Buying a DSM w/ some issues...Advice please

[Pit]

Hey guys,
Really excited to pick up a 97GST in a week or so for $2000. I know a bit about cars but this ventures into unknown territory. This guy is telling me that his ECU is shot due to a short in his alarm system (that is wired in to his ECU). I am pretty sure I can unhook his ECU and plug and play a refurb or factory one right in and it SHOULD start right?
Also, what problems should I look for in the 4G63's with 125k miles on them
Need some guidance
Thank you in advance

-Pit

 

[beating4g63s]

very nice find, I before slapping in another ecu, I would remove the alarm since it shorted out one just slapping in another one will more then likely short out also. search button is your friend here. It can be a pain to find shorts in a car, but you learn very fast, hell it could possibly be a bad fuse and not the ecu. good luck and hope everything works out for you.

 

[Pit]

Thanks!
They guy said he took it to a shop and thats what they said it was.
I hope it is a good buy, I have been waiting for a GST since 2000. Finally getting one!!!

 

[92rsAWD4me]

+1 on the searching. I had electrical issues when I first got my car and this site helped me work through it. Once you have it you should spend all of your time and money you have for the car on maintenance such and oil change and all other fluids and of course change the timing belt since there is no way of knowing for sure when it was done last.

 

[liquidz28]

very nice find, I before slapping in another ecu, I would remove the alarm since it shorted out one just slapping in another one will more then likely short out also. search button is your friend here. It can be a pain to find shorts in a car, but you learn very fast, hell it could possibly be a bad fuse and not the ecu. good luck and hope everything works out for you.

DO not remove the alarm. you dont know how it is hardwired. removing this without the propper experiance could render your dsm worth 0 dollars, get a code reader ASAP and run that first. 60 bux and checkers/shucks/napa THIS IS WHERE YOU START

 

[liquidz28]

+1 on the searching. I had electrical issues when I first got my car and this site helped me work through it. Once you have it you should spend all of your time and money you have for the car on maintenance such and oil change and all other fluids and of course change the timing belt since there is no way of knowing for sure when it was done last.

+1 on all of this, if you need assistance on the belt
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/problem-diagnosis/337865-timing-belt-issue.html
there ya go.....

 

[Pit]

Will thatstart me in the right direction as to whether or not change out the ECU or fuse etc. etc.????

 

[liquidz28]

Will thatstart me in the right direction as to whether or not change out the ECU or fuse etc. etc.????

yes, if you get no reading or red light, then you have issues.
if its greenlight and a 0 your good