1990 Buick Skylark Shuts off when put in gear

SHYGRLJESSIE

MEMBER
1990 BUICK SKYLARK
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
74,000 MILES

I'm sorry if this is a long question. When we were driving down the road we felt a shuddering but we could still drive. I pulled off the side of the road and was holding the brake and the car shut off. We can start it and it idles fine, you can rev it up too. When I try to put the car in gear it jerks forward and shuts off completely. You can easily start it up again but when you put it intp gear it does the same thing. The catch is if you leave it cool down for about 20minutes it'll start up and go into gear fine but if you drive it for a few minutes and try to slow down or stop it shuts off again and you have to wait again. I'm not sure what's wrong with it so any help would be useful. Thanks in advance.

5 Replies

ROB2008

MECHANIC
258 POSTS

Is there a check engine light on at all? If it only cuts out when you hit the brake it might be the brake booster. There are many other things it could be.

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Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 AT 4:27 PM

SHYGRLJESSIE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

No there's no check engine light on. The funny thing was I was just coming home from getting my car inspected and everything was fine. I'm not sure if it's the brakes because if I just let it coast then it will shudder and die out. Then I can't get it into any other gear except neutral without it just cutting out instantly.

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Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 AT 4:32 PM

ROB2008

MECHANIC
258 POSTS

It may have something to do with the transmission , but I would check the transmission fluid and if that's ok. Start the engine in the drive way and listen for vacuum leaks. They make a hissing sound.

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Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 AT 4:37 PM

SHYGRLJESSIE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you Rob I appreciate the advice and will try it. I had someone tell me that might be the problem but I'm not 100% sure on where all the vacuum hoses are and I can't find a diagram without paying for it. But I'll see if it works. Thanks again:)

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Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 AT 4:45 PM

MUSTANG87

MECHANIC
261 POSTS

Hi sorry to butt in, maybe u already got the car fixed but just incase ill tell u what u need. For what u say th symptoms r I most sure u need a lock up solenoid that goes in the transmission, not hard to change. If u look at the trans u will see a conection that goes on there on the side or the top of trans. To change it u must remove the side cover on trans not the oil pan but the side pan, really its not a pan but looks like one it goes on the side of trans. Need to remove tire posibly strut. Simple work. When u remove that pan u cant miss that lock up solenoid. Change it. If u dont wanna do the job yet just disconnect the plug from the trans outside and car will run and not stall but possibly u will lose just a bit of power and burn little more gas but u can drive it like that no worries but the best thing to do is change the lock up. When lock ups r no good car runs a bit when cold but as soon as it warms up the car will jerk n stall when u come to a stop or slow down. If u have qstion just pm me. Good luck