Gotta put this at the beginning of all my posts now: this is on my '89 IROC [in the sig] that I'm still trying to get on the road after a rebuild...

Okay, among many other problems, here's what's happening... I can get my car to idle, albiet high (~1000 to 1200 RPM). However, when I put the parking brake on (the rearend is off of the ground right now, so this would be the equal to having the car on the ground with the brake on) and then put the transmission into drive, the idle pulls way down, and it immediately tries to die. I can pull it out of that, but I have to play around with the gas to actually get it to stay in gear with the brake on. After I've actually gotten it to stay in gear, I can then pull the brake off. Obviously, the wheels will then spin while the car idles (actually, after a while the speedometer will read ~70 MPH just in drive at idle with the rearend off of the ground like that).

Like I said, I'm running into some other problems with this car after the rebuild and, between myself, my dad, and this board, we can't seem to figure out what the problem(s) are (main one is overheating). So I'm now at the point where all I'm really trying to do is get to a point where I can drive the car to a shop (quickly before it overheats) and have a professional look at it, but now I can barely get it to stay in gear...

Why is it that it can idle okay, but it dies when I put it into gear?

Thanks

BTW -- Don't know if it has anything to do with it or not, but I also think I might have an oil pressure problem. You can read my other post here:

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=130796

 

not sure im having the same problem, i replaced the fuel pump fuel filter did a fuel pressure test, check the destribtor cap the egr valve and sensore, and replaced the spark plugs, the cars a Automatic it will idel the the second i put the car into gear it will die, and the car is runing ruff!

 

If your transmission has overdrive, it sounds like the torque converter is locking up. Locate the blue square 4 pin electrical connector on the transmission, (this is for the overdrive) unplug it. Now start your car, put it into gear and see if it dies. If it doesnt die, thats your problem. You should be able to drive it to the shop like that, you just wont have overdrive. Hope this helps.....

 

I think more information is needed to come up with a good diagnosis, but have you checked for vacuum leaks? The fact that you can only get a high idle and it craps out as soon as you put a load on it could be explained by a vacuum leak.

 

I agree with unprdictable1. I have a locked torque converter and I sputter badly when going from park to drive especially if the engine hasn't warmed up. At Idle when cold (in park) I'm running at 1500 RPM decreasing to 1000 once warm. As soon as I shift into drive I drop to 450-500 with lots of sputtering then eventually back up to 750 and it smooths out

 

I agree with everything else said, but i think it should be mentioned that timing could be your problem. I would definetly check this, its very easy. And see how much vacuum your pulling too.