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According to the troubleshoot tables in the shop manual my ECM is bad in my '81. A search of ECM on Wilcox for '81 returned zero and flipping through several catalogs i didn't see anything. Can others that have had to replace the ECM post where they got them and how much i should expect to pay?
Thanks in advance.
But, before you 'pop' for another ECM, remove all of the electrical connectors from the unit, clean all the contacts with alcohol or other cleaner (both halves of connector sets), put some dielectric grease on them and reassemble. Also, trace out the power feed line and ground line for the ECM and remove/clean/re-connect them to make sure there is no corrosion preventing good electrical connections.
Then try it out again. Many times, the electrical connections are just faulty/corroded/dirty.
Can others that have had to replace the ECM post where they got them and how much i should expect to pay?
Thanks in advance.
You can often find these on ebay, though you never know if they work or not until you get them. I've picked up a couple over the years that were attached to wiring harnesses. I don't think there is much demand for these so you'll often just pay the openning bid. As little as $25 IIRC.
The ECM in a 81 ( called a CCC) is actually behind the passenger side along the front wall of the storage compartment. Behind the driver is the battery.
The 81 ECM is totally not needed. I have rebuilt, customized and restored many 81 models. It is simply the most basic of smog computers and does nothing to enhance the performance of the car.
In fact, your car is so old it isn't even considered subject to the smog controls anymore, EXCEPT may in Commiefornia.
The most interesting part of the CCC (as it is called) is the stop down to the trans. This can be eliminated and bypassed. You can toss out the air pump, the charcoal canister, and slap a nice Holley Carb on it to improve performance and do away with a lot power robbing garbage.
sorry but unless and until you replace the carb and distributor it absolutely is needed. the whole system kinda sucks. but half of it really blows...and please don't answer people from a decade ago.
ECM for '81--where to source?
What he said...
