Need a solution

chevyguy93 · #1 05-09-2006, 06:16 PM

[93 cavalier 4cyl]

Okay. i had a problem before while i was driving on a hot day- and my car started stalling on me. (only while slowing down or starting from a stop). If i pressed the gas, it seemed as if i was new at driving a manual transmission (car jumping everywhere), but this is an automatic, and then it would stall. I figured maybe it was overheating, and so i changed the thermostat. The one origionally in there was a 190 i think. It was for winter. I replaced it with a 160. Since i replaced it, the temperature gauge seemed okay. (before it was changed, the temperature was everywhere).
Today my brother took my car out. On his way home, he said he slowed down but the transmission seemed as if it wasnt shifting properly. The car then stalled. Once he started it back up, he said it was fine. (less than a minute drive home from where it stalled).

I had trouble with the transmission in my car, but then i replaced it. I havent had Any problems with this one before, and i have never had any serious problems with my car. It really annoys me and i Need it fixed! I take this car to my cabin in the summer, and i do not want it breaking down on the highway.

Any suggestions please????

94VL · #2 05-09-2006, 06:26 PM

Sounds like the infamous Torque converter clutch solenoid.When it stays locked up,it feels like a manual transmission that the clutch isnt being released on,and the engine can stall when stopped.

chevyguy93 · #3 05-09-2006, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 94VL

Sounds like the infamous Torque converter clutch solenoid.When it stays locked up,it feels like a manual transmission that the clutch isnt being released on,and the engine can stall when stopped.

alright. thanks alot for that quick reply. i have no clue where this solenoid is though. Where do i look for it? (i know its in the transmission... thats about it, haha) just give me some kinda idea where to spot it. if possible

chevyguy93 · #4 05-09-2006, 07:08 PM

okay never mind. i just read up on it. found out i gotta take the pan off unfortunately. Do you know if it is possible to do without taking the engine out?

94VL · #5 05-09-2006, 07:58 PM

The electrical part I believe is outside the transmission,atop it.The actual clutch part is inside the torque converter itself.
As I have a manual trans,I havent had experience with that infamous TCC part.....

chevyguy93 · #6 05-10-2006, 11:41 AM

alright. thanks alot for your help in diagnosing!
now does anyone else have an idea to remove the thing??
i looked in from the wheel well but it doesnt look like i will be able to get out a few of the bolts

chevyguy93 · #7 05-17-2006, 12:41 PM

okay... i still need help. after going to the scrap yard and finding a tcc solenoid, i spent all yesterday replacing it!. Today i went for a drive. After driving for about 15-20 minutes (not highway), i came to a stop sign. As i stopped, the engine started to run really rough. I managed to pull onto a side street and then had to put it into neutral. I turned off the car and tried to start. I could get it started, but as i put it into drive, or gear 1 or 2, it would die. I had to call to get someone to pick me up. About an hour and a half later, i went back. I unhooked the plug for the tcc solenoid and managed to drive home (went slowly so it wouldnt heat up fast). I no longer know if this problem is related to that solenoid, or why this is happening. Can anyone help me out?

chevyguy93 · #8 05-17-2006, 04:18 PM

alright! with the plug unhooked, i went for a drive. i drove rougher than i normally do (pressing on the gas more) to try and get it to warm up. I went around my area and down some roads for about 10 minutes. Nothing happened. So i believe that the solenoid i put in is also faulty, and have ordered a new one. I do have one more concern tho. Would my computer be doing this? Would it be locking the solenoid?
Recently i had a problem with my battery where it shorted out and it fried my alarm system. I am thinking maybe it may have shorted out the computer, but then it would have blown the fuse. Also, i would have had this problem much sooner because i have been driving around for a month without the TCC solenoid problem. Also, it takes some time for the solenoid to become locked. If it was computer related, would it not lock up within minutes of starting the car? Not waiting a certain amount of time?

OverAllComa · #9 05-17-2006, 04:56 PM

You had to do WHAT to replace the Solenoid? Jesus, no, the solenoid is right next to the tranny valve bodies, inside the side cover. It should take you about 20 minutes to replace. If you unhooked the sensor and it solved your problem, then you're fine and its just a TCC Lockup Solenoid. If you need step by step instructions with pictures, go here:

http://www.v6z24.com/howto/tcc

The TCC Lockup operates as a 3rd gear, giving you a 1:1 final drive by locking both halves of the torque coverter together. Its locked together by spending some time at highway speeds. It makes sense you had to give it more gas, you didn't have a final gear!

chevyguy93 · #10 05-17-2006, 05:48 PM

I'm good at repairing stuff, but i didnt say i was fast at it

. I usually take my time to make sure i'm doing it right. I know that the solenoid is just inside the cover, but for me to get all the screws out (with the limited tools i have) i had to remove the battery, air box, some wires, tire, and then the cover inside the wheel well. and thanks a lot for the reply. i have just taken the other one out and am about to put the new one in. im on a break =) i'll let everyone know how it goes

chevyguy93 · #11 05-18-2006, 04:53 PM

Ugh. well. i installed the brand new tcc solenoid yesterday. I drove around the city today and it was fine. Just now i decided to take it on the highway. To get up to 100km/h i really have to give it gas. I figure that my overdrive is no longer working. I decided to floor it, and it still did not go into overdrive. I have no clue whats going on! can someone please help!!

chevyguy93 · #12 05-18-2006, 05:59 PM

Anyone have an idea?

chevyguy93 · #13 05-18-2006, 06:04 PM

okay. i dont know if i explained it well. (i might be using the term Overdrive instead of something else). But u kno when driving on a highway or somewhere, you give more gas to pass a car or go up a hill, it changes gears and makes the car go faster without having to floor it? (lol. yes. pardon my language skills). but yes, it does not do that. It's a 3spd transmission, and if i floor it, it does not move out of 3rd gear

chevyguy93 · #14 05-18-2006, 07:13 PM

alright. nevermind people. When i installed the solenoid, it did not tell me which wire to hook to what. So i think i may have had the wires backwards. What i did was i took the connector off outside the transmission and flipped the 2 wires in the connector. I took it for another highway drive and she ran as good as she did before this whole problem started. I was driving around for a while, and didnt have a single problem. So thanks everyone for all the great help. i probably would have taken the car to the scrap yard because i know i wouldn't have thought of the solenoid. I didnt even know it existed.

OverAllComa · #15 05-18-2006, 08:05 PM

I would say "red to red and black to black" but tranny fluid screws with the colors. It should be "black to black and brown to red."

As an FYI, if you would've checked the link I gave you, all you had to do was jack up the car and pull off the lining in the fender well. The cover is right there. Then you just undo the bolts you can get to, jack up the motor a tad, and then get the rest. SO much faster than going in from the top, and you also get to see everything you're doing.

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