C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

1992 LT1 potential ECM issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 9, 2020 | 01:40 PM
  #1  
Wh!te92's Avatar
Wh!te92
Thread Starter
8th Gear
 
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Default 1992 LT1 potential ECM issues

Ok, im going to get Specific. The car has had a trans issue from when i bought it a few months back, it likes to hold gears and has the occasional slip, the engine has had some sort of miss as well. The best way i can describe what the engine/trans is doing is it has a hesitation in acceleration noticeable on the tach, think of it pausing for a second then continuing to rise, ive noticed when stopped with foot on the brake just enough to stop the car it will lurch forward an inch with a pause in-between. The most recent issue is twice now when parked at in incline when i get back in the car it throws a check engine an ASR and the speedo, odo, and fuel level go wacky. when you drive the car when it does this the acceleration is retarded and the engine wont rev past 3000 RPM, ive read that people have had to bypass the security system and have had similar issues but they all have said the car wont start when it does this. MY only conclusion is that its ECU related, I believe its the ECU is in fact fried due to an aftermarket keyless entry being installed by the previous owner and consequently caused a miss or an issue with the trans. So now.... has anybody had the same issue as ive described or at least the same electrical issue?
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2020 | 01:52 PM
  #2  
Tom400CFI's Avatar
Tom400CFI
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
Default

Trans isn't controlled by the ECM, so that immediately rules out the ECM relative to any/all of the trans concerns.

To ME it sounds like a poor/intermittent connection or ground, somewhere.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2020 | 02:03 PM
  #3  
MatthewMiller's Avatar
MatthewMiller
Le Mans Master
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,085
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
Default

Originally Posted by Tom400CFI
Trans isn't controlled by the ECM, so that immediately rules out the ECM relative to any/all of the trans concerns.

To ME it sounds like a poor/intermittent connection or ground, somewhere.
Just to clarify for those reading this with later C4s, this is true through 1993 models. But starting in 94, the ECM became the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), and the trans control was contained in it. It can be tuned along with the engine calibrations using tuning software and by flashing the edited file to the PCM.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2020 | 04:34 PM
  #4  
Kevova's Avatar
Kevova
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Default

You could/should carefully remove the aftermarket add on. It's possible paperwork could be with owners manual depending on PO habits. Receipt would have installer and what was done related to bypassing pass key. If not it's somewhat of guessing.
warning lights indicate codes should be set.
92-93 LT1s all use the same ECM. They are also difficult to find used or on the shelf reman. "It takes one to get one" or your would have to be sent out for repair. What you're discribing could be an internal ECM problem. Use search feature, there are several recent threads related to the 92-93 ECM.
You should check grounds ECM grounds are clean and tight. There is no corrosion on ECM terminals or connectors. There's no coolant leak near Optispark ;since you discribed condition occurred when car was on inclined.
Reply
Old Dec 9, 2020 | 11:09 PM
  #5  
Nomake Wan's Avatar
Nomake Wan
Drifting
 
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 1,925
Likes: 610
From: Orange, CA
Default

Originally Posted by Wh!te92
Ok, im going to get Specific. The car has had a trans issue from when i bought it a few months back, it likes to hold gears and has the occasional slip, the engine has had some sort of miss as well. The best way i can describe what the engine/trans is doing is it has a hesitation in acceleration noticeable on the tach, think of it pausing for a second then continuing to rise, ive noticed when stopped with foot on the brake just enough to stop the car it will lurch forward an inch with a pause in-between. The most recent issue is twice now when parked at in incline when i get back in the car it throws a check engine an ASR and the speedo, odo, and fuel level go wacky. when you drive the car when it does this the acceleration is retarded and the engine wont rev past 3000 RPM, ive read that people have had to bypass the security system and have had similar issues but they all have said the car wont start when it does this. MY only conclusion is that its ECU related, I believe its the ECU is in fact fried due to an aftermarket keyless entry being installed by the previous owner and consequently caused a miss or an issue with the trans. So now.... has anybody had the same issue as ive described or at least the same electrical issue?
The speedo, odo and fuel level are controlled by the CCM, not the ECM.

As mentioned by others, your transmission isn't controlled by the ECM (except for torque converter lockup stuff).

Invest in a factory service manual, they're about $20 on Rockauto, listed under 'literature' under your year, make and model. Then use it to undo whatever aftermarket nonsense someone tried to splice in. Get to a known good state. Then go from there.

Best of luck with the basketcase.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To 1992 LT1 potential ECM issues





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:45 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE