1G ECU Caps

[TurboTerror]

I am having a problem with my 1990 Laser Turbo FWD 5spd. The Power Transitor Module(Ignition Control Module) keeps going out. It seems like when it gets hot it stops working. I have been doing some reading and found out about the ECU capacitors in the 1G ECU. I pulled the ECU out of the car and opened it up. The caps kinda smell like rotten seafood, so I think that they are leaking. I'm gonna replace them and see if that fixes my problem. The only thing that I was asking is if anybody knows if this could be a symptom of the ECU going out?

The car is acting funny, I was driving it earlier today. I was driving like normal with some mild boost and it died about 5 miles out from my house. I got it running again and drove the whole way home w/out boosting at all and it ran fine w/out dieing.

I just wanted to throw that last bit in there to see if that would help out with a diagnosis. Thanks a lot for the help.

 

[92AWD7]

the "fishy" smell is the smell of an ECU going bad because of the caps leaking as you suspected. Im not sure if that is what is making the power transitor module go out, but that is a sympton of an ECU going. Sorry, i know I didnt help much because I cant answer your other question but hope this helps in any way

 

[TurboTerror]

Yeah I figured the fishy smell was the caps going bad. I'm going to get the caps tomorrow and swap them out. I'm sure that will fix that problem, and I guss I just need to cross my fingers that it solves my other problems also.

 

[Keaka26]

also hope that no permanent damage was done to the ECU board from the leaky caps. The ECU can still work even with a bit of past capacitor leakage, but i dont think it will ever be 100% again...

 

[TurboTerror]

Well, I replaced the caps and that didn't solve my problem. The car seems to run fine, so far anyways, when I am moving. However, when I sit and idle for too long it dies. I can't figure it out. Any thoughts?

 

[Thunderskull]

When you replaced your caps did you take a look at the board. Did it look like it fried anything or ate through anything. If it did, you might need a new ECU. Mine would occasionally do the same thing until I checkec my caps and found the board was fubared. I repalced it with a used one with new caps, and it's run fine ever since.

 

[TurboTerror]

Your car was doing the same thing that mine is? When I replaced the caps the board looked fine, it looked like it was brand new. Just the two of the caps leaked a little.

 

[Thunderskull]

Is your check engine light coming on? If the board seems in good shape and you replaced the caps, then I would look into the power transistor. Does your car misfire at all? Do you have any hesitation while driving? If not, then I doubt your problem could be the power transistor. Generally a power transistor either goes out or it doesn't. It usually doesn't fail intermittently unless it's bad wiring somewhere. I'd start looking for a vaccum leak. Also check your intake and exhaust manifolds to make sure they aren't leaking. You might want to check your diagnostics to see if you've thrown any engine codes when your car died.

 

[TurboTerror]

Did you read my original post? It said that my ICM(power transistor) keeps going out. I will be driving along and it just cuts out in mid stroke. After I replaced the caps it ran normal while I was driving, but quit when I sat and idled.

 

[Thunderskull]

Yeah I did. I was just wondering how you concluded it was the ICM? I'm just trying to help, dude. I was just trying to figure out how you concluded it was your ICM. That's all. I know how frustrating this can be. When something on my car breaks I go nuts till I finally find out what it is and fix it. Usually when your ICM goes it doesn't do so intermittently and it does it all the time, not just when it's hot. I'd hate for you to toss $170 at an ICM when that won't solve your problem. That's all.

 

[TurboTerror]

Well I know it was the ICM, because the original problem was it just flat out dies one day, about 2 weeks ago. I replaced the ICM and it ran fine. Just now I am having the current problems.

I was just out driving it and I noticed while it was idleing it dies 2 time withing about 20 minutes of just running in the driveway. I went for a drive and the only time I had any problem was when I was under a light load. I felt like it would miss. It only did this 3 times in about 30 minutes of driving around my neighborhood. It didn't act up under boost or anything, just light load. I know this isn't the ICM this time, because the thing is staying cool just like it should. I don't know what to look at now. Any thoughts?

BTW - sorry about sapping off. I'm the same way, I'm worried as hell about what could be wrong.

 

[Thunderskull]

No problem. My friends and family stay away from me when I'm working on the car. They know better.

I've heard that when your power transistor goes it can also cause your ignition coils to fail. You can test the coils with a multimeter. Do you have a technical manual? It's section 8 page 181 of the technical manual that tells you how to test the ignition coil and the power transistor. If you don't have it let me know, and I can arrange to get it to you. Have you tried to pull engine codes. It may have thrown a code when it died which might give you a good idea what's going on. If you have a voltmeter it's pretty easy. Here's a vfaq on how to do it. http://www.myzero.com/electrical/code.html