Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: locked converter, tcc solenoid, demo car

Question
Hi'
I "inherited" a 86 olds ciera with a locked trans. converter. I just want to use it as a demo car. I took off the side pan and took off the solonoid. I put power to it and it seemed to work ok. How can I unlock the converter. I'll never need it to lock again.
Thank you.
Pete Reinhart


Answer
Being a transmission rebuilder for many many years I have seen this many many times. You can:

1. Simply unplug the 3 or 4 wire electrical harness that plugs into the transmission.

2. Install a new solenoid UNLESS you are POSITIVE that you know how to test it properly. If your NOT sure let me know and i will tell you how to properly test it. Unless you have already installed a NEW one and have the same problem.

3. There is a very good possibility in that there is a small piece of debris that has the converter EXHAUST HOLE plugged up on the valve body spacer plate. This will require removal of the valve body and the spacer plate to remove the exhaust hole restriction.

Depending upon your knowledge of this automatic transmission this would NOT be very difficult IF you are confident in removing the valve body assembly.

This CAN be done WITHOUT removing the trans from the vehicle as I have done it many times.

What is most likely LOCKING the converter is a faulty TCC solenoid and or a piece of debris plugging up the PIN HOLE in the valve body spacer plate.


let me know.



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