Is my computer dying?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 53
Is my computer dying?
Twice in 3 days I've started my car to find the Avg fuel and milage counter reset to 0. Today the total milage was @ over 3000 miles. Checked grounds etc. any recommendations? Stock 89 battery is less than 1 year
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 53
I Don't have a battery charger. The battery starts the car just fine. But ill keep an eye on the voltag b4 cranking and also the counters to see if they are being reset b4 I crank or during cranking. Not sure if it helps but clock on radio isn't being reset so leads me to believe ECM issue
Last edited by gunnerjuju; Sep 23, 2012 at 10:04 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,481
Likes: 739
flashing 69
When my ECM started going bad, it had a flashing 69 where the mileage range was supposed to be. Within months, the computer was so bad, the engine would run only 10 minutes and then shut the car off, and it wouldn't start for hours. A Chevy mechanic told me some of the C4 computers around 1990 had wiring problems when exposed to a lot of heat on a regular basis. So, I went to the hardware store and bought foam insulation and put around my new computer. Had the same computer for over five years.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The mileage calculation is done in the dash. The ECM only gives it injector pulse width info and the dash figures out the mileage based on the speedo reading.
It sounds like your dash is getting reset somehow. Probably the infamous "solder connections went bad" problem. There are threads here and check this link:
http://www.batee.com/corvette/index.htm
Code:
miles hour miles ------ x -------- = ------ hour gallons gallon
http://www.batee.com/corvette/index.htm
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
Not so fast Hombre......
When I first bought my 86, I could start it up and drive it 3.2 miles, then the dash would go funny, the RPM would rise to 1000 RPM, and then in about a half mile, all would be normal.
THe mileage to go and the fuel miles per gallon was reset. I changed the computer, and all was well. That was 16 years ago. It still has the same exchanged computer. Never came back. I still have the old computer as a keepsake. If I ever needed to trade it in anywhere, it's ready to go.
When I first bought my 86, I could start it up and drive it 3.2 miles, then the dash would go funny, the RPM would rise to 1000 RPM, and then in about a half mile, all would be normal.
THe mileage to go and the fuel miles per gallon was reset. I changed the computer, and all was well. That was 16 years ago. It still has the same exchanged computer. Never came back. I still have the old computer as a keepsake. If I ever needed to trade it in anywhere, it's ready to go.
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
id look at the battery first
Had something similar going on yrs ago...and get some clicking under the dash when Id open the door.
Even though it cranked Ok it was a weak battery
You can get it tested for free a Oreillys
Had something similar going on yrs ago...and get some clicking under the dash when Id open the door.
Even though it cranked Ok it was a weak battery
You can get it tested for free a Oreillys