I'd like to clarify a couple things:

1. 90-95% of all suspected transmission problems as described here are ignition problems, not transmission problems. Yours may be the exception, but the odds are for ignition regardless. The reason for this is that you're below your hp and tq curves in the 'weak band' at low revs with the TC locked up. You tend to feel it more under these circumstances. Under load, low rpm'*.

2. If you STILL think it might be the trans TC locking and unlocking, watch your RPM'*. But better still, get a scantool on that thing while you're driving. It'* the ONLY way to be sure what'* going on.

Resetting the PCM will do nothing with this issue. Don't waste your time.

Ok. But if I've replaced wires, plugs, Ignition Module, PCM, O2, PCV, IAC and I think that'* it so far... what'* next?

The Ignition module and PCM tested bad last summer after the repair shop charged me $350 for a Cam sensor and plugs and wires with no improvement. Their next step was a new Crank Sensor for $475. It'* amazing they're still in business. I'll try to get the car scanned for the codes, but I've only been able to get it done in a shop so far. I'll hit Auto Zone on the way home.

ICM/Ignition testers are a joke. I've seen good units test bad, and MANY bad units test good. I noticed you didn't mention coils. Have you tested them, both hot and cold? Have you tried swapping in known good coils from another car? Have you looked for evidence of plug wire shorting, pulled your plugs and inspected them? Ignition problems can be tricky.

As far as your cam and crank sensors are concerned, they'll both throw codes, so if there were no codes present, they did the work for nothing. Try the nightime water mist trick for finding shorts, and re-inspect everything, and by all means, diagnose the suspected trans problem at the same time with a scantool.

that is how they stay in business

charge you outlandish money for a part, only to find out it doesn't work...
go somewhere else that has a scantool to their name, and have them check for TC lock/unlock at the speeds when you experience the problems. maybe even tell them that you won't consider their shop until after they do at least that for you... don't want to be charged $70/hr for a car ride...

Hope this isn't too off topic, but what is..how do you do the nightime water mist trick to find a short?

Go to a VERY dark place, open the hood, spray water.. once you see something big, sparky, and looks like it could kill.. you've found your short


-justin

Finally found a place with the right tool, but I can't take it for a ride. Yep, I'm tripping an ignition miss with no light. They only had 2 coil packs, so I bought them and installed them. The third will be here either when they get more in or I think to stop somewhere on the way to somewhere else. I may take it for a spin later just to see if it helped. I replaced the serpentine belt, too so remembering to actually look at the diagram wore me out.

I'm planning to stop at the same place tomorrow on the way home if the shudder happens again to see if I have a new code. I take it that the computer doesn't store what I need to know about a possible transmission problem. I may have to use my brand new $30 Breaker bar to steal that scanner while he'* plugged in... I'll return it!!!

Any transmission code will be stored for about 50 starts if I recall.

PLEASE don't start buying coils until you've determined that'* your problem. You're going to sink tons of money into this for perhaps no gain.

Well, everything else is new. With two installed it has a lot more pep and less shaking at highway speeds. It went from clanging the sockets in my closed and organized set to a just noticable quiver. That was on a country road, though. The morning 15 mile run at 70mph will be the telling test.

At 177k, anything I can replace is probably worth replacing since I can't get another car even if I wanted to right now and it'* not the money. Coils at $21 each are nothing in the history of the last two months. I probably should have changed them when I did the other electrical ignition stuff last year.

I also wanted to add:

Thanks for the advise Willren. It'* probably annoying to get all these questions with very little idea of how to ask the right question and what information actually makes a differance. There are so many places to read about symptoms for car problems, but the value of having the "Been There; Done That" crowd available and willing to share is priceless. I hope that I can someday add to the knowledge base just to pay back into the community what I've already gained.

Since my practical knowledge currently focuses on Beer, the ACH network (i.e. direct deposit), Geocaching, R:Base and Philosophy/religion, it will take some time to figure a way. Maybe I can figure out a way to take my GPS that died a horrible death yesterday and turn it into a homing beacon or better yet, make it able to come to me, like in Knight Rider. Probably not.

Thanks again.