How easy are one of these to replace? Mine went bad, and I need to get it fixed, it's killing my gas mileage.

Where is it? How do I do it?

Thanks.



1983 Camaro Z28

Mine was a plug on the front of my transmission that controlled the solenoid. I would come off the highway and the OD would stay on, causing the idle to be too low obviously and the car would die. Unplugged the sensor, never happened again.




I was a retard, and now I'm permanently banned.

mine too, just havent got around to replacing itim so lazy

Well, see.. mine completely locked up when the sensor was plugged in. SO, we un-plugged it.

When it is not plugged in, the torque converter doesn't lock-up when in 3rd gear going highway speeds.

When the torque converter locks up, it causes everything to spin at a 1:1 ratio, dropping the RPM about 500 or so from where it would be before it locks up, thus saving gas mileage.

The transmission is about 85% effective, and the torque converter is 15% effective for gas mileage.. that's a big enough percentage for me to want to fix it, my gas mileage sucks.

It's only a $50 part, I just need to know where it's at, and how easy it is to fix. I was told that I would have to pull the transmission pan off to get to it, I don't know if I need to replace the sensor, or the solenoid.. or both. I am willing to do it if I need to get both, I'm desperate.

My car uses 1/4 tank in 80 miles. I replaced my fuel filter, did plugs and wires.. and they didn't help at all. So, this is next on the list for replacement.



1983 Camaro Z28

Interesting, I am getting about the same mileage on a three-speed. I don't have a rev counter though and I do mostly short trips at around 35-40mph so I can't tell if it's the same issue.

I take it you have the TH125C/3T40 3sp auto (shift indicator says P R N D 2 1). If it is, the TCC solinoid is located under the side pan (on drivers side) on valve body. See part # 180 in section G of this diagram. #182 is the pressure switch that controls the solinoid. That is the TH125C parts catalog from TranStar Industries. Thes parts can be found at many independant transmission shops.

I grabbed mine at the local Chevy dealer along with a new side pan (valve body) gasket. Cost $50 something total.

Here's a good writeup for the process. Its from a Fiero website, but it still applies to the TH125C that's in the J-cars. http://www.kichline.com/chuck/fiero/TCC.htm

Other than being messy, its fairly simple to do. Just be careful that the wires are out of the way of the moving parts in there, and the side gasket is put on a totally clean surface so it doesn't leak.

Good luck!

^^^ Thats a good post on how to, just with the 3rd gen J's raise the front of the car and put it on jack stands. Supprt the drivers side of the tranny/engine with a floor jack (put a piece of wood in there). Remove the drivers side tranny mount(tip: turn the wheels to the left and go behind the front tire w/o removing tire). With the mount out, lower the tranny/engine and let it haing (the passenger side mounts will hold the engine/tranny) and you have good access to the side pan to do the repair. After fixing it, raise the engine/tranny and reinstall the tranny mount. Put the car down and check the fluid.

The work is a little more involved(good mechanical knowledge is a must, otherwise let a shop do it), but this has been the simplest way to reach the side pan.