Questuion about ECM
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,777
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From: Wichita Ks
Questuion about ECM
I have a 93 and it looks like my ECM is bad so I'm looking at ordering a new one. The question is, is it as simple as pulling it and installing a new one or is there more to it. The reason I ask is I was told that on my truck I would have to take it to a dealer and have set for my truck. I've replaced all kinds of parts on my cars but never one of these.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Can't speak specifically for the late model PCM's.
But all ECM/PCM have code/program for your engine/trans/year model.
DO NOT EXCHANGE yours before confirming the replacement will work!!
Pay the core charge. You can get your money back later..
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Good luck on finding a new one ; long gone from GM parts stock
Reman or used the best you are going to get
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...-and-prom.html
Reman or used the best you are going to get
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...-and-prom.html
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 10,777
Likes: 5
From: Wichita Ks
Thanks for the info and the heads up on the thread and will be checking on one of those. When I said a new I ment new to me, even the ECMs for my newer truck are remans. One of the things I dislike about owing older cars is this kind of situation. The car has been down a few weeks now and when I get one in and on the road again I'll let you know. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 286
From: Puyallup Washington
I had a bad ECM on my 1992. I sent it to Cardone for a replacement. I kept the memory chip from the bad one and put it in the replacement. I have been driving with it for over a year with no problems.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
Two module rebuilders:
www.autoecms.com
www.autocomputersystems.com
I have had good results with the first one, others on CF have used the second.
www.autoecms.com
www.autocomputersystems.com
I have had good results with the first one, others on CF have used the second.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Two module rebuilders:
www.autoecms.com
www.autocomputersystems.com
I have had good results with the first one, others on CF have used the second.
www.autoecms.com
www.autocomputersystems.com
I have had good results with the first one, others on CF have used the second.
I called immediately and sent snapshots, they first claimed transportation damage and I mentioned the freshly painted broken latches and connector, then it was determined the best they could do and they wanted me to agree to try the part. There was "no way"!
All of the connectors that were broken had fresh paint on it, my refund took nearly 30 days to process! I don't believe I forgot anything and I can assure you none of it was "exaggerated"!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
I have a 93 and it looks like my ECM is bad so I'm looking at ordering a new one. The question is, is it as simple as pulling it and installing a new one or is there more to it. The reason I ask is I was told that on my truck I would have to take it to a dealer and have set for my truck. I've replaced all kinds of parts on my cars but never one of these.
I believe an original would be a 16159278 but check the label on yours if it's original!
Now if you've a "relationship" with a GM dealer parts dept you can actually get "YOURS" rebuilt through a direct exchange program. Some aren't familiar with it but it's available. The Parts Manager might need to ask questions and it's not an often used procedure because most are unknowing and some just don't want to do the extra couple steps. It could take 10 - 30 days to complete, it's sometimes more but not often. The catch is it needs to be not discontinued just a vendor has "no stock"! I'll try to confirm that for you!
Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 21, 2012 at 05:38 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wichita Ks
I have the original unit in my car and found one from another Forum member that came off his 93. What I'm going to do is put this one on my car and send in the old ECM and have it rebuilt. I would like to keep a extra on hand. If I need it at some point I'll have it but can always sell down the road if not needed.
Working with my mechanic I think we have narrowed it down to the ECM. Put on a new Delco opit and at first thought we had it but that wasn't the case. Thinking the first my have been bad out of the box tried a second but sill having the same problem. It starts and runs fine for a hour or could be a few days but dies while driving. It will fire the first time you hit the key and may run ok or it will barely run for a minute or two and then just start running fine. If I remember right the code was 16 and the problem was one of three things,opti, wiring or ecm. This guys worked a number of Lt1s and knows them pretty well but if we have missed something I'm open to suggestions.
Working with my mechanic I think we have narrowed it down to the ECM. Put on a new Delco opit and at first thought we had it but that wasn't the case. Thinking the first my have been bad out of the box tried a second but sill having the same problem. It starts and runs fine for a hour or could be a few days but dies while driving. It will fire the first time you hit the key and may run ok or it will barely run for a minute or two and then just start running fine. If I remember right the code was 16 and the problem was one of three things,opti, wiring or ecm. This guys worked a number of Lt1s and knows them pretty well but if we have missed something I'm open to suggestions.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
I have the original unit in my car and found one from another Forum member that came off his 93. What I'm going to do is put this one on my car and send in the old ECM and have it rebuilt. I would like to keep a extra on hand. If I need it at some point I'll have it but can always sell down the road if not needed.
Working with my mechanic I think we have narrowed it down to the ECM. Put on a new Delco opit and at first thought we had it but that wasn't the case. Thinking the first my have been bad out of the box tried a second but sill having the same problem. It starts and runs fine for a hour or could be a few days but dies while driving. It will fire the first time you hit the key and may run ok or it will barely run for a minute or two and then just start running fine. If I remember right the code was 16 and the problem was one of three things,opti, wiring or ecm. This guys worked a number of Lt1s and knows them pretty well but if we have missed something I'm open to suggestions.
Working with my mechanic I think we have narrowed it down to the ECM. Put on a new Delco opit and at first thought we had it but that wasn't the case. Thinking the first my have been bad out of the box tried a second but sill having the same problem. It starts and runs fine for a hour or could be a few days but dies while driving. It will fire the first time you hit the key and may run ok or it will barely run for a minute or two and then just start running fine. If I remember right the code was 16 and the problem was one of three things,opti, wiring or ecm. This guys worked a number of Lt1s and knows them pretty well but if we have missed something I'm open to suggestions.
If you put your friends ECM on it and it runs and drives for a week, maybe it really is the ECM.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Aug 21, 2012 at 09:02 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Wichita Ks
Thanks for the ideas and we have looked at wiring and connections but I know something can be over looked so I'm always open to input. Having a ECM thats known to work will either give me the fix or help narrow the search. I don't ever like throwing parts at a problem but I thought this mite be logical step to finding the problem. I would much rather have some part just go belly up and fix it rather than trying to find something that only happens at odd times. Tracing down something like this is not where I shine. when I get my hands on the new unit and get it in I'll let you know what happens. Thanks for the help and If anyone has any input I'm all ears. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
'93 F-Body with LT1 used the same ECM
92/93 have well documented problems ,the ECM heating up and shutting down the engine being one of them
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-s...cm-or-ccm.html
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 8
From: Westerly RI
I can't speak for the second but the first I had a terrible experience. They said in stock, charged me $900, 10 days later they got irritated because I asked where it might be(I asked for tracking information), 10 days pass again and I get tracking, they couldn't put their hands on the module in stock, 2 days later the "reconditioned part" appears. The part has four connectors that all have latches to secure them, 2 of the latches are broken and missing, the surrounding area of the part where a 4 wire connector attached was mostly crushed and broken. In their reconditioning procedure for some silly reason they paint the part, all of the part including what needs a paste added to it to dissipate heat.
I called immediately and sent snapshots, they first claimed transportation damage and I mentioned the freshly painted broken latches and connector, then it was determined the best they could do and they wanted me to agree to try the part. There was "no way"!
All of the connectors that were broken had fresh paint on it, my refund took nearly 30 days to process! I don't believe I forgot anything and I can assure you none of it was "exaggerated"!
I called immediately and sent snapshots, they first claimed transportation damage and I mentioned the freshly painted broken latches and connector, then it was determined the best they could do and they wanted me to agree to try the part. There was "no way"!
All of the connectors that were broken had fresh paint on it, my refund took nearly 30 days to process! I don't believe I forgot anything and I can assure you none of it was "exaggerated"!