1995 cavalier stalling problem

[boboschmidt]

I have a '95 cavalier w/ 156000 miles that has started to stall on me. It usually happens when the engine is hot (after idling in traffic). At first, it feels like it's missing on 1 or 2 cylinders, then is stalls completely. I can re-start the engine, but it still seems like it's missing. After a minute or two has gone by, everything is back to normal. My mechanic suggested that it could be my vacuum lines but I wanted to get some more input. PLEASE HELP ME- I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW CAR RIGHT NOW!!!

[Micko34]

The TCC solenoid is gone. Same thing happened to us. Just unplug it. We did, no more problems.
It is easy

[boboschmidt]

I'm going to plead ignorance here... what is the TCC solenoid and where is it under the hood?

Originally Posted by Micko34

The TCC solenoid is gone. Same thing happened to us. Just unplug it. We did, no more problems.
It is easy

[Micko34]

It is on the transmission. On ours it was a little blue plug right on the front. Search in the forum and there will be instructions on how to find it. What it does is it tells the tranny to downshift from overdrive to 1. What happens is that it wears out so when you are at a stop light you car will not downshift so you start in third gear and stall.

[alpurl]

Originally Posted by Micko34

It is on the transmission. On ours it was a little blue plug right on the front. Search in the forum and there will be instructions on how to find it. What it does is it tells the tranny to downshift from overdrive to 1. What happens is that it wears out so when you are at a stop light you car will not downshift so you start in third gear and stall.

Minor correction, the tcc solenoid does not tell the tranny to downshift, it has nothing to do with shifting at all.

The torque converter has two plates with vanes on them. One is connected to the flywheel on the engine's crankshaft, the other is connected to the input on the transmission. They are separated by a very small distance.

The plate driven by the engine spins and spins the transmission fluid separating the two plates. This now spinning fluid spins the plate that drives the transmission.

What the TCC solenoid does is this:
When it receives the signal from the ECM/PCM, it engages the two plates so that they connect directly with each other in a direct drive, just like a clutch in a manual transmission.

The problem is this, when the signal is removed, the actual mechanism inside the solenoid doesn't release, and the two plates remain coupled together. This causes the behavior. Just like driving a car with a manual transmission, and coming to a stop without pushing in the clutch.

If when it first starts to chug, you put it in neutral, and it picks right up, then you know that's what the problem is. It should stall out when you try to put it back in drive.

The problem should disappear when the engine is shut down and has had a chance to cool for a few minutes.