help! wtf happened!!!

[bzzzt]

ok, so i started my car to leave the post office today... i made a couple calls while it was running before i left, hung up the phone and the car died. i tried to start it up, nothing, tried a few more times, nothing, it cranked liked it wanted to start but nothing...... i popped the hood and looked around, nothing looked to be out of place, then i went back in the car to see smoke coming out of either the vents, or the stereo-region (i didnt have the trim piece around the stereo) it smelled pretty nasty, kinda like burning plastic...... smoked for a little bit then stopped...... then about 5 minutes later, it started making this freakin bizarre electrical sounding buzzing sound, sounded like it was coming from near the stereo/vents.... i dont know how to describe it.... almost like someone was using a dremel tool off in the distance.... the car was off, keys in my hand, i couldnt stop the sound, so i eventually disconnected the battery, (stopping the sound) and had it towed home...... what the hell happened!!!! does anyone have any ideas! i gotta get this thing back on the road!!!! i really appreciate any help!!!

 

[BISHILVR]

i'm sayin that your ecu (computer) under the stereo region is fried!!! the buzzing sound you heard was probably the fuel control relay (above the ecu) going nuts because of the ecm, which controls that relay, rapidly turning the relay on and off...who knows could be the relay itself is bad...but i'm puttin my money on the ecu!!!!!

 

[bzzzt]

my goodness, well that would explain why it dont wanna start anymore then right? now locating the ECU should be pretty easy, will this fuel control relay probably be pretty self explanatory to find? i have a manual so i'll check it out..... im a somewhat noob to this stuff. im assuming a new ECU will most likely be a plug and play operation? would i probably be able to find one without too much trouble?? or is this gonna cost? anyway, what you're saying seems to make sense, and thank you so much for your help!

 

[bzzzt]

ok, also, one more question, i guess there most likely isnt really a way to "test" if its the ECM without trying a new one.... but what exactly would have caused this to happen? are these things just prone to that sort of thing after awhile? the car has over 150k miles on it

 

[BISHILVR]

yeah, actually the dsm ecu's are well known for this ... at 150k your car could easily be on the 2nd or 3rd ecu, if it's only on it's first then your alot better off than you think!!!......the best place to pick up a used ecu would be on www.dsmtrader.com prob lookin at around $100 but sometimes a lil cheaper...just make sure you get the exact same ecu because 1990 models can only use 1990 ecu's since the 91-94 are different ....also make sure to get a non turbo if your non turbo and a turbo if your turbo plus if your awd you will want an awd and not a fwd turbo if your a non turbo though none of that would matter just the 1990 part....and yes it's a plug in and go thing...the fuel pump relay is in a gold metal (small) box with wires on it right behing (below) the radio....it's alot easier to remove the radio during any of the repairs to the ecu fuel pump relay anyway.....

 

[MyRidzPhucked]

here's a similar thing you can use for info...

my saab is doing that now. i was going to use it as a winter car but now i cantm because when i tried turning it over, it would only buzz, and the odomiter would slowly turn over like i was driving. I know its my fault cause i was installing a sterio a couple months ago, never finished it and forgot to tape the wires, causing a fire in the dash. i got it out and the car ran after that, but one day it just stopped.
do i just replace the ECU and it should work? or are there wires involved? I'd like to kill the car proporly. Shitty thing is i just scrapped the car at the dmv, so i cant road it. offroad turbo, yay.

 

[CurtTSI]

Originally posted by bzzzt
ok, also, one more question, i guess there most likely isnt really a way to "test" if its the ECM without trying a new one.... but what exactly would have caused this to happen? are these things just prone to that sort of thing after awhile? the car has over 150k miles on it

Before I went out and got another ECU, I would remove the present ECU and open it up and look at the board. You will find 3 capacitors there, some of which are probably leaking. Sometimes the problem can be corrected by replacing the capacitors. However, the leak may have damaged the board beyond repair. I actually replaced my capacitors after only 40K miles, and they had just begun to leak. Any electronics repair shop can do it, if you don't feel confortable doing it yourself.

 

[bzzzt]

Originally posted by CurtTSI
Before I went out and got another ECU, I would remove the present ECU and open it up and look at the board. You will find 3 capacitors there, some of which are probably leaking. Sometimes the problem can be corrected by replacing the capacitors. However, the leak may have damaged the board beyond repair. I actually replaced my capacitors after only 40K miles, and they had just begun to leak. Any electronics repair shop can do it, if you don't feel confortable doing it yourself.

yeah actually upon further research i found this http://www.tmo.com/howto/ecu1g/caps.htm so i figured i'd at least take a look..... also do you guys think i should replace the fuel control relay thing too? since that may be what was making the buzzing sound? it was doing if for a good while before i was able to disconnect the battery.... or do you think that sound may possibly have been something else?

 

[BISHILVR]

the ecu is the one most likely to go out....i'd just take a look into it for right now and leave the fuel control relay go for now..