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Followup To
Question -
I have purchased a 92 Dodge Spirit 2.5L I have replaced the fuel filter, plugs, wires, O2 sensor, checked and cleaned the distributor, checked timing, and sprayed clean the throttle body. Though the car runs well, occasionaly at a stop the engine will stall. If you catch it and put it in nuetral it runs smooth and will not die. Might this be a transmission problem intermitently pulling the engine down and how should I procede. Just a shade tree mechanic with a Haynes manual. Thanks for your input Roland.
Answer -
Hi John,
I have the same engine in an '89 LeBaron and also with a 3-speed automatic. If you have that trans, and if the engine stalls as you are coming to a stop (rather than while waiting successfully for a few seconds after coming to a stop while still in gear) just as if you were driving a stick shift and forgot to put in the clutch, then I believe that the torque converter lock-up, which will be set if you proviously achieved 40+mph before the stop, has failed to release. The plug-in for the lock-up solenoid is on the trans, just to the right of the dipstick of the trans. It has 12V applied to it by the ignition switch on the dark blue wire, and the engine controller activates it by grounding the orange/light green wire. If you pull the plug and the problem goes away (though it won't lock up when you reach 40 mph) then that solenoid/lock-up is indeed the problem, It can be serviced while the trans is in the car so it is an easy and inexpensive repair. Let me know if that theory doesn't work out, or the stall occurs when you are sitting at rest rather than coming to a stop.
Roland
Thanks again Roland! I have only driven the car a day and a half now but it seems to have solved the problem and is running a little smoother in general. Two questions please.
1. If I leave the lock-up solenoid disconected will it hurt anything?
2. How do I replace the solenoid, the Haney repair manual does not address this.
John
AnswerHi John,
It will not hurt anything mechanically. The fuel economy on the highway will be reduced about 5% because the lock up clutch prevents any slipping in the torque converter. Actually cars that have turbo engines do not use the lock up provision so it will not be any different than that.
The solenoid is mounted on the valve body transfer plate, I believe, based upon my shop manuals. It is a device which changes the pressure of the trans fluid applied to the torque converter which then effectuates the clutch to operate. I am not certain whether the problem is pressure related (not being reduced sufficiently) or mechanical involoving the clutch mechanism itself. I would try to find an independent shop (but not a chain type that specializes in total rebuilds) that knows the Chrysler A-413 trans and discuss it with the manager. I suppose the engine controller could be failing to release the solenoid electrically is another possibility for the problem and that could be checked with a voltmeter at the plug (light green/white wire from pin 54 of the 60-way at the controller is the electical pathway for the solenoid signal).
I don't have any experience with the solution to the problem so I hope you can find an honest shop. In any case, if the repair is too costly, just realize that any Chrysler turbo doesn't utilize it either.
Roland
