Recently, my car has been stalling out at idle in any drive gear (not park/neutral). This one shop tells me they fixed it, but alas, on the drive home it stalled again at a light! The explanation was that the torque converter lockup solenoid was malfunctioning and not disengaging at idle - he related this with letting out the clutch on a manual and stalling at idle. He "solved" the problem by neutralizing the solenoid... I tried to pursue the logic behind this, but to little success.
Furthermore, he told me that it would act normally still (automatic lockup) but would cease to stall at idle. So what exactly does this solenoid do - nothing? (sarcasm) If all one has to do is disable the solenoid itself!?

 

I think you know from you other reply

 

You think I know from my other reply?

Ok...

 

Sounds like BS to me. The converter lockup solenoid should only lock the converter in 4th gear, as directed by the computer. If it failed to release the lockup this could easily cause the car to stall. If the solenoid was bypassed (how he did this I'm not sure, unless he unplugged the harness running to the trans) the lockup feature will no longer work.

The solenoid is easy to replace. All you have to do is drop the pan and swap it out. It's a messy job, but fairly inexpensive. If teh car doesn't stall in neutral I think the diagnosis is correct, but the solution was poor.

If it still stalls with the harness removed the solenoid may be hung up (stuck on), in which case it will need to be replaced anyway.

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=214720

 

What I said in that thread, is what I know.
However, I cannot test the car at this time, as it is still at this questionable shop. I just wanted to hear what people think about this. TKO says this is bunk, I would like to hear Probuilt back that up. It seems like a poor solution to me - seeing how it didn't work and all.

 

to determine whether the solenoid or the converter clutch itself is bad......

unplug the 4 pin TCC connector off the tranny and see if you have the same problem

 

Check your EGR and PVC valves.