Engine dies

[mrmg2004]

I have a 1989 corsica, it start right up and runs good for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then it would die out when driving or at a stop light. Will start up again no problem, but it's when I put it in reverse or drive that it stops the engine, shuts it off. What would make this happen? If you have any good answers please let me know. Thanks

[jsgold]

Sounds like TCC solenoid, if it happens when slowing down /stopping. The car usually shakes like an old standard shift transmission in high gear and then stalls. Starts up OK but stalls as soon as put in any gear. Won't work again until cools off or you rev motor and shove into gear (not recommended). Easy to check. Just unhook the 4 prong plug which sits near top of transaxle. Will have to remove air filter housing, cover and filter. Look under the housing and you should see it. Unplug it and drive around for a while and see if it helps. (mine is like that right now...) OK to drive it this way locally (many drive for years that way)but if you do a lot of interstate driving it will be a little rougher on the motor and your gas mileage will drop a little. The torque converter cannot "lock" and it will seem like you are in a slower gear. Costs 150-200 bucks to have a tranny shop fix. Hard to fix yourself because of where the solenoid is located on most Corsicas. The solenoid is cheap (around 20-30 bucks) but is very labor intensive. If this does not do it the other suspects would be crank sensor or ignition module and both will act up when warm when failing, but, if the car starts up and stalls in gear most likely the TCC. Very common.

[markaz]

Originally Posted by mrmg2004

I have a 1989 corsica, it start right up and runs good for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then it would die out when driving or at a stop light. Will start up again no problem, but it's when I put it in reverse or drive that it stops the engine, shuts it off. What would make this happen? If you have any good answers please let me know. Thanks

I guarantee that jsgold is right. Had the exact same symptoms, unplugged the solenoid and all is well. You're sacrificing 2-3 mpg by doing this, mainly highway miles. When gas gets to $5.00, then I'll replace.

[ctellis156]

id agree too that its the tcc, i had mine fixed sometime back and thats the exact symptoms mine had. From what i hear its a very common corsica problem.