I have a 98 Grand Prix, automatic, (supercharge) with 88,000 miles. For about a year now the car has skipped a beat when idling. Took to 3 different mechanics and they all said the same thing: we can't find anything wrong. Then about a month ago, things started to get really bad. I'll be driving down the road and all of sudden, the TCS will switch off. When that happens, the tach0meter will go to zero. Sometimes the Service Engine light will come on. When I Shut off and restart the car, these problems go away (Except the engine light which stays on for a couple hrs). Another problem: When the car hits speeds of around 30-40MPH, it seems to have trouble switching gears and sometimes jerks. I have to slam the accelerator and the car will lurch and then seem to adjust itself. These problems never happen on the open highway when I am going 60+ mph, only during constant stop and go city driving. I thought these were problems I could get use to but things are getting steadily worse and today at a stoplight the car cut off completely. I took to a dealer who hooked the car up to the computer and they said its the torque converter. When I called around to different transmission repair shops to get an idea of cost and time, they tell me no way is it the torque converter (upon hearing a description of the problems).
Anyone have any ideas as to whats going on? Is it even worth it to get this car fixed? snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com