ECM re-program?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 333
Likes: 86
From: Hope Mills, NC
ECM re-program?
Hey team, I have a question. If any of you have seen my many posts on the restoration of my 1989 coupe, you will know that I've done a lot of work. That being said I did eliminate the EGR system. The EGR valve is gone along with the tube and the smog system. I thought I saw at one point that if you do this your ECM needs to be reprogrammed. I am curious about this because I'm sure that it will severely affect the gas mileage. If in fact my ECM does need to be reprogrammed does anybody have any suggestions as to who I should contact and where I might need to send it? And if anybody knows a ballpark price that would be helpful to. I am located in North Carolina. Thanks for the help guys.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,127
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
EGR only gets commanded on when coolant is over 170F and you're at part throttle (<70% I believe, from memory) for an extended period of time (which I don't remember), and in Closed Loop operation.
If the EGR is removed, the computer will eventually try to activate it, and you'll get a Code 32. This is unless you do the diode trick and fool the computer, or if you never really cruise on the highway or country highways. I never got it unless I was driving on I-85 back and forth to Clemson actually, and you can completely ignore it. It does not harm the engine to have the code set, and my fuel mileage actually went completely unchanged. It actually went up 1-2mpg when I put the headers on the otherwise stock engine.
The alternative is simply to tell a chip maker to take out Code 32 activation. I did so when I put in the new engine, since a new chip was going in anyway. Basically anyone who can do OBD-1 cars can do this simple task without a problem and should not charge you much at all if its just this one thing.
If the EGR is removed, the computer will eventually try to activate it, and you'll get a Code 32. This is unless you do the diode trick and fool the computer, or if you never really cruise on the highway or country highways. I never got it unless I was driving on I-85 back and forth to Clemson actually, and you can completely ignore it. It does not harm the engine to have the code set, and my fuel mileage actually went completely unchanged. It actually went up 1-2mpg when I put the headers on the otherwise stock engine.
The alternative is simply to tell a chip maker to take out Code 32 activation. I did so when I put in the new engine, since a new chip was going in anyway. Basically anyone who can do OBD-1 cars can do this simple task without a problem and should not charge you much at all if its just this one thing.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 508
Likes: 89
From: Bowie MD
http://www.moates.net/ sells the gear to program your own. No relation, etc. Just something I may want to play with at some point...
Jerry
Jerry
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 502
Likes: 37
From: Pine Barrens New Jersey
I've used this guy twice with great results. You only need to send your chip not the whole ECM. The chip is where your cars particulars live.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TPI-Tuned-P...YAAOSwdW9aSitd
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TPI-Tuned-P...YAAOSwdW9aSitd
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,377
Likes: 3,260
From: Hartford WI
Hey team, I have a question. If any of you have seen my many posts on the restoration of my 1989 coupe, you will know that I've done a lot of work. That being said I did eliminate the EGR system. The EGR valve is gone along with the tube and the smog system. I thought I saw at one point that if you do this your ECM needs to be reprogrammed. I am curious about this because I'm sure that it will severely affect the gas mileage. If in fact my ECM does need to be reprogrammed does anybody have any suggestions as to who I should contact and where I might need to send it? And if anybody knows a ballpark price that would be helpful to. I am located in North Carolina. Thanks for the help guys.
155 Bevan Dr.,
Mooresville, NC 28115
Ask for Brian Ebert
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,377
Likes: 3,260
From: Hartford WI
@aklim Thank you!
If you have done a lot of work to the car, the dyno might be your best solution
Last edited by aklim; Mar 29, 2020 at 12:14 PM.
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