Pontiac Repair: 1995 Pontiac Transsport Stall, torque converter clutch, pontiac transsport

Question
QUESTION: My 1995 Pontiac Transsport had a problem of stalling at stops/slowing to stop during a trip to Nebraska last week. It  seems to only act up when at operating temperature and air temperature of low 70's and above.  The engine "chugs" when slowing down.  It will immediately restart, but can die when put into gear without reving the engine.  If you stop for 10 or minutes, it runs okay for a short time.  When the air temperature drops, it appears to run okay, even when driven over 300 miles.  It has a 3.1L engine and 148,000 miles.  I don't believe the transmission has ever been serviced.  It has new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.

ANSWER: Hi Wayne:
when it dies does it chug and shake violently like forgetting to push the cluth in on a manual transmission car? or does it just chug and sputter then die out? It could be a tranmsmission issue but not likely I would look more towards a idle control motor and or a dirty throttle plate. the combibation of both of thme is what allows the van to idle with you foot off the gas. If one or both of them are gummed up with carbon it will act that way and it's more critical when the engine is hot more so then cold.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, it chugs and shakes like you forgot to push in the clutch.  Only have to increase rpm when I put it into gear to get moving, like not releasing clutch properly.  Also forgot to add that fuel filter has been replaced.

Answer
If this has a 3 speed transmission then the torque converter clutch is sticking on and that is the issue. if it's a 4 speed transmission then it could be possible but not a likely as in a 3 speed.  it will have to be driven with a scan tool and see if indeed that is what is going on here. The fule filter will not have anything to do with this.