87 Vette ICM problem
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
87 Vette ICM problem
Got an 87 Corvette I just bought, had a problem where the car gets hot and shuts off. Took out the first ICM and it was bad (Took it to Auto zone for testing to confirm it's bad). Replaced it with a new one and same thing happened a week later. Ran great for a week when i replaced it with a second one...tested that one and bad... what should i do before i replace it with this new one...? This does have the l98 Engine. I've been searching all over the internet and cant find a solution please help!!!!!!!!!
P.s I'm new to this forum.
P.s I'm new to this forum.
Last edited by 14bjohnson; May 9, 2017 at 08:45 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 241
Likes: 77
From: Arlington VA
Got an 87 Corvette I just bought, had a problem where the car gets hot and shuts off. Took out the first ICM and it was bad (Took it to Auto zone for testing to confirm it's bad). Replaced it with a new one and same thing happened a week later. Ran great for a week when i replaced it with a second one...tested that one and bad... what should i do before i replace it with this new one...?
P.s I'm new to this forum.
P.s I'm new to this forum.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
Is there a computer store in your area. They have heat sink paste. Used between CPU and heat sinks on computers. The last ICM I replaced on my 1984 I used computer heat sink paste and no problem. Good luck with you repair.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I ordered some Arctic Silver 5... That should work?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
Probably not the reason but that Arctic Silver paste is a very good heat sink compound. I had some problems with auto zones testing of ICMs. I had them test a brand new A/C Delco unit and it tested bad on their tester.
Have you pulled the codes from the computer? I would do that and then post the results here before just throwing parts at it.
The ECM plays a roll in the car quitting. I had a early C4 that would quit when it got warm and it was the ECM and not the ICM module. It would short out when it heated up. It was from years of heat and vibration. Had the ECM rebuilt and no further problem.
Here is a link showing how to pull your codes:
Have you pulled the codes from the computer? I would do that and then post the results here before just throwing parts at it.
The ECM plays a roll in the car quitting. I had a early C4 that would quit when it got warm and it was the ECM and not the ICM module. It would short out when it heated up. It was from years of heat and vibration. Had the ECM rebuilt and no further problem.
Here is a link showing how to pull your codes:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
You think the part would last longer than 1 hour (driving the car little bits at a time) The first module went bad and it was a GM part.. The 2nd one went bad after a total of 1 hour of driving, thats not all at once.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Probably not the reason but that Arctic Silver paste is a very good heat sink compound. I had some problems with auto zones testing of ICMs. I had them test a brand new A/C Delco unit and it tested bad on their tester.
Have you pulled the codes from the computer? I would do that and then post the results here before just throwing parts at it.
The ECM plays a roll in the car quitting. I had a early C4 that would quit when it got warm and it was the ECM and not the ICM module. It would short out when it heated up. It was from years of heat and vibration. Had the ECM rebuilt and no further problem.
Here is a link showing how to pull your codes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8nZpQyoRh4
Have you pulled the codes from the computer? I would do that and then post the results here before just throwing parts at it.
The ECM plays a roll in the car quitting. I had a early C4 that would quit when it got warm and it was the ECM and not the ICM module. It would short out when it heated up. It was from years of heat and vibration. Had the ECM rebuilt and no further problem.
Here is a link showing how to pull your codes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8nZpQyoRh4
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,369
Likes: 3,258
From: Hartford WI
The first has been there for a while. The 2nd, 1 hour. Are you sure the 2nd isn't a cheap part? What brand is it?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,369
Likes: 3,258
From: Hartford WI
Why do you think it couldn't be that your original one was bad and the new one went south? Again, what brand? If it is some crap from Autozone that was made for them, well.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
2nd one is from O'riellys was a 30$ part dont remember the brand.. but you wouldn't think it'd just go out that fast? something is causing it to go right? It dies at operating tempt.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,369
Likes: 3,258
From: Hartford WI
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 456
From: USA
The point about Auto Zone testing (at least at my local store) is I had them test a new GM ICM to see what came out as and as I posted earlier they said it failed. It is still running in my 84 over 1 year later since they tested it as being failed.
My car had one of their ICMs in it and it did fail. It had a lifetime warranty but I chose for a refund when I used the AC part and it ran just fine.
That is not saying as mentioned above that your 2nd ICM could have failed in a short time. The Auto Zone and other store brands have been known to fail in short periods of time. In past years I have seen the Delco ones fail in short periods of times also.
Good luck and also check the wiring going to your ICM inside the Distributor. It is also old and taken a lot of heat.
My car had one of their ICMs in it and it did fail. It had a lifetime warranty but I chose for a refund when I used the AC part and it ran just fine.
That is not saying as mentioned above that your 2nd ICM could have failed in a short time. The Auto Zone and other store brands have been known to fail in short periods of time. In past years I have seen the Delco ones fail in short periods of times also.
Good luck and also check the wiring going to your ICM inside the Distributor. It is also old and taken a lot of heat.