Grand Am Stall/Transmission

rc57 · #1 12-19-2006, 08:15 PM

Hi,
I've got a 90 Grand Am and problems with stalling when in gear. The car runs fine for anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Then as you approach a stop it begins to jerk and eventually stall. It will start right back up but once you shift into Drive or Reverse it stalls. After waiting a little while it will shift into drive and off you go until you stop and then the process is repeated.

Yesterday as it began to stall I manually shifted into 2nd and then to 1st in the turn and made it home without stalling.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I've read on the forum here that it could possibly be a switch inside the transmission causing the torque converter to lock up...or maybe a TCC switch causing that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Ron

xeroinfinity · #2 12-20-2006, 08:09 AM

Welcome to AF !

Sound like the TCC in the transmission isnt releasing the toque converter when you come to a stop.
A typical problem with this year and model GM.

Heres a link that tell you how to replace the TCC.
It located in the driverside of the transmission

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/l/aa011703b.htm

Not an easy job, but can be done DIY .

MT-2500 · #3 12-20-2006, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rc57

Hi,
I've got a 90 Grand Am and problems with stalling when in gear. The car runs fine for anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Then as you approach a stop it begins to jerk and eventually stall. It will start right back up but once you shift into Drive or Reverse it stalls. After waiting a little while it will shift into drive and off you go until you stop and then the process is repeated.

Yesterday as it began to stall I manually shifted into 2nd and then to 1st in the turn and made it home without stalling.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? I've read on the forum here that it could possibly be a switch inside the transmission causing the torque converter to lock up...or maybe a TCC switch causing that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Ron

Welcome on your first post on AF.
A good test is to unplug the TCC and see if it still does it.
If it does not do it unpluged It is replace it as said.

xeroinfinity · #4 12-20-2006, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MT-2500

Welcome on your first post on AF.
A good test is to unplug the TCC and see if it still does it.
If it does not do it unpluged It is replace it as said.

Good Point MT , I forgot the unpluging trick

rc57 · #5 12-20-2006, 10:05 AM

Hi Zeroinfinity and MT,
Thanks for the feedback on my problem. As soon as it warms up and the car unthaws I'll try unplugging the TCC and giving it a test drive. I'll post back when I find out for sure if this is the problem and how I get it fixed.
Thanks again!
Ron

rc57 · #6 12-20-2006, 05:03 PM

Hi Guys,
OK, I disconnected the plug and then drove the car around for a little over an hour stopping, starting and backing and no hint of a problem with the transmission so looks like the problem is with the TCC. I'll look into the cost of parts vs having it fixed at either a transmission shop or a general mechanic.
I'll post whatever happens when it's fixed.
Thanks for all the help with this.
Ron

GrandAmNot · #7 12-23-2006, 05:56 PM

Just went thru the same thing with my 92 SE at 59,000 miles.
The TCC solenoid isn't releasing when you slowdown/stop.
zeroinfinity turned me on to the same fix. Worked like a charm.
The how-to looked out of my league and had my favorite mechs do it for about $290. They've done quite a few before but ended up with a bit extra
labor this time on my 92 2.3. Glad I didn't try it myself.

PS: Thanks, zero. Don't think I made a final reply to my stalling post.

rc57 · #8 12-23-2006, 07:27 PM

GrandAmNot,
Thanks for the heads up on the price....I figured it would be somewhere in that vein. I thought I'd wait until after the holidays to look into having it done...the only part I'm worried about in doing it myself is once you remove the valve cover...I'd sure hate to have one of those little balls roll out or a spring fly loose because I'd never figure out where they go....of course money is always a factor in DIY so theres always a chance I'll end up learning to do it...carefully!
I've got 169,000 on my LE 4 door (had it since '92 ) and it still gets better mileage than any car I've ever owned and will cruise at 70 all day long.
Thanks again Guys,
Merry Christmas!
Ron

xeroinfinity · #9 12-25-2006, 05:50 PM

Thankx GrandAmNot !

Hope that fixes your troubles too Ron.

Btw here is the link to the procedure if you didnt see it Ron.
http://autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/l/aa011703b.htm

It not to bad, very messy . I have changed a few over the years and thiers no real surpises to this section.

Hohoho !

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