C4 General Discussion General C4 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech

ecm woes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 6, 2011 | 10:42 PM
  #1  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default ecm woes?

How does one figure out if the ecm is going bad? Any sure signs or symptoms? Any help is welcomed...thanks.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2011 | 04:23 AM
  #2  
rodj's Avatar
rodj
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Default

Originally Posted by ramongloria
How does one figure out if the ecm is going bad? .
What codes do you have displayed?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2011 | 12:13 PM
  #3  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

Originally Posted by rodj
What codes do you have displayed?
I'll get either a code 21 or 22. Sometimes a code 13 too. What drives me insane is that some days the car turns on fine and stumbles and on other days it wont start at all. Theres no current at the fuel pump fuse, I would remove and install the fuse and at timez it turns on. Any ideas?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:30 PM
  #4  
jaa1992's Avatar
jaa1992
Le Mans Master
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,999
Likes: 14
From: Life is just one big track event. Everything before and after is prep and warm-up and cool-down laps
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '12
Default

Year?
Do you have a factory service manual for it yet?
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:44 PM
  #5  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

Originally Posted by jaa1992
Year?
Do you have a factory service manual for it yet?
1985 and yes I have the fsm. Ive been trying to find the cure, but the lack of juice to the fuel pump fuse puzzles me.
Reply
Old Sep 7, 2011 | 09:45 PM
  #6  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

I ran the auto xray scanner today and no codes!!!
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 11:12 AM
  #7  
joe paco's Avatar
joe paco
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Louisville Ky
Default

Originally Posted by ramongloria
1985 and yes I have the fsm. Ive been trying to find the cure, but the lack of juice to the fuel pump fuse puzzles me.
how are you checking it? with key on, not in start, the fuse is energized for 2 secs only. wedge a test light probe in each fuse end -don't have to remove it- and have someone turn key on.

if no spare hands, remove fuse, wedge ligt termnals in or put in short paper clips and test those.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 11:27 AM
  #8  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

Originally Posted by joe paco
how are you checking it? with key on, not in start, the fuse is energized for 2 secs only. wedge a test light probe in each fuse end -don't have to remove it- and have someone turn key on.

if no spare hands, remove fuse, wedge ligt termnals in or put in short paper clips and test those.
Ahh yes, I get about 2 seconds of light, but no pressure at the fuel rail. Changed fuel relay and pump, but wont turn on.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 12:11 PM
  #9  
joe paco's Avatar
joe paco
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Louisville Ky
Default

Originally Posted by ramongloria
Ahh yes, I get about 2 seconds of light, but no pressure at the fuel rail. Changed fuel relay and pump, but wont turn on.
I'm getting lost, again. you said in first post, no juice to fuse. some good advice is not to change anything without an analysis.

DOES THE ENGINE CRANK? "does not turn on" is not descriptive.

if you get 2 secs of light, that is normal for key ON. if you turn key to start the FP relay will stay on, then you get pressure at rails.

code 21 is TPS, unrelated to FP and pressure.

first -or next- how have you verifed no pressure at rails?

there should be SOME fuel at rails if FP is cycling on for the 2 secs. so that is your first problem to resolve. listen for FP to come on when you turn key on. you can cycle it many times to be sure what you are hearing.
I would verify fuel filter too, but it generally allows some pressure unless totally clogged, which I have never seen.

if what you say is accurate, sounds as if FP is not working. go to "cranks but will not run" chart a-3.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 12:22 PM
  #10  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

Ok determined it does have current at the fp fuse and some pressure at the fuel rail. Im gonna get a fuel pressure gauge later on today. The car cranks but will not start. I will check the chart.
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 12:45 PM
  #11  
joe paco's Avatar
joe paco
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Louisville Ky
Default

Originally Posted by ramongloria
Ok determined it does have current at the fp fuse and some pressure at the fuel rail. Im gonna get a fuel pressure gauge later on today. The car cranks but will not start. I will check the chart.
was ready to add "keep test light attached to FP fuse while cranking to verify it stays on." that part is behind you.

an educated opinion is, engine should start, but maybe not run, with 20 lbs pressure in fuel rails. should be 36 min, but we are concerned about starting, right now.

chart a 3 focuses on spark first.

DOES THE TACH REACT WHEN CRANKING? IF so you should be getting reference pulses to ecm.

also, check fuses to FI, air bag, ecm, etc.

can check for spark by grounding a plug wire at the plug. if no spark you go to chart c-4.

others will post, but I will try to watch progress of this. some more advice: read and reply to every suggestion offered or you will miss a possible clue. most people condense the fsm charts to a quick check, from experience.

saludos, joe
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 01:47 PM
  #12  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

Actually my tach isnt working and I know its not the cluster because I have replaced it. My distributor might be bad, which I am going to replace. You think this might have something to do with it?
Gracias
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 02:05 PM
  #13  
joe paco's Avatar
joe paco
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Louisville Ky
Default

Originally Posted by ramongloria
Actually my tach isnt working and I know its not the cluster because I have replaced it. My distributor might be bad, which I am going to replace. You think this might have something to do with it?
Gracias
no. why did I mention it? chiste.

distr can be rebuilt cheaper than replaced. IF it needs it. I just did mine last week.

the ecm needs reference pulses from dist purple/white stripe wire to fire injectors. will not run without that.

when did you notice that tach did not work? because it may be failing now for some reason OTHER THAN ref pulses. there are testers that read tach during diagnostics but I have never used one.

look at the chart and it will lead to spark or fuel. if problem is in HEI it will generally be ICM or pickup coil. both are $20-$25.

chart a-3, item 1, asks if tach shows RPM. at crank spd it will barely bounce. if no rpm, do the spark check.

did you check fuses? air bag uses that fuse for ecm power, I think.

saludos, joe
Reply
Old Sep 8, 2011 | 03:34 PM
  #14  
ramongloria's Avatar
ramongloria
Thread Starter
Racer
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Laredo Tx
Default

The tach has been out for a year or so, never got around to fixing it. I have an extra distributor and will install it sometime this wknd. All fuses are good.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To ecm woes?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:37 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE