non buick: car stalls when put into gear???

[fireberd350]

i bought a 93 Grand Am GT in june '01 from a very reputable dealership and about 10 miles down the road on my way home from buying the car this happened....car stalled at a light...started right up put in gear and stalled....pushed it over to the side street....i called a mechanic i know and he told me to remove this plug on the trans...said it was the Torque Converter Lock up SOleniod...ever since then ive been driving it, about 2 years, and no problems.....the mech said it is fine and will hurt my gas mileage but hardley noticable....

anyways im trying to sell the car and the check engine light is on b/c of this, well it goes on and off randomly, but i tell people about it and cant really explain it....so is there any truth to it not being harmful at all? and what else should i know?



PS: just for the hell of it last summer i plugged it in and drove around with it fine...i drove 80 miles to shore and then while at the shore the trans sounded like it was grinding....i unplugged it again and fine....dunno if that means anything so i just threw it in....thanks in advance


PSS: i have a nice grand am for sale is anyones interested

 

[chris718]

sounds like debris are intermittenly plugging the lock uo solenoid or its corresponding valvetrain.also restristed flow into the convertor at the channel plate can cause this problem?is trans a 125c?

 

[fireberd350]

i dunno what trans....its a 3.3L engine....

 

[chris718]

still should be the same malfunctions/symptoms .the down side to running disconnected is increased engine rpm ,fuel consumption,noise ,and trans fluid temperatures.

 

[fireberd350]

is there an EZ fix to it?

 

[chris718]

possibly.remove side cover and replace lock up solenoid.