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ECM Removal

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Old Oct 9, 2014 | 06:16 PM
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Default ECM Removal

All... silly question to follow.

Need to remove then ECM to get to the clutch fluid reservoir and see the obvious bolt at the hood latch, but there appears to be a bracket beneath, holding it in place. Dont see/feel a bolt though.

Is there a trick to removing the module?

Thx in advance.
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Old Oct 9, 2014 | 07:43 PM
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Ok...calling myself out - on two fronts. First, I found the two bolts on the top of the ECM, to either side. Was so focused on the bracket at the bottom, I missed the obvious.

Second, I have been driving around with a less than optimally performing clutch for the past 2+ years. When I moved the ECM and looked in the clutch fluid reservoir, it was bone dry - hence my soft, mushy pedal with immediate engagement. Topped off the fluid, re-installed the ECM and took it out for a test drive. HOLY CRAP - the car is quicker than I have ever felt it!

Must have been driving with a less than fully dis-engaged clutch since I bought it. Coming from other non-performance cars, my Vette was quick, but always seemed to be slightly underwhelming. Tonight I found the beast that always lurked within.

Now I wonder... any real damage done?
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Old Oct 9, 2014 | 10:32 PM
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Originally Posted by moco65
Ok...calling myself out - on two fronts. First, I found the two bolts on the top of the ECM, to either side. Was so focused on the bracket at the bottom, I missed the obvious.

Second, I have been driving around with a less than optimally performing clutch for the past 2+ years. When I moved the ECM and looked in the clutch fluid reservoir, it was bone dry - hence my soft, mushy pedal with immediate engagement. Topped off the fluid, re-installed the ECM and took it out for a test drive. HOLY CRAP - the car is quicker than I have ever felt it!

Must have been driving with a less than fully dis-engaged clutch since I bought it. Coming from other non-performance cars, my Vette was quick, but always seemed to be slightly underwhelming. Tonight I found the beast that always lurked within.

Now I wonder... any real damage done?
Possibly a prematurely worn clutch.
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Old Oct 9, 2014 | 11:38 PM
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I can't see how adding clutch hydraulic fluid will give you more performance! if anything; it will provide for better shifting
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 05:54 AM
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Didn't mean to imply that the addition of clutch fluid gave me more performance, only that it seems to have enabled the car to better utilize the performance that was there all along.

Guessing that the low fluid was causing the clutch to never fully engage the transmission, so I was only sending a percentage of the available power to the great wheels. Whatever the case, the change in throttle response is significant and noticeable where it counts... In the driver's seat.

Curious to see what effect, if any, this has on mpg too. Will let you know.
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by moco65
Didn't mean to imply that the addition of clutch fluid gave me more performance, only that it seems to have enabled the car to better utilize the performance that was there all along.

Guessing that the low fluid was causing the clutch to never fully engage the transmission, so I was only sending a percentage of the available power to the great wheels. Whatever the case, the change in throttle response is significant and noticeable where it counts... In the driver's seat.

Curious to see what effect, if any, this has on mpg too. Will let you know.
Did you determine why the fluid is low? Where is the leak?....slave cylinder or line between the master and slave?
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 08:14 AM
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Originally Posted by moco65
Didn't mean to imply that the addition of clutch fluid gave me more performance, only that it seems to have enabled the car to better utilize the performance that was there all along.

Guessing that the low fluid was causing the clutch to never fully engage the transmission, so I was only sending a percentage of the available power to the great wheels. Whatever the case, the change in throttle response is significant and noticeable where it counts... In the driver's seat.

Curious to see what effect, if any, this has on mpg too. Will let you know.
You must have a wonderful imagination since the hydraulic system releases the clutch, it is engaged (connected to engine power) by springs in the pressure plate. Loss of hydraulic fluid has no influence on clutch engagement only release which affects shifting as desertmike1 pointed out.
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Old Oct 10, 2014 | 05:06 PM
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Maybe it is my imagination, but after owning the car for 2+ years it feels noticeably different. Whatever the case, it doesn't feel worse, so lucky me.

As for a leak, that is the weird part - have never had any fluids on the garage floor and see no signs of any visible, outward leak/residue/staining. Don't believe brake fluid evaporates, so can only chalk it up to long term neglect on my part and that of the PO. Won't be the case going forward.
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Old Oct 11, 2014 | 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by moco65
Maybe it is my imagination, but after owning the car for 2+ years it feels noticeably different. Whatever the case, it doesn't feel worse, so lucky me.

As for a leak, that is the weird part - have never had any fluids on the garage floor and see no signs of any visible, outward leak/residue/staining. Don't believe brake fluid evaporates, so can only chalk it up to long term neglect on my part and that of the PO. Won't be the case going forward.
Doctors call it "placebo effect", when it comes to Corvettes my term is "Seafoam Syndrome"
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Old Oct 11, 2014 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by moco65
As for a leak, that is the weird part - have never had any fluids on the garage floor and see no signs of any visible, outward leak/residue/staining. Don't believe brake fluid evaporates, so can only chalk it up to long term neglect on my part and that of the PO. Won't be the case going forward.
Good. Keep an eye on it.

It is possible for the slave cylinder to leak. If it's small, it'll stay in the bellhousing and you won't see it. This happened to mine.
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 09:41 PM
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I'm not sure about your model year, but isn't your ECM under the dash on the passenger side near the heater box?
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 09:56 PM
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Originally Posted by FOURSPEEDVETTE
I'm not sure about your model year, but isn't your ECM under the dash on the passenger side near the heater box?
For 92s the ECM is in front of the firewall on the driver side. It is mounted on a bracket that lets it slide off after the anchor bolt is removed.

For this setup, the easiest way to remove the ECM is to remove the one bolt underneath the ECM and slide it off the bracket.

The clutch master cylinder is right under the ECM.
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 10:05 PM
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I just learned something new.
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Old Oct 12, 2014 | 10:48 PM
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Unfortunately, I am also dealing with leaky clutch hydraulics. I am trying find the best source for replacement cylinders.
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