Samurai Posted November 15, 2008 Report Share Posted November 15, 2008 Hey folks... my 98 Lumina has crested 185,000 miles and a nasty little hiccup has arisen that I haven't had to deal with since I had an 84 Celebrity. The lock-up for the torque converter has started doing this indecisive crap that is driving me bonkers. It locks when it doesn't need to, and then takes its sweet time to unlock. My question to you guys is this, I really hate having to go out to the dealer and get the wiring for this animal as I get crap all the time for putting time, money and effort into what is viewed as Grammas' car, but is this lock-up arranged like the old TH125/3T40's? In that, can they be bypassed or put on a manual switch, as was the case in my Celebrity? Or is there a more sinister and detailed repair involved? With winter coming, I don't want to fool around and have it failed with the torque converter locked. That would suck. Thanks in advance! Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian P Posted November 24, 2008 Report Share Posted November 24, 2008 It won't be as easy as the older cars (just disconnect the wire harness) but it can be done in the '98 Lumina. It involves cutting 1 or 2 wires at the plug going into the tranny. You will likely have a MIL light on the dash after this, however. Starting in '94 in addition to the TCC solenoid, there is a PWM solenoid that effectively "softens" the application and disengagement of the TCC electronically. When GM debuted this configuration, they also omitted the fluid accumulator in the channel plate. This PWM solenoid is prone to failure, usually before the TCC solenoid or anything else. It can cause slippage of the clutch, or even prevent it from engaging. You may be able to start with just cutting the PWM solenoid wire and see if your problems are corrected. If not, then you could try the TCC solenoid wire as well. If you wish to look into doing this, I'll locate a pinout diagram I have somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samurai Posted November 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2008 What the torque converter does is locks up and then, when I open the throttle (as if climbing a hill, or pulling out to pass), the engine sounds like the tranny 'slips' a little (it's not as we are still pulling speed), and then the transmission kicks in... I knew it was something to do with the lock-up. Now, my next question, when this thing fails, can the car be driven, or am I on the side of the road? (Just looking for what to expect... with my Celebrity, life was great until you came to a big hill or a stop and then the engine would stall) Thanks for the info and anything you can pass along about the car. I'm finding that the 2nd Generation Lumina is far different an animal than the 93 I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89SupremeCutty Posted November 28, 2008 Report Share Posted November 28, 2008 to me, it sounds like it's operating normal. i also have a 98 lumina and it does the same thing with no tranny problems what so ever. on light throttle it kicks in at around 38mph. then when im on the gas a little, say going from 35-50mph or so it usually dosn't lock up till i let off the gas a little or if i accelerate slowly to the speed im trying to get to. my car has done this since the day i bought it and i've put 30k miles on it and now has around 144k miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 Samurai, I was going to say I have a 98' lumina and it does exactly what your talking about. I just get off the gas and easy back on to it. I can tell when its about to do it and so i get off the gas and kinda punch so it will jump into the next gear. I however am going to get it checked because as i have written in a newer post "the Lumina Growl" I feel something is broke in the tranny. NO Ses lights are on so I will see what the deal is. I keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samurai Posted December 14, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 the Lumina growl is a broken transmission mount or a mount on its way out. When my transaxle moves around a bunch, like if I am in the snow or piss-pounding the life out of it climbing a hill, the exhaust gets loud and growly. Once it upshifts, or settles down again, the growl goes away. From what I have heard from the folks on this forum and my friends here, the transmission in the car is behaving as it should. What i am experiencing is a bad coolant temp sensor or throttle position sensor making the engine seem to not quite skip, but jerk and well, sort of miss (hard to explain)... i just haven't had time to fool around with it... I only get one weekend off a month and it's usually jam-packed with an agenda that doesn't include my cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgethis Posted December 14, 2008 Report Share Posted December 14, 2008 Samurai I hope your right man. I hope it isnt the transmission going out. Heh i bet it will still be expensive being the block and the transmission will probably have to be pulled just to fix the mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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