Hi guys, sorry but it's a question about a 92 cavalier with a 3.1L v6.
When getting off the highway, the car wants to die (and sometimes does) as I come to a stop. The problem started this way but now it seems to be getting worse. Accelaration is perfect but as I slow down for a stop light or stop sign, the engine idle fluctuates between almost-stalled and 1000rpm. Sometimes it just gives out and dies.
Like I said, i first started noticing it the other day when I came of the highway on the ext ramp. The motor was almost stalling and I could feel the vibration from it. Starts pefectly eveytime and accelaration is great. Idles smooth too.

Any help is appreciated.
From what I've gathered, this could be something wrong with either the tranny or my fuel system.
p.s. tuneup was done last year and the car passed emissions no prob.

 

does it only happen when it's extremely cold outside?

 

nope. Happens even when it's a little warm out..

 

My two suspicions. One is my BEST guess...fuel filter. Check it. My fuel filter in my Camaro was pretty shot, but the idle and all was smooth, but it tried to stall everytime I went to slow down or took a corner too fast. Also...the IAC valve. But if your idle is ok, and the stall is a slow sputtering kind of thing and not a RAPID, SUDDEN stall, then I doubt your IAC valve is the culprit.

 

When you come up to a stop sign or off an off ramp does it act like a manual trans that you forgot to push in the clutch? It sounds like youve got a bad torque convertor clutch solenoid and its not releasing the lock up clutch in the convertor.

 

If that is the case, and it does seem like it's kinda jerky and lurching on decellerations like that..try tapping the brake enough to turn the lights on...that's supposed to disengage the torque converter... Although if the solenoid is screwy like that, that may not work.

 

any easy way to see if its the TCC soleniod is just disconnect it. Normally TCC lockup is a problem when the engine is hot and you're idling. Sometimes and this is rare (from my experience) TCC lockup happens while driving at a steady rate of speed. You feel a slight "shutter" while driving. My guess is its the IAC Motor. But before I replaced anything...Id get a scanner out and see if the computer has stored any codes. Later..

 

How would the TCC lockup relate to the IAC? Isn't TCC lockup speed dependent? The Torque Converter will go into lockup at a steady rate of speed anywhere over 40 mph. Under 40 and it shouldn't, but if it does, it's got a shudder like you said...sort of like getting into a gear too early, or going from 2nd to 5th in a stick (assuming it doesn't stall...)

 

if it is a 3sp trans (125) they have a common problem with the tcc solinoid sticking , i could not begin to remember how many of them i have done . if it is the 4 sp trans (the 440 ) they have very few problems that way. the 3.1 have had a lot of stalling problems , normally there is a prom update . and cleaning the throttle body ,. has the battery been disconnected ? if so it may just be a matter of re-learning the idle speed memory, about a 15 min. procedure .

mike

 

Thanks for all the help so far guys. We disabled the converter lockup and the car is still doing it.
We're gonna go ahead and change the fuel filter tomorrow morning.
I'll update..

 

I'd bet money it's that fuel filter. Call it my gut instinct.