Is there ever a case where a bad running transmission can stall out a truck

[edekgb]

My transmission is shot - I knew this for a while and when it really finally went out I put it in the shop to have it rebuilt, their doing alot to the rebuild, the tranny needed alot of parts. So my question cuz I havent got it back from the rebuild - is there ever a case where a bad tranny can cause the computer to shut it down.

I have done countless things to remedy the intermitten stalling issue. I have of course checked for spark, fuel and such (when it stalls and dosent start back up, im not getting spark or fuel) but when it starts, it starts right up and runs fine. Some times, again intermitten, it will start, idle fine and then after five mins or so while sitting idle it will shut down, sometimes it will start right back up and sometimes it will do this three or four times and finnaly not start at all. Sometimes it will start, idle fine and I can drive it for quit some time like 30 - 40 mins and then it will stall while normal driving with my foot on the gas or on occasion at a stop light - sometimes it will start right back up again and sometimes not. Sometimes I can drive it for days with no problem and then out of the blue it stalls on me??

So could somehow this jacked up tranny be causing this? Or does anybody have an idea why it could be doing this? I have had several people look at and either they cant figure it out or it wont stall when they have it? I have done and replaced alot of the basics - plugs, wires, distributor, fuel pump, fuel filter, tested the coil (seemed to be ok) had alot of sensors, valves and modulators replaced to get it to pass emmisions a year ago and to try to get it running right - only to leave the shop hoping its fixed and then have it stall on me again. I know this has gotten long and drawn out but I have been struggling with this for some time now - any advice would be sincerely appreciated

 

[tRustyK5]

Got a check engine light at any time?

The only thing I know that'll stall the engine and is tranny related is if the torque convertor clutch doesn't release at some time. That'd be more related to a bad TCC switch than the tranny itself though

 

[Fordum]

Assuming its an automatic, the torque converter can seize up and it will stall out when you come to a stop the same as a manual would if you did not push in the clutch.
Or, a really messed up one could apply the wrong clutches and/or brake bands and lock it up.
But you would tend to notice it as the engine would stall like you forgot to push in the clutch.

Having the engine just go dead is very unlikely to be the transmission. If it was new enough, I suppose that the VSS might give the computer some weird signal that fooled it into thinking you were not moving, but that is very unlikely.

Odds are you have other problems.

 

[edekgb]

tranny unlikely the problem -

No check engine light - but it works (the light) I checked it. The check engine light was on early on when I first got it over a year ago but that went off when my mechanic changed the divertor valve cuz it was back firing and idle air control cuz it was running high and rough - past emissions with that and a few other things. Ran good for a while and then just started stalling about four months ago - have not been able to drive it comfortably without worrying about it stalling at anytime on me since then.

So about four months ago I started working on this issue witb no avail but no check engine light has come on at any time since. Just getting it out of the shop on a tranny rebuild and excited bout that but I still have the stalling thing going on in the back of my mind. I have probably only put 100 to 200 miles on it tops in the last four months due to this intermittent stalling problem.

 

[CGT80]

OP, please add some indented paragraphs or better yet some extra lines with your enter key. The wall of text is very hard to read.

I am having a stalling issue with my 88 k5. The engine is new and the trans rebuilt by my uncle last fall. Mine would die right after starting it in the morning. I restarted it and it ran rough for a few seconds and died again. It stayed running the third time. The other day it died as I came up to my gate and made a stop. Actually it died as I was rolling up and applying the brakes.

I haven't had a chance to look into the stalling yet, but I will be asking my mechanic uncle about it. Mine also runs rough just off an idle. It idles nice and runs ok at heavy to full throttle.

I will post back here if I find any answers.

 

[edekgb]

When started and running - it runs just fine, not rough - its like everything is just fine when I start it, it dosent crank a long time and when im cruising it, everything sounds and feels ok - so sign of anything wrong then just shuts down while im in the middle of driving down the street or sometimes at a stop light or even somtimes in park???

 

[bradshawtech]

I fought these same exact symptoms recently on my sons 91 K5. The problem turned out to be a wire in the loom running across the back of the engine on top of the bellhousing had chafed and was grounding out to the sharp casting line on the top of the bellhousing.

I also tried many things but finally was able to pull off the distributor cap and lay on top of the engine to inspect the wire loom and found the problem.

In my efforts to remedy the problem found that when I moved around the wire loom on top of the engine it the problem went away for a short time. I will say this, the chaffing spot on the wire was VERY small but it doesn't take much to cause a short.

If your transmission shop still has the transmission out, that would be a perfect time to look over the loom from below since the transmission is out of the way. While they have it out as well have them check the ground wires attached to the back of the cylinder head to verify they are ok.

 

[edekgb]

All of the advice is appreciated - bradshawtech, thank you especially - I sent that last paragraph to the tranny shop and give them a call to look for it. The tranny is down literally right now - this maybe a BIG help, I have my fingers crossed that the stalling out could be associated with this wiring issue.

You know - I had been thinking it could be a wiring issue cuz a buddy that works on cars is very persistent about it being a wiring issue but when posting this and other postings over the last couple months nobody has suggested wiring issue as advise to look for??

 

[bradshawtech]

You bet.

I never seem to think that the repairs that I make are worthy of posting but, in this case I am feeling confident in your situation being very similar to mine.

Any update from the shop? Any report of a mouse nest or wires exposed?

 

[edekgb]

No report from the tranny shop - didnt seem they looked at - front counter guy just said the tranny was back up and in place by the time they read my email, I called them and talked to them over the phone also but they didnt seem much interested in it.

I picked it up from there this evening and I was able to drive it all the way home with out it stalling - I was pretty excited. It shifted well and I had never had it so smooth since I got it a year and a half ago. I think ever since i had it, it never shifted out of first or second - my mechanic buddy thought it was shifting from first to third. What ever it was doing wasent right. The tranny shop said first and second were fine but everything else after that was pretty messed up.

My fingers are crossed that it wont stall anymore now that tranny was fixed, although I am doubtful because sometimes when I would start it and let it run in front of my house for 5-10 minutes it would just shut down with out me even shifting it or doing anything.

 

[bradshawtech]

Just be careful where you drive it and be prepared to pull over if it cuts out again. Did you drive it to the trans shop or tow it in?

It seems logical if the problem was on top of the bellhousing that it started and drove fine because they surely moved the wires around as they were R&Ring the trans. Still worth your time to crawl on top of the engine and inspect the wire loom yourself.

 

[edekgb]

an update on the tranny rebuild and how the 88 k5 is running

Im not sure how to explain it but since I got the truck back from the rebuild it is running great with out stalling. I don't know how or why it stopped stalling after the shop took down, rebuilt, and put back up the tranny but I have driven it alot and it isn't stalling on me like it use to

They didn't look at any of the wiring under there but said if they would have found something they would have addressed it. Can anybody explain this - I find it very interesting how the rebuild can stop the stalling - and actually should I be more sciptical and careful that it still has the potential to stall?

 

[bradshawtech]

Um...... See my previous post.



I guarantee you will have the problem again until you take the time to carefully inspect the wire loom running behind the distributor and on top of the bellhousing.