I have a 88 sse with a weird quirk. When I start it with the engine cold the ecm drops a code that tcc has failed. As far as I know the torque converter clutch will or is not engaged until the coolant temp is at operating temp for the ecm. Then once the motor has been ran awhile the ses light will go off,but if the car is drove from cold it will start to stall the motor out. It does not matter what forward gear you are in at the time. In time the ses light will go off and the tranny works great until the car cools down again. Please help??

It sounds like the TCC doesn't dis-engage if the engine stalls when slowing down/stopped. That'* like dropping the clutch at idle in a stick. It could be that the TCC has failed, and it doesn't like to disengage when cold, or the ECU is calling for it to engage when it shouldn't.

You will want to reset the ECU, and if the code re-appears, then the TCC has probably failed. I can look up your symptoms in my FSM once you reset the ECU. My car is closer electronic wise than jrs3800'*.


-justin

I would also like to hear this.

I have reset the ecm several times and the ses light comes on at start up everytime. Also the code is not present when reset with key on engine off.

This is true, by over the years some electronics changed. Like.. the injecting system, wasn't it MFI 87-89, then SFI 90-91? I believe there were changes between the years, like cosmetically 90/91 has 'sportier' mirrors, and only a two finned grille. All I remember is that a while ago someone mentioned [or I read somewhere] that 87 is different from 88-89 and 88-89 is different from 90-91. There were little changes made in the electrical and mechanical. I also believe in the transmission, that there were upgrades, or something along those lines. Am I crazy?

nomader: This is normal for a code being present. The ECU has not gone through all it'* diagnostic testing [the engine needs to be running for this to happen], this is why when you don't start the car, and just turn the ignition on, the SES light comes on, but no codes are present [just a code 12, saying everything is functioning properly]. What is the code number you see for the TCC issue?


-justin

I know code 12 is the dianostic check code. What I am getting to is that I get no codes after I reset. Once I start the engine the SES light comes on and the ECM stores code 39 the TCC cuircut. The light continues to stay on til the engine gets around 180 to 200. And on some colder days when the coolant temp drops below 180 it may come back on. The hole thing is odd. Also, from what info I have gathered the TCC should not be active at start up.

Most of the things you mention will cause the TCC *NOT* to work, are only two things I can think of that would cause this are:
1) crossed wiring
2) bad ECM

If the ECM is running properly, a Code 39 should not set until the key has been ON for at least 30 seconds.

Since I have spares and is easy to get to, I'd probably swap the ECM about here.

If no spares, try putting a voltmeter on the TCC line (probably connector on transmission would be easiest place) and watch the readings: not over 5v is TCC ON, under 2v is TCC OFF. If you get a TCC ON at startup I'd look at the wiring first. If no signal and the code is setting, ECM is likely. YMMV. Notary Sojack and all that.

On a cold start there should be NO WAY the TCC is engaged. Normal logic is
1) coolant over 146F
AND
2) third or fouth gear
AND
3 TPS between 2.5% and 50%

ps if the TCC turns ON at idle while stopped, the engine will probably stall.

Well, I once again have been proven wrong. Don't mind me.


-justin