Ghost

The torque converter is just a fluid filled clutch that allows slip depending on your engines RPM's (which depends on the pitch or AKA angle of the fins inside) and the valve body actually does the shifting because it's the final step, it routes the fluid to the correct band or clutch pack which causes your shift. without the electronics the tranny wouldn't know when to shift, you would be stuck in one gear 1st or limp home mode as many techs call it, its what the tranny defaults to if there is ever a problem. Oh WOW that dosent happen very much

the headlights are just aftermarket... not grafted on not the original but same car

your TPS signal goes to your ECU which than also goes to your transmission so it knows when to shift (Throttle pressure (from the TPS) exceeds governor pressure (road speed) = upshift and vise versa for a down shift)

have you tried to rotate the tires

You usually do have to take the whole dash apart, but before you do that find out about where the core sits on the firewall and try and find a alternative route.... Sometime you get lucky and find just a panel that needs to come out. But taking the dash apart doesn't take very long and guaranteed you'll have extra bolts to add to your collection

have you by chance noticed the fuel level when your Viva stalls? did you just fill up, half tank, 1/4 tank? does it happen mostly on the highway or in town?

If your in doubt, jack up the car grab hold of the top and bottom of the wheel and try and rock it in and out... if it moves wheel bearing's bad if not your in the clear The part your describing sounds like the Sway Bar Link AKA Stabilizer Link... It's not 100% necessary, in order to drive but your car will handle like crap. i personally don't think it would cause your car to wobble, but I've been proved wrong before. And you should get it replaced... they are cheap

If the rotors are warped it would cause a wobble while applying the brakes, if its warped really bad than a constant shake would be felt during driving and even worst while braking Another common problem with taurus's is that a front axle will crack and cause a vibration also

i would try unplugging the MAF sensor... if it stays running, problem solved if it was the crank sensor the car may start sometimes and not others (computer dosent know when to fire the spark plug). the times it does start your just getting lucky

if the car pulls in any direction when you apply the brakes than one of your calipers is hanging up. Did the mechanics check you tie-rod ends or anything suspension/ steering related? if not you might want to have them checked

WOW Mr. technical yeah that's basically what I said... yup

What do you mean it grinds? it grinds while cranking? and when you say the cra won't turn over do you mean it won't start, or won't crank?

Should depend on the spouses driving record, but it usually goes up a little, or at least it did when mommy and daddy got married... yea thats right i said mommy and daddy

the cheap code readers usually one show you the active codes for the engine only if i remember correctly, it might show you stored codes... but if your tranny's ecu is throwing a code it will light up the MIL light but when you plug in you won't get a code because the code reader dosent read tranny codes. best bet is to take it to a chevy dealership and have them plug in the Genesis II... that will read any and all codes stored and active in your ECU(s), or atleast it did when i was playing around with the Genesis a couple of years back.