Ecu
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 618
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From: Kingston Springs Tn
Ecu
Has anyone ever tried to re-flow the solder on the back of their ECM unit. I am having heat issues and when ecm gets hot car shuts down. I can see where the epoxy coating has melted and bubbled the coasting and maybe some of the solder causing intermittent loss of comunication and causing the car to shut down. After car cools (ecm) the car starts and runs fine. Just wondering if anyone has tried this....Thanks!!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: :45 minutes from everywhere / E-I-E-I-O
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 393
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From: Bartonville Illinois
You will probably ruin it. The ECM is the one that ends in 9278. They are getting very hard to come by. Many of the repairers or reman guys won't work on them if they have evidence of too much messing with it.
I have one at Cardone for reman right now. Should get it back next week. The clear finish was bubbled off in several places. They say they fix them and strip and recoat them to minimize vibration damage.
They do get hot, but to melt solder requires more heat than most electronics can withstand. You may even have an external problem that is creating a larger load on the ECM but not blowing fuses. I don't know how long you have owne the car but you might take a look at the fuse panel and make sure they are all the right size. Some people think a any fuse will work if it doesn't blow and they put in a larger one.
I would try to find another before you do anything. I think there is more than one other guy looking for that same ECM on the forum right now.
Cardone could not get one so I had to send them mine for repair.
I have one at Cardone for reman right now. Should get it back next week. The clear finish was bubbled off in several places. They say they fix them and strip and recoat them to minimize vibration damage.
They do get hot, but to melt solder requires more heat than most electronics can withstand. You may even have an external problem that is creating a larger load on the ECM but not blowing fuses. I don't know how long you have owne the car but you might take a look at the fuse panel and make sure they are all the right size. Some people think a any fuse will work if it doesn't blow and they put in a larger one.
I would try to find another before you do anything. I think there is more than one other guy looking for that same ECM on the forum right now.
Cardone could not get one so I had to send them mine for repair.
Last edited by RACER 1993; Aug 4, 2008 at 09:54 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 692
I'm on my third ECM in four years. Mine gets almost too hot to touch and I put an ice pack when I get home from driving it. I wrap the ice pack zip lock bags to prevent water from leaking on the computer. A mechanic told me excessive heat will melt the connections. I've thought of trying to re-solder connections that appear to be weak. I've never opened the ECM. Just replaced them.
