ZeeQuick Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 Hey guys. 1999 Regal GSE. 167K. All of a sudden today I'm noticing a kind of surging when the TC locks up at low speeds, 25 or 30mph. It happens right when it first locks up, then its smooth. Tach will bounce up and down a few hundred RPMS, then settle. Does not do this at higher speeds at all. I had an issue Saturday morning with a nasty miss in the car, caused by a bad #5 spark plug wire. I replaced all the front wires (had a set laying around) and the 2/5 coil pack (also had laying around). No more miss, but still this surging issue. Does this sound spark related...or problem with the converter itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedbuick Posted June 14, 2010 Report Share Posted June 14, 2010 I would lean towards ignition. I had a similar issue and it was a bad ICM. I'd see if you can swap yours with a friend and test it. Anyone else have suggestions? If that is the issue I think I have a used one that I don't need so let me know and I'll check. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks for the response. From everything I've read it seems like it would be ignition related. My brother has a 2000 GS so maybe I can swap his real quick to see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedbuick Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Thanks for the response. From everything I've read it seems like it would be ignition related. My brother has a 2000 GS so maybe I can swap his real quick to see what happens. Yep. Let us know what happens with it. Also change all the plugs if you haven't yet and make sure the gap is correct. I was getting some issues with random shuddering and I changed the plugs and it was cured. As it goes I did those last cause I just replaced them a few months prior and less that 5k miles so i didn't think that was it. haha try it if the ICM isn't the issue since it is cheap and quick to test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Well the plugs were changed about 6 months ago, so those should be fine. The wires were not changed though, so I've still got those three back ones that are God knows how old. Car runs fine otherwise, I'll let you know when I swap out the ICM if that fixes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedbuick Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Well the plugs were changed about 6 months ago, so those should be fine. The wires were not changed though, so I've still got those three back ones that are God knows how old. Car runs fine otherwise, I'll let you know when I swap out the ICM if that fixes it. Ok sounds good. Man I said the same thing about my plugs though. I tried a different tune, got all new wires and coils, swapped with a friends ICM, got another tune lol and finally I said shit, it's only been 2 months on those plugs but maybe.....Sure enough it was the plugs. So i'm just saying don't rule it out completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 Thanks for all the feeback Wicked. It just seems so strange that a problem with the spark would show up in such a specific area. The car runs really good, no stumbles or hesitation at all. This is the only little hiccup, just a little stumble/buckling as the TC locks up below 35mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedbuick Posted June 18, 2010 Report Share Posted June 18, 2010 (edited) Thanks for all the feeback Wicked. It just seems so strange that a problem with the spark would show up in such a specific area. The car runs really good, no stumbles or hesitation at all. This is the only little hiccup, just a little stumble/buckling as the TC locks up below 35mph. Yeah if I gave it enough throttle to keep the converter from locking it was smooth. Once I was cruising speed around 40 and lower is when it occured. So have you swapped ICMs yet? Oh and my name is Deia lol Edit: For FYI my name is pronounced "dee-ah" and if there is any question, yes I am a male lol Edited June 18, 2010 by wickedbuick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2010 Hey Deia, you da man....literally and figuratively apparently. I haven't swapped them out yet, on the list of things to do this weekend. I did notice that the problem seems to be worse if the TC locks up on a hill, whatever that counts for. Plus the weather has been really nice here in Cleveland this weekend so I've been driving the GTO while the Buick sits in the garage....no TC lockup on the GTO, 6-speed FTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 20, 2010 Report Share Posted June 20, 2010 get a scanner and run it streaming data while driving and record what is going on while issue occurs if you can. you are really close to Bob i think. pretty sure he has this kind of equipment. could be a malfunctioning vss or tcc switch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Well not sure where Bob lives at, but if he wants to help I'd be down for a little drive out to him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 pm him and see, i can not answer for him. HEY BOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted to eaton Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 I would like to point out what is happening is Completely Normal and can not be fixed....Because it ant broke lol. Its annoying, But nothing to be done. Cars i have seen do it my 99 GTP my 97 GTP 99 Park avenu My old 97 GT My old 97 parts car My 02 GT. Matts car does it (euro) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 maybe if we can not fix this one then we could not fix 6 others and Matt's too and call it good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wickedbuick Posted June 21, 2010 Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Hey Deia, you da man....literally and figuratively apparently. I haven't swapped them out yet, on the list of things to do this weekend. I did notice that the problem seems to be worse if the TC locks up on a hill, whatever that counts for. Plus the weather has been really nice here in Cleveland this weekend so I've been driving the GTO while the Buick sits in the garage....no TC lockup on the GTO, 6-speed FTW hahaha thanks lol If we are having the same symptoms then it should be curable, maybe. I had this about 2 years ago or more and I did fix my issue and it was the plugs as everything else was replaced new or swapped with known working units. I have an OCT 4000+ scanner and in the Dayton area if that helps any. It's not the worlds best scanner but it is nice and gets the info needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2010 I'm gonna try cleaning off the MAF too. I actually have a day off this weekend so I'm going to replace the 3 back plug wires, clean the MAF, and swap the ICM out of my brother's car into mine to see if that cures it. If not, then perhaps I will solicit the help of Bob. Seems to be getting a bit worse as far as buckling now a bit a higher speeds, but it doesn't do it all the time. It'll surge, then the next time it won't. I can handle little annoyances, but this makes my car feel like a piece of doo doo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Well cleaned the MAF and changed all the wires, problem is still there. Still haven't messed with the ICM yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 so did you ever get a scan or what? if so what were the results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted June 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Haven't gotten it scanned yet. Too much overtime at work, not enough time for the Buick. Hopefully after the 4th I can arrange to have it scanned, gonna try swapping the ICM first this weekend. I'll let you guys know. Apparently this isn't a rare problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breakdown Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 Virtually the same issue and problem for me on the way to work today. I have the vibes and the drone, and the lag. I'm 90% that this is TC lockup for me. Anxious to see what yours comes out as! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euro Posted June 30, 2010 Report Share Posted June 30, 2010 I would like to point out what is happening is Completely Normal and can not be fixed....Because it ant broke lol. Its annoying, But nothing to be done. Cars i have seen do it my 99 GTP my 97 GTP 99 Park avenu My old 97 GT My old 97 parts car My 02 GT. Matts car does it (euro) I don't think it's ignition, but it wouldn't hurt to check things over just in case. And if it is the TCC, it technically is curable haha. And yeah my car does it, it's quite annoying. Here's an article from Triple Edge Performance(pretty much the best 3800 trans guy out there) on the issue. http://tripleedgeperformance.com/TCC_rpm_oscillation.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeeQuick Posted July 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2010 Good link, thanks for the info. It does seem to do it a bit worse after getting off the highway (as the article says), just got back in from downtown tonight and the tach seemed to be bouncing more even at higher speeds when the TC was locked up. Annoying as hell indeed. I'll let you guys know as soon as I get it scanned what the verdict is. Needing a new trans or a rebuild would stink (especially at 167K), but the car runs good and is still very clean...plus it would mean I get 4th gear back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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