1G Bad ECU Test

[greyspyder117]

I just wanted to know if you ever had a ecu go bad on a 1g how did you know? Is there any test that i can do on them?

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

Here are some signs and how to fix it. What symptoms are you having?
89-94 Capacitor Replacement

 

[greyspyder117]

Well the symptoms i think can be anything thats why i kept it short and sweet so i didn't get yelled at by everybody. I went outside last night and i couldnt get it started. I would have to just tap the key and it would barely start. Upon further looks i rip a vac hose that goes to the blow off valve just a pin hole. I fixed it and thought i was done. I then pulled my car into my garage and mounted the ecu behide the radio. (It was out from switching from a non eprom). I drove the car after that with a perfect start up went to the gym and still no problem. I stopped at my gf house and came out to... NO problems. I then went home park the car came out this morning and had the same hard start witch i couldn't get going in time for school so i jumped in the Spyder...

 

[steve]

I just wanted to know if you ever had a ecu go bad on a 1g how did you know? Is there any test that i can do on them?

Just about every 1G DSM has had or will have ECU problems. The capacitors leak and unchecked eventually cause the ECU to stop working.

The symptoms are many because of the random nature of the what the electrolyte eats through the circuits on the board. Random dieing and not restarting right away is one of the first classical signs.

One sure fire test is watching the Check Engine light when you turn the ignition on. If the CEL doesn't come on for about 5 seconds and then go off, the ECU isn't working. You may have a blown MPI fuse, MPI relay problem, or loose battery terminals but those are actually lower chance items than the caps eating your ECU.

 

[greyspyder117]

Hey Steve will all of them smell really bad if i open them up? I didnt do this yet but read it some where i just don't know what am looking for...

 

[steve]

No they don't all smell. If they do smell you know you have a problem.

 

[greyspyder117]

Well i pushed the car back into the garage turned on the big heater i got left it there for about 45 min and the car started right up... It might sound kinda dumb but now i am even more confused then i was before... any ideas... bad gas??? bad coolant temp sensor???

 

[twdorris]

Just open the ECU and check for signs of leakage and corrosion. The following page has a number of examples of what to look for.

ECU damage/repair

Thomas Dorris
ECMTuning, Inc.