2.3 Stumbling at Cruising RPM and Idle

[ponycar17]

Ok, so this problem started yesterday. At normal cruising RPM, I lightly accelerate give the car more throttle to maintain RPM going up a hill, and it starts stumbling... I also noticed that the torque converter will unlock and lock at random while this is going on... I had heard that a TPS sensor could be ruled out by disconnecting it, and if the throttle response hesitation went away, replace the TPS... So, I did that... I disconnected the TPS, went riding for a while, and all was cool... Good, consistent idle, no hesitation when in light throttle... But... the torque converter wouldn't lock up while in that mode... So, I reconnected the TPS. The problem came back immediately, and the torque converter would lock up like it should, as long as I wasn't lightly accelerating. I bought a new TPS, but tested the current one before the new one goes on. The current TPS reads a smooth voltage from 0.901 up to 4.6 or so with no dead spots... I'm stumped... What do you guys think?.. crapola

 

[ponycar17]

Is there some other feedback in this "limp mode" that the ECU is ignoring, that I'm missing? MAF, O2s, etc?...

The only continuous memory codes I get concern the EGR valve, and well, I've had those for 3+ years... So I kinda rule that out...

 

[Superhereaux]

it sounds like a problem with the egr and you do have codes for the egr so...



first check all the vacuum hoses going to and from the egr valve. one might be disconnected or broken. the diaphragm inside the valve might also be torn. what's the code?

 

[ponycar17]

EGR is OK... I've replaced it in the past for these codes... I get an EGR valve position sensor unexpected position... But the new one is good... I replaced plugs and wires, and the problem now is obviously the tranny... It doesn't run worth crap... It's like the ECU is trying to put lock the torque convertor at any RPM. I get to a point where the car is bogged, and won't hardly go at all. I shift it into manual 1 or 2, and all is good... Shift it back into D or OD, and the problem shows back up... I guess it wasn't a "miss" after all... A crappy AAMCO tranny job though, I'll believe that...