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Thread: CEL issue

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Posts: 11-20 of 24
2011-06-24 16:17:18
#11
Originally Posted by NightStalker
I keep cycling the ignition until everything comes on correctly. I NEVER run it it the "butt" mode. Sometimes the fuel pump and other relays will turn on, even with the fan coming on. But I just keep trying until it works right.

At first, I did have the ecu bolted down. But yes, now it's just tucked away under the console. The fuel pump is still connected in the stock manner. If it is a ground issue, would it be okay to tap into the intake mani ground? (I re-grounded the manifold) Or where would be the best spot?


So just so I've got this right what you're doing is-
-turn key to key on/engine off position, check to see if cel & fans immediately turn on
-if yes, turn off and repeat until they don't

When you actually start the car does it run fine always after it is started? Or sometimes does it switch into the bad mode randomly? Does it ever randomly hiccup while your just driving (i.e. driving at a constant speed, it feels like the engine suddenly dies for a second or two then immediately starts back up)?

Grounding locations depend on what you're 'grounding'. Just follow the FSM. Leaving the ECU case floating (i.e. not grounded to the chassis) is fine 99% of the time. I have seen cars where this causes a noise issue with the ECU but it isn't common.

Btw if you haven't done it pull the top and bottom covers off your ECU and look for-
-Water damage, particularly on the back side. This is usually pretty obvious, it looks like blue or nasty dirt junk. If the lid of the ECU is rusted or there is excessive amounts of what look white streaks on the side especially check for water damage.
-Burned traces or signs of repair work. Where you want to look is the bottom right corner of the ECU on the top side, with the ECU plug facing you. This can be hard to spot (or sometimes really obvious)- run your finger over that region and see if you get a black sooty deposit on it. If so just follow the black soot until you find the trace that's been burned out.

For either of those just replace the core.
Last edited by Calum on 2011-06-24 at 16-26-08.
2011-06-24 17:44:38
#12
Oh my god!!!!

Where have you been?!!?!!?
2011-06-24 18:18:53
#13
Originally Posted by Calum
So just so I've got this right what you're doing is-
-turn key to key on/engine off position, check to see if cel & fans immediately turn on
-if yes, turn off and repeat until they don't

When you actually start the car does it run fine always after it is started? Or sometimes does it switch into the bad mode randomly? Does it ever randomly hiccup while your just driving (i.e. driving at a constant speed, it feels like the engine suddenly dies for a second or two then immediately starts back up)?

Grounding locations depend on what you're 'grounding'. Just follow the FSM. Leaving the ECU case floating (i.e. not grounded to the chassis) is fine 99% of the time. I have seen cars where this causes a noise issue with the ECU but it isn't common.

Btw if you haven't done it pull the top and bottom covers off your ECU and look for-
-Water damage, particularly on the back side. This is usually pretty obvious, it looks like blue or nasty dirt junk. If the lid of the ECU is rusted or there is excessive amounts of what look white streaks on the side especially check for water damage.
-Burned traces or signs of repair work. Where you want to look is the bottom right corner of the ECU on the top side, with the ECU plug facing you. This can be hard to spot (or sometimes really obvious)- run your finger over that region and see if you get a black sooty deposit on it. If so just follow the black soot until you find the trace that's been burned out.

For either of those just replace the core.


welcome back calum

im going to try this too. i cant pull codes tho on my ecu for some reason. key one= fans on ,same crap....running bad not reading the chips...
2011-06-24 21:41:38
#14
@Calum

As far as the ignition cycling goes, that's exactly what I've been doing.

Once I get it to turn on correctly, it stays that way. Never had any problems. I did wind up having to replace the + battery clamp. That caused some other obvious issues, but nothing that affected this problem discussed here.

I checked under the top cover before, but never the bottom cover. I'll check that out.
2011-06-27 03:24:39
#15
Calum was right, I checked inside my ecu, and sure enough,.....it was no good

knighstalker, hopefully you figure it out....can you pull cel codes? Mine wouldn't
2011-06-27 11:19:12
#16
No, not yet. Been driving it quite a bit lately. Or should I say, my wife has. She's been scared to drive it, but she's gotten over it and now has no problem with getting into boost.

As soon as I can catch it sitting still, I'll pull it out and check.
2011-06-27 15:56:15
#17
Originally Posted by Cliff
Oh my god!!!!

Where have you been?!!?!!?


Big rock, somewhere underneath.

I drove the black car for the first time in 2011 so I figured I would check the forums.

We're moving out of West TX btw.
2011-06-27 16:04:37
#18
Originally Posted by Calum
Big rock, somewhere underneath.

I drove the black car for the first time in 2011 so I figured I would check the forums.

We're moving out of West TX btw.


Figured you didn't like it much Moving back east, or further west?
2011-06-27 16:22:01
#19
Originally Posted by Cliff
Figured you didn't like it much Moving back east, or further west?


I really liked West TX, although I won't mind missing the string of 110F+ days we've had this year. No real rain yet this year either, the cotton farmers are all just pushing dirt around. I think we're still at like 1" of rain for the year. Not a good year to be a farmer.

SHE is wrapping up her PhD so we got to play the lottery game of seeing where higher ed jobs would pop up. She got an offer for a tenure track position in Northern Indiana, so off we go. It's the Mid-West, but it's closer to the East Coast. I'm not looking forward to that white crap that falls from the sky.
2011-06-27 16:55:11
#20
Originally Posted by Calum
I'm not looking forward to that white crap that falls from the sky.


I have heard of that stuff... Not cool.
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