Pontiac Repair: 1993 pontiac sunbird, torque converter clutch, 1993 pontiac sunbird

Question
QUESTION: Car starts up fine, but after driving it for about 30 minutes, or car gets up to tempture, if I come to a stop, the car will shake and cut off. It will start right back up, but when I put it into gear, it will cut off again. I have to wait until the engine temp goes down, before it will drive again. But the car is NOT overheating at all, its doing this at normal engine temp??

ANSWER: Hi Charles:

When it stalls out does it feel like a standard transmission car that you forgot to depress the clutch when you come to a stop like it chugs and then comes to an abrupt stop? If so then the issue is with the torque converter clutch solenoid in the transmission. The solenoid stick on or the 3'rd gear switch in the transmission sticks on and keep the converter clutch engiaged and causes the stall. That was a common issue with that car back in the day. good luck :)


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

QUESTION: Thank you very much, it was driving me crazy. So I guess the transmission would have to be dropped and opened up right? Would it be cheaper to buy a used Trans? Do you know what transmission comes in that car?

Answer
the transmission is a 3 speed. the genaric name for it is a 125. No those 2 parts I mentioned are internal but they can be cahnged with the transmission in the car there is a side cover on the transmission thaqt has to come off and the switch and solenoid are right ther once the cover it taken off It's really not that bad of a job and should cost an arm and a leg to fix. while that is being done have the fluid and filter changed as well. That should be done at 30,000 mile intervals anyways..