1993 clubwagon - 6 cyl 300ci - E4OD
165,000 miles

for the last year or so
When I put the transmission into REVERSE the engine sometimes will suddenly stall, like the transmission locked up, one CLUNK and it is dead. Restart the vehicle and try again sometimes ok OR restart and power brake (hold down the brake at above normal idle = o.k.).

I also noticed at highway speed the engine seemed to run rough, but it really is the transmission causing a slight bucking feel.
Now the weather has gotten colder, and the truck has gotten older and the problem is getting worse. It stalls much more often.

It now also stutters a bit at local speeds and sometimes stalls at stoplights with the sudden CLUNK, just like the transmission locked up again. (I describe the transmission as locking because when it stalls the engine imediatly stops the van just STOPS, it dose not try to move forward or reveres, it’s not like its in too high a gear and trying to move, it just STOPS with the one CLUNK)

any ideas ?
just a tourque converter or do I need a new transsmision ?
At the price of a new E4OD, it may be new truck

 

The problem is that the torque converter is locking when it shouldn't be locked. It feels just like a manual transmission when you come to a stop and forget to push the clutch pedal, right?

The cause can be several things. Low transmission fluid can cause this. A sticking valve in the valve body, a worn out pump, a bad solenoid, an intermittent short in the wiring to the solenoid, and probably a few other things I haven't thought of.

Mark