Stalling Coming To A Stop

[98MK8]

Hello. I just finished installing a new blend door actuator, and after it was all together i went cruising around, since i had heat Anyways, i cruised around, just putting around town not really gettin on for about 45 mins, then all of a sudden i came to a stop and it died. Put it in park, turned the key back and started right up and away i went, it does it intermediately, not on every stop but just here and there. Any ideas? Only thing i can think of is my IAC. It only has 75k on it, but is there anything that i could of bumped while replacing my blend door? Is there any vaccuum hoses down there? I know i didn't get the shifter electronics hooked up correctly, because the light for the PRND21 light on the shifter part itself doesn't come on at all, but the lights on the gauge cluster light up when i shift between gears, except for the P. Any ideas? Thanks alot.

 

[jdlmkviii]

Sounds a lot like your torque converter clutch is sticking on.

 

[98MK8]

Think so? It's never done this before. Not until i replaced the blend door actuator. If it's my torque converter sticking, what do i do? Replace the torque converter? I'm probably going to try the IAC and new PCV first. Thanks!

 

[jdlmkviii]

Well does it stall like in the same fashion as if you were driving a manual and just cut out? Or sorta buck and sputter a little bit and come to sort of like a misfire type stall? When the computer senses a steady cruise at about say 45mph or so, it'll activate all its emissions components such as the EGR and EVAP system... as well as engage the torque converter clutch. It is very possible that any of these components may be sticking on or open.... do you have the CE light on when it stalls? If the TC clutch is still engaged it could maybe be the check ball sticking and not letting that fluid to recess and release the clutch. Have you also checked your fluid lately.... including the color of the fluid and level? Thought I maybe remembered that you had some tranny work done recently... did you use A LOT of trans-gel, or could you maybe have gotten a little debris in with it?

Issues like this are pretty tough to diagnose without a scan tool or anything. This might be very difficult to do, but maybe when it acts up again try heading to Autozone or Advance and ask to use the scan tool and view the data stream.... Check to see if any of those components are still activated (btw, leave the key in the ON position) or the PCM may have taken a freeze frame if it has a pending code.

Hope it helps

 

[unity]

Sound like and IAC to me. The lock up occurs at most speeds, emissions are more temperature based. I doubt its the lock up since the lock up is not strong enough to hold - unlike a real manual clutch - and if the lock up was stuck the shifts would be very harsh. Besides, it unlocks when you brake and if you did have lock up failure the OD light should be flashing indicating a trans problem. Even if it was lock up, it would happen all the time, not intemitantly.

The IAC on the other hand can be very flacky. Seeing that its a Gen II (blend door) the IAC is a walk in the part to clean or replace. Cleaning is a short-term solution, replacement is the best.

 

[segxr7]

The torque converter lockup thing was a very common problem with older GM trannies. As jdlmkiii described, it was just like stopping in a manual transmission car without releasing the clutch.

I have never heard of any Ford products having that issue. Sticking IAC valves are very common, however. Typical symptoms are stalling when coming to a stop, stalling when the engine is cold, and fluctuating idle speed. Cleaning it out usually takes care of the problem.

 

[98MK8]

Well last nite, i realized that i didn't plug the wire in for the shift indicator light on the console. So this morning i went to the shop and pull the woodgrain, radio, and defroster out, pulled my shifter indicator off and seen i forgot to plug in the indicator plugin, and there was another 1 wire plugin that i forgot to hookup. I plugged them both in, put it back together, and drove about 40 miles or so around town throughout the day, and didn't stall once, so i'm assuming that maybe screwed something up with the signal, and maybe was locking the torque converter up, it would just die, no spitting and sputtering or any sign that it was going to die. I also ordered a new IAC valve from Ford this morning LOL. But that's ok, if it's a common thing i'll either replace it now, or wait until it acts up. But i'll probably replace it right away, 1 less thing to stall me in the middle of the boonies. Thanks for the advice!

 

[jdlmkviii]

Wierd that that would happen with shifter indicator, but when it comes to driveability... anything is possible. I'm currently going to school for this stuff and they said expect anything and everything and don't always judge vehicle problems based on manufacturer. (I guess its obvious that I'm a little more familier with GM trannies, lol)

 

[Stack]

My cavalier did something similar... Lock up wasn't unlocking!

Sounds very similar!

 

[98MK8]

Interesting, o well, seems like problem solved, but i'm still puttin the new IAC in!