What causes stalling in ATs?

[donovan75]

Hey guys,

Something weird happened over the long weekend. In heavy stop-and-go city traffic, my '99 4R stalled a couple times while stopped and idling. It similar to when you stall a stick shift, but the shudder/jump was very minor and barely noticable.

Any idea what might cause this? Here's a few other factors:

- After the couple times it happened, I just shifted to Neutral while stopped. It didn't stall again.
- Idling rpm was 750. When I put it in neutral it was closer to 1000.
- It's been 1 year / 15k miles since last major tuneup.
- fanbelt seems a little tight. lots of squealing and whining when I start it up.
- engine was not overheating. thermostat is right in the middle where it always is.
-Check Engine light intermittently goes on and off every few days. Goes away on it's own. This has been going on the past couple months and I figure at 124,000 miles it's just up for a new )2 sensor/cat converter.

Any help/advice appreciated. Gonna try and do it myself rather than take it to a shop.

 

[ErikJeanna]

This has happened to me as well... however, only like 2-3 times in 2 years. I passed it off as no big deal, but now that I read this, I wonder if there is a greater problem and mine just might be starting???

 

[khaug]

It sounds like your torque converter clutch may be defective and keeping itself in lockup when you come to a stop. This has the same effect as coming to a stop with a manual tranny without depressing the clutch.

 

[8084Runner]

i had what seems like a similar problem. took my truck to get it read by my mechanic and had to change my throttle position sensor. everythings good now with no stalls or jumpy RPM's. CEL isn't on either and hasn't gone on since.


take it in to get your codes read.

 

[duzuck]

Ya I agree, you need to get that into a shop and get the codes read. If the CEL is coming on that often, something is definitely on its last legs. You can still do the work and just have the techies tell you what it is that needs to be replaced.

Good luck, let us know what the problem was when you get it fixed!