ECU & Relay Problems, Very confused

[turbotsi92]

My friend just bought a 91 GS turbo eclipse. There is a relay inside the passenger side of the console(down below the radio). He has to ground it to start the car and keep it running. He drove it like that for a while, now the car will not even start. I told him to take his ECU apart and check it out. It has a black spot on it, so I told him the ECU in probably bad. My question is do you think this could be causing this relay to have problems. He said when he grounds it with the switch on the fuel pump kicks on. So that would be the reason for it not starting. If he gets a new ECU do you think everything will be alright, or is there some other reason he has to ground out this relay.

 

[luv2rallye]

It all depends on which relay your talking about (exactly where next to what, what's it shape/color, how many wires/pins on it, what color are the wires to it, etc). It sounds like the mpi relay since that runs the fuel pump (which would damage the ECU if you short it). What pins/wires is he grounding? The GS doesn't have a turbo. So is it the GST, GSX, or GS with a turbo conversion? Also need to know if manual/auto and if has/had factory theft alarm (the alarm in case it's the starter relay).

 

[turbotsi92]

they didn't make gsts and gsxs in 91, it is an 91 eclipse gs turbo 5 speed. If you would take off the cover that goes right along the middle console on the passenger side it is right beside the metal bracing that holds in the radio, ecu, etc. I haven't seen how he has it hooked up to ground it. I will have to get more info, i just thought someone would have had the same problem. I will check with him and get back to you. Don't think it has a factory alarm

 

[dsmotorsports]

they didn't make gsts and gsxs in 91, it is an 91 eclipse gs turbo 5 speed. If you would take off the cover that goes right along the middle console on the passenger side it is right beside the metal bracing that holds in the radio, ecu, etc. I haven't seen how he has it hooked up to ground it. I will have to get more info, i just thought someone would have had the same problem. I will check with him and get back to you. Don't think it has a factory alarm

Well the problem with your car would be your ECU. The clicking sound you are hearing is your fuel pump relay. Replace the ECU and you will be on your way to a good day. This is a common problem in GST's .. and to the person who responded there is no such thing as a GST in 89,90,91 they need to think again. Just because it don't say GST don't mean that it is not a GST.. it only stands for gs-turbo.. give him a break. Besides if you want to get technical about it a 2Gis not a dsm......

 

[steve]

One of the common failures when the capacitors leak is eating through the trace for the fuel pump relay. The symptom is the car firing up for a few seconds and then dieing from running out of fuel. Often you'll also get a 42 CEL.

Steve

 

[turbotsi92]

Thanks for the replies, he was planning on getting the ECU rebuilt, and then going from there, but he will be glad to hear that will fix his problem.