the transmission out and they're familiar with the inner workings!

Assuming that you find it,and you drive it and doesn't do the stalling thing,I strongly recommend that You fix it yourself if you can or take it to a mechanic if you want your gas mileage back! Another thing is it won't downshift. It also won't idle properly. I'm not trying to be your boss,but i'm a cavalier fan of all years! My new Torch converter lockup solenoid is being put in for 75.00 plus tax for labor and they say it'll take a few hours. But thats only because they don't have to take the transmission out and they're familiar with the inner workings!

I'll try to see what I can do when I get my car back, right now my girlfriend's brother is working on it, and putting two new coils in it, along with a basic tune up. Should I tell him about what everyone else is telling me (about the TCC solenoid)? I'm sure he'd know what you guys are talking about and know how to replace it.

Yeah that would be your best bet, just have him unplug the blue plug, and it should take care of it. I have had mine unplugged for a good while, if you dont drive the car hard it wont mess with gas mileage. i have no issue with gas mileage or trouble downshifting. Even though they say the TCC does help with it but is not necessary.

and if that doesnt work you might want to check your catalytic converter. for some reason when they get plugged and warm up they rob the car of its personality and power.

Then why is my car not downshifting? i have a bad Tcc Solenoid with it unplugged. I haven't been driving it hard. I know how to tell if my car downshifts,i've had it nearly 3 years. Can you believe my vacumm lines have probably been disconnected for over 6 months? I just discovered it today! I just had to buy a t-connector to reconnect them. Its running better but no downshifting. I was hoping that was the reason why it was stalling because that t-connecter only cost me alittle over 4 bucks with tax and it'll be 75 plus tax for labor to put in the tcc solenoid.

Your car does not downshift due to the tie down cable. Which i believe inside where the TCC is the tie down cable is in there as well. So that could be your issue, i wasnt sayin that your car wasnt downshifting, i was just stating that the TCC doesnt cause a car to not downshift. But, make sure they check the downshift cable. thats what would cause that

Do you think that they would normally check the downshift cable when they put in the new tcc solenoid? Is it possible that a disconnected vacumm line could cause it not to downshift? I appreciate all feedback.

So I finally got my car back, and it cost $470 and the problem wasn't fixed. Then I unplugged the TCC after I found it and now it runs for a while without stalling like it used to, so thanks to everyone for your help! I just need to get that replaced now.