Need to replace my ECM

Have a flashing light? Gauges acting funny? Bad idle? Get your problems solved...
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Rettax3
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Posts: 1822
Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2012 3:34 pm

Re: Need to replace my ECM

Post by Rettax3 »

...Also check the ECM's ground. Basically, when your car is cold, the ECM can ground itself through the O2 sensor. Once it switches over to closed loop mode (when it gets warm), that ground becomes unreliable, and the car will not run correctly if at all if the ECM's ground to the engine and/or chassis has become compromised. Run an Ohm check on the ECM case when it is hot and stalling-out. Or, just run a jumper-wire to the ECM case from a good ground, and see if that fixes anything. Remember though, that the ground has to be to the engine too, not just the chassis, so if the grounding strap from the body to the engine is gone or bad, you might need to run that jumper-wire all the way to the block, and make sure it is a good sized wire too (14 gauge should do it, test purposes at least).

So far as 'reflashing' an '89 ECM... Wow. That is OBDII stuff, like '96+. Yeah, someone either has no clue, or just hopes you don't.

Does your car have the digital instruments? That can make it more difficult if it does, since the ECM actually runs so much if the digital cluster...
1989 SuperCharged 3800 Srs-II (First)Six-Speed GTU
1990 Turbo 3.4 5-Speed T-Type
1990 4.0L 4-Cam 32-Valve V-8 5-Speed Indy GTi (Project)
1990 Stock(!) 3.1 MPFI Auto Indy
1995 LA1/L82 4T60E Z-26
1995 3.4 DOHC Turbo 5-Speed Z-26
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jackattack193
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Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 7:45 pm
Location: Youngstown, OH

Re: Need to replace my ECM

Post by jackattack193 »

Just an update - I decided to change the ICM first. So far, no problems (knock on wood). Thanks for responding...
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