Replace crank sensor in 89 olds cutlass calais

Should be in the block near the coil pack.

torque convertor clutch no uncoupling (overdrive)

Sounds like the crank sensor is going bad.

idle control sensor bad

check to make sure there is power to the coils, if power change coils.Yes, it could be the ignition module, but it could also be a loose wire connection, the crank sensor, a bad ground, or a bad ignition switch.
Make sure power is getting to the coil pack with the switch in run. coils do get burnt out after a while.

It's the maf/map sensor circuit.
maf--- mass air flow sensor
map--- manifold absolute pressure.--- check the small vaccum hose from the map sensor to the source, could be brittle and leaking air.
Have both the map and maf sensor checked for proper voltage, one or both could be bad. A repair shop shouldn't charge much to do that.

My 89 olds cutlass did the same thing....Shop fixed her, they replaced the knock sensor....I also had the fuel filter replaced, they sold me a can of MG injector cleaner too..Out on the highway the service engine light would come on and she would cut out under a load....Then she would crank but not start ( she would start eventually).....Runs great now....bill was $250

It is on the back side of engine near the exhaust pipe. Has a plug in type wire on it.

Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais were made from1978-1991, and yes there were manual trans as well as automatic trans.

Here's some History on the Cutlass Calais.


March 1982 to replace Starfire, Lansing's version of the front-drive 101.2-inch-wheelbase corporate J-body subcompact failed to attract more than about 45,000 customers in most years -- except for 1984, when it garnered a credit­able 82,500 -- even though Olds tried most everything it could think of to sell it.

1988 the Firenza had offered all the J body styles, sporty GT and SX variants, overhead-valve and overhead-cam fours, optional V-6, and a confusing procession of price-leader and luxury models. But nothing seemed to work, and Olds gave up after '88. Firenza was no great loss, though, because 1985 brought a more-sale-able small Olds in the N-body Calais, called Cutlass Calais after 1988. Sized between Firenza and Omega on a 103.4-inch wheelbase, it bowed as a rounded, short-deck coupe in two versions: base and -- just to confuse things -- Supreme. Four-door sedans were added for 1986.
There was a lot of J-car engineering under the "modern formal" styling, and initial engine choices were the Ciera's familiar Pontiac-built four and 3.0-liter Buick V-6. Even so, customers generally liked this new bottle of old wine, snapping up 100,000-plus in the first year and better than 150,000 of the '86s -- about midway between the similar Pontiac Grand Am and Buick Skylark/Somerset.
For 1988, Calais coupes and sedans grouped into base, luxury SL, and sporty International Series (the last replacing a GT package option), but the big news was the first twin cam, 16-valve four-cylinder engine in American production, the Quad-4. Designed and built by Olds and offered as an across-the-board Calais option, it delivered 150 rather rough and noisy horses, but was claimed capable of much more.
Olds proved it by adding a tuned 180-bhp version for 1989. A more-useful option that year was a new 3.3-liter derivative of the 173-cid Chevrolet-sourced V-6. Replacing the Buick-built 3.0, it also produced 160 bhp -- and more torque than even the "High Output" Quad-4. To fill in for the departed Firenza, prosaically named Value Leader Calais models appeared for '89 with less standard equipment and restricted options but lower prices.
Enthusiasts surely shuddered when the 442 returned (sans hyphens) as a performance option for the base 1990 Calais coupe. Olds said the name now designated "Quad-4, 4 valves per cylinder and 2 camshafts."
Included in the $1667 package were the 180-horse Quad-4, five-speed manual transaxle, a specific version of Oldsmobile's FE3 sport suspension, meaty 215/60R14 performance tires on alloy wheels, full instrumentation, a cute rear-deck spoiler, and bold "442" exterior I.D. "Buff books" gave this latest 442 a lot of ink, but customers mostly gave it the cold shoulder.
Even a hallowed name on an honestly speedy little car couldn't convince many that Olds still specialized in high performance the way it had in the '50s and '60s.

olds mobile club of america should have your answer.