I had an ignition coil recently go bad and while waitng on the new part to arrive, drove with a bad one for a week.

The last day or two before the new IC arrived, I noticed a second issue with the car, from my transmission (auto). It also only happens when I first drive the car in the morning (about 50° out)

The first day, I started the car, put it into reverse, and the car died. Tried it again, car died. Third time, put it into gear and gave it some gas, car moved about 30 feet, then died. I went back out about 30 minutes later to try and figure out what was going on, and the car drove fine like nothing ever happened (except for the bad Ig Coil).

Next morning, start the car, reverse, backed out fine, put it into drive, got going but the car shifted directly to 4th or 5th, sticking me in the 1000-1500 prm range. Neither giving it gas or physically putting the shifter down to 1st would get me out of and I would have to shift into neutral, come to a stop and put it into drive and try again. Same problem. by this time about 500ft from my house. So I come to a stop, having to shift into neutral to keep the car from dying, I put it into park, turn the car off, wait a few second and start it back up and the car runs fine. No problems the rest of the day even though the car sat at work for 8 hrs

Day 3, same issue as before only the ignition coil came in the mail and I installed it that evening.

Day 4, TODAY.
Hoping that the newly installed IC would magically fix everything, well it didnt and i am still having the same issues this moring as I have had the past few days.

RECAP

Happens in the morning, shifts from first to 5th and gets stuck. If you come to a stop with out shifting into neutral, car dies. Seems to be fixed by shutting the car off after attempting to drive about 500-1000ft and starting the car back up.

Also, no check engine light is on either

 

sounds like your torque converter clutch is locking up

do you do any brake stands?

it could be your tc dude

try disconnecting the connector to the solenoids and put it in reverse to see if it dies if it doesnt you need a tc DO NOT drive it it wont shift and you will get a SES light

 

I do not do brake stands (family car, I have a chevelle for fun )

I guess my confusion is why I dont have this problem all the time, just for a minute in the morning?!?!?!?

 

Any other opinions, just want more than one response before I start tearing into the car

thanks

 

Sounds like when my MAF was going in and out on the 97 maxima becasue of a bad connection but it also threw an SES light, I suggested looking at that before going into crazy transmission "fixes". Also your car isn't going into 5th gear since you only have 4 and it sounds like thats not whats happening. It sounds like the cars going into limp mode. What makes me also think its the MAF is because its shutting off when experiencing load and under no load (neutral) your able to keep it on.

I feel this problem is not trans related unles its the TC like maxed_out stated but whats the possibility of a TC going bad?

 

What would be a way to check on the MAF?

Should I let the car fully warm up in the morning before shifting into any gear?

 

Well I had a SAFC at the time so that gave me the voltage but if you look in the stickies iirc there is a thread on how to check the voltages for the MAF, I dont recall the exact values. What I would do is buy a used working MAF from a member here, they are only around $60 and if you plan on keeping the car you're MAF will eventually take a poop anyway so even if its not the problem you'll have a spare when in need or you can always resell it here if need be.

If its the MAF it won't really matter if you warm up the car or not.

Another thing I would probably do first if I was you is get some MAF cleaner and take it out clean it then plug it back in sometime that'll fix it or if its on its way out it'll trigger the SES so you'll know what it is, theres a thread on how to clean it in the stickies as well just follow the directions. Matter fact maxed_out up top had made one just go thru his profile to his threads.

 

Cleaned the heck out of the MAF, will see how she acts tomorrow morning