Intermittent Short

[SrKegler]

I’ve got an intermittent short I can’t track down. I bought this car a couple of months ago real cheap because it wouldn’t run.

Replaced the dead battery, changed plugs and wires. Hooked up my test equipment, car fired and ran great. Thought the problem was solved.

Now I’ve noticed that when it won’t start unless I turn the key on and wait for the boost gauge to jump to zero. Sometimes this takes up to 5 minutes. I’ve checked every connection, ground, and circuit I can think of and can’t find any problems.

Anyone have any ideas of what I should check/replace?

 

[painmaster]

If your talking about the stock boost gauge inside the instrument cluster, then it sounds like the ECU is having a problem. Can you tell when the ECU turns on? Maybe you should pull the ECU and open it up and see if anything is burned.

 

[luv2rallye]

To find shorts:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54846

 

[fivestardsm]

Try wiggling your key, the ignition might have shorted. I've had it happen and the car would'nt start unless you jimmied the key.

Steve.

 

[SrKegler]

Thanks, the link didn't help much, I don't have a current draw, engine turns over, lights, radio, everything works. I just had the caps replaced in the ECU, didn't notice anything wrong then.

I hate to just throw parts at the problem hoping to find out whats wrong. Problem is usually the boost guage jumps up as soon as I turn the key on. When it doesn't, it still comes on before I can get the test equipment hooked up.

Apparently this car has had the problem quite a while, guess that was the reason it had been setting and was so cheap.

I think I know where there is another 92, I'll try swapping the ECU out and see if that solves the problem.

Thanks again for all your help.