Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ATS Transmission: Shifting into gear stalls truck

[barryg41]

Have you tried this TSB?

TSB 18-014-01

It has worked for others. But not for all.

 

[Rescue]

I have the TSB 18-014-01 cold start software in my truck and it was installed before this problem started.



I have increased the engine idle speed to 1300/1400 rpm with the throttle before putting it in Drive or Reverse and it still stalls.



I park on a slight grade and if I let the truck roll about 5 or 6 feet before I place it in gear, it draws the RPM down a lot but it will not stall. Once it is gear for a short time, it will go in and out of Neutral without stalling and is fine for the rest of the day.



Parking overnight or for several hours, starts the problem all over again.

 

[firefighter_2000]

I wish I knew exactly what it was doing when it stalls. I know my converter is a low stall converter and I wonder if for some reason the torque converter is locking up when we pull it into gear causing the stall. Any thoughts?
Craig

 

[Rescue]

Firefighter 2000:

Well, their are a lot of minds working on this. They pulled the new low stall converter out of my truck and installed it in another identical truck and it worked fine. They installed another converter in my truck (low stall) and the engine still stalled when cold.

The manufacturer (DP Sacramento, CA) of that converter then rebuilt it to the stock stall speed specs and there was no change... ... ... ... ... . the engine still stalls when cold.



Early on I was convinced it was the converter but now I don't know. It could be something in the VP44 fuel injection pump or the ECM.



If you note in the time line of events that I posted, this all started right after the VP44 was replaced. When the VP44 was replaced I was running a Sun Coast converter and it had a pretty low stall speed.



I ran the Sun Coast converter for about 80K miles with no problems. Right after the VP44 replacement, the truck started stalling when HOT. The engine guys and the transmission guys said it was a bad converter so the converter was replaced and the transmission rebuilt.



About 5 months after a transmission rebuild and torque converter replacement the COLD stalling issue started happening and has not stopped.



I too researched a lot of the old threads on this subject in the TDR website but I never found a solid solution.



A guy named Dieselminded was having the same issue and I could not find out if he ever solved the problem.



I'm glad you started a post on this cold stall problem again, maybe some of the TDR members have an answer.

 

[firefighter_2000]

I wonder if...

I have limited mechanical knowledge so about the best I can do is give my experiences and symptoms... That being said:



I had my vp44 replaced close to 100k miles ago, and only one lift pump since then. I've had random idle issues as described in the posts below, and sometimes wonder if it has something to do with the vp44. Only thing is, the problem that Im having with the shifting into gear started IMMEDIATELY after the transmission was installed... It has gotten worse the colder the weather has gotten.

Hopefully we can figure out something soon.

Thanks

Craig



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...-revving-idle-cruiseing-etc-video-inside.html



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...02/226493-revving-idle-constant-throttle.html

 

[ewcmr2]

I wonder if for some reason the torque converter is locking up when we pull it into gear causing the stall. Any thoughts?

Craig

That's what my dads '01 was doing. His transmission guy walked him through freeing up a plunger in the valve body. Problem hasn't re-occured.

 

[firefighter_2000]

Common?

Anyone know if this is a common problem? Sounds like it could be a good explanation. I just remembered that occasionally when I put it into gear it draws the RPMs WAY down, and the truck acts like it wants to take off pretty strong, almost like I was power braking the truck. Possible that it has a sticky plunger, and when the above description happens, its only partially sticking... Or maybe the motor just doesnt die.

Craig

 

[Rescue]

That's what my dads '01 was doing. His transmission guy walked him through freeing up a plunger in the valve body. Problem hasn't re-occured.

Was his truck stalling only when cold?