unwanted lockup

[Drake57]

I'm getting torque converter lockup in my 92 Q at unwanted times: sitting stopped with AT in drive, backing slowly in reverse, and other wrong times - usually when unwanted lockup happens the engine is at idle throttle, and stalls.

Problem seems worse in cold weather.

The other thing I need to mention is that the car was not running for about 4 years, only recently put back on the road. I did not notice stalling previously.

Before non running period, I did add a trans fluid cooler, and a spin on filter inline. Filter has internal bypass.

Needless to say, this stalling is at best disturbing. I'm tempted to eliminate filter, see if things work better. If anyone is familiar w lockup operation, I'd be glad to know.

Also, diagnostics display does not function, so I'm at a disadvantage.

Only other unusual thing is I get a slight but definite fluid drip at the connector cluster on the AT tail piece. Has anyone ever replaced seals at that point? '

Thanks in advance.

[3Q Jay]

there's a lockup solenoid, you could start with that. also, what is the history of the trans and present condition of the fluid. easiest maintenance on the Q is to do drain and fills (oh, but you may not have a plug in the pan of your '92).

[Q451990]

How do you know it's T/C lockup vs. the more typical MAF failure?

[Drake57]

I've swapped MAF to no avail, and it only stalls in gear, and any time it begins to happen if I bump it into neutral, no stall. I've felt lockups sometimes while cruising at 35 to 40, that seemed out of place, just felt like a hard up shift. Also, a live plot of MAF, injector duty, and RPM of a stall (stopped, in gear) shows no indication, no instability in MAF signal. If possible I'll post a pic of it.

AFAIK it's original AT, 150,000 miles. I drove the car for a year or two, then it sat for 4 years after injector failure, I've driven it daily since beginning of December, topped the fluid at that time.

Today I ohm checked lockup solenoid OK, drained and refilled, changed filter, and so far no more stalls.

What's odd is that the connectors at rear of AT were soaked w ATF, but otherwise tailpiece is absolutely dry, it looked as if ATF was being wicked through cable jacket. I do have a plug, plan on ordering several pan gaskets and doing some fluid cycles. Drained fluid had some darkening color to it.

Other thing I noticed while refilling is that I can hear the pump, at lower fluid levels it sounds as if it's sucking air, then as top level is being approached, sound levels out, but still audible. Seems normal? Thanks!

[3Q Jay]

Other thing I noticed while refilling is that I can hear the pump, at lower fluid levels it sounds as if it's sucking air, then as top level is being approached, sound levels out, but still audible. Seems normal? Thanks!

yup