Chevrolet Repair: 95 Chev Cavalier stalls after 15 min, head gasket, car cold


Question
95 Cavalier 2.2L OHV,automatic,75K miles
Car cold starts OK, idles great, drives 15 min. and then if you turn it off for 15 min. the car starts and runs 5-10 min and stalls. Sometimes it will start right away, sometimes it won't start again for 5 or 10 min. When it does start it idles fine but stalls as soon as it is put in gear. It will start again OK. If we wait a 1/2 hour car can be driven 15 min home OK.

Shop identified a low fuel presure and replaced pump, ouch. Presure regulator is OK. New plugs and wires 2,000 miles ago. Car has 75000 miles. I'm aware that head gasket has slow leak and we keep fluid level up. Car has not over heated or is not hot when the failure occurs. Shop is clueless and wants to start plugging in parts.

Suggestions? Thanks  

Answer
oh bob. if ya only knew. anyhow, there is this TCC selnoid on the trans. it tells the auto matic car when to shift. well if its gone bad it tell the car it in 3 when its in first and ,well, it stalls. i have a 94 cav. very proud of her. and that what was wrong. i replaced everything under that hood, plugs, wires, sensors, gizmos, and whatchamacallits. still stalled at intersections, and when put in gear. it is a cheap part around $24 by me in kentucky, but the harder part is to replace it. first to test to see if the tcc is the prob, look under the hood and in front on the drivers side on the trans there should be a blue 4 hole squarish plug plugged in. un plug it and then start the car and run around. the car i mean not you, i did that later and was so tired from running around.. anyhow... if the acar runs fine then that is the prob. no here is the kicker. you can leave it unplugged but it sucks gas bad. really bad. and where gas prices are at that sucks. and also it has no real get up and go or speed on the highways. it goes but not like it used to. i do mostly city driving so i dont notice it that much. but i leave it up to you. i left my unplugged and started a donation to save my car. saved over the weeks and now i can go by the part. now if your a home mechanic like me, buy the part and trans fluid and anything else ya might need before ya tackle it. now i hope all that helps bob, i know what your going through and we are all pulling for your car..

keep me posted.