|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
So, I've been posting a lot on the problems I've been having lately. I've had a large variety of CEL's and have gotten a lot of good information and repairs done. I had the MAF replaced, new o2 sensor, and then just had the IMRC replaced yesterday. However, as soon as I left the mechanic's the CEL came back on. I took it back to them, but after spending all day looking into it the mechanic told me that all signs keep pointing back to possibly needing to replace the ECM (his term), which I assume is the same as the ECU... They have a new sensor coming in next week, so he wants to hook it up to that when they get it to be sure.
I've done some searching, but I'm not sure what I'm looking for. Does anyone know anything about having to replace the ECM? Thoughts on that being the root cause of the CEL's? If I do need to replace it, are there "better" aftermarket units to look into? Thanks!
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
|
|
Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345 |
Scan the CELs at Autozone or Advance and post.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 47
New CEG\'er
|
|
New CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 47 |
Originally posted by GreenHornet:
Does anyone know anything about having to replace the ECM?
If the trouble is truly the ECM and your vehicle has less than 100,000 miles on it, and is less that 7 years old, the Dealer will have to replace it under the federal emissions warranty of your vehicle.
Usually, when the ECM is posting codes and the engine is running, it has not failed. Now if you have jumpered your car "backward" and have "cooked" the electrical system by this polarity reversal, then you could very well have destroyed the PCM. That aside, I'd suspect that cheap Contour wirining harness from the PCM to the engine. The wires are know to have insulation cracks, the connectors get brittle and decompose in a short amount of time, and when you add a little seeping engine oil, road salt, and rain water... well... things begin to go wrong in a big way.
Head over to "Wally World", plunk down $80 for a code reader, read the PCM codes, and post them here. It is quite possible that a single fault is creating a "ripple effect" and generating other codes. Example; MAF is reading high due to an insulation problem, causes fuel injectors to run rich, causes upstream O2 sensor to read ultra rich, and then the downstream O2 sensor reads rich indicating a faulty cat. The PCM tries to adjust and reaches programmed limits. This will leave quite a few codes in the PCM, although the cause is only a single simple issue.
Keep the code reader until you are done, and then take it back to Wally-World for a full refund.
Post them codes! 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Originally posted by sysanalyst:
Originally posted by GreenHornet:
Does anyone know anything about having to replace the ECM?
If the trouble is truly the ECM and your vehicle has less than 100,000 miles on it, and is less that 7 years old, the Dealer will have to replace it under the federal emissions warranty of your vehicle.
Usually, when the ECM is posting codes and the engine is running, it has not failed. Now if you have jumpered your car "backward" and have "cooked" the electrical system by this polarity reversal, then you could very well have destroyed the PCM. That aside, I'd suspect that cheap Contour wirining harness from the PCM to the engine. The wires are know to have insulation cracks, the connectors get brittle and decompose in a short amount of time, and when you add a little seeping engine oil, road salt, and rain water... well... things begin to go wrong in a big way.
Head over to "Wally World", plunk down $80 for a code reader, read the PCM codes, and post them here. It is quite possible that a single fault is creating a "ripple effect" and generating other codes. Example; MAF is reading high due to an insulation problem, causes fuel injectors to run rich, causes upstream O2 sensor to read ultra rich, and then the downstream O2 sensor reads rich indicating a faulty cat. The PCM tries to adjust and reaches programmed limits. This will leave quite a few codes in the PCM, although the cause is only a single simple issue.
Keep the code reader until you are done, and then take it back to Wally-World for a full refund.
Post them codes!
Thanks for the great information!! I've gotten the codes scanned at AZ and posted them here. I took the good information I was given from here to my mechanic. I will share the information you posted above with him, though. I hope there isn't much that will need to be done. I've spent way too much this year on my car...most of it was maintenance, but 1/3 has been dealing with these continuing CEL's. Thanks!
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Believe it or not, my CEL went out this morning!! I'm still going to take it to the shop this week, because I'm still not feeling the secondaries open even though they replaced the IMRC. I think I may have to tell them to check the cable too.
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 44
New CEG\'er
|
|
New CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 44 |
After multiple trips last september to my dealer {which has treated me well} They had my car for a month. After finding a couple items that had gone bad, I was still getting the CEL even a day after leaving the dealer.
PCM was bad, making the car run odd.
I could get a list of parts replaced, but I would have to dig out a stack of paperwork for it.
I have bene through the paces with my Contour, and I prey I don't run into issues such as wiring harness problems. My biggest concern right now is while I was repairing the accident damage on my '99 SE from my wife's episode, I noticed the battery cables look melted, and I always polish my terminals about once a month.
Bring back leaded gas!
Bring back leaded gas!
Aviation fuel is too expensive...
1972 GTS torino 351C CJ 4 speed, 1999 se Contour V6 ATX, 1992 Explorer H.O.S.
1979 F150 4x4 "the beast"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Originally posted by Eliteman76:
After multiple trips last september to my dealer {which has treated me well} They had my car for a month. After finding a couple items that had gone bad, I was still getting the CEL even a day after leaving the dealer.
PCM was bad, making the car run odd.
I could get a list of parts replaced, but I would have to dig out a stack of paperwork for it.
I have bene through the paces with my Contour, and I prey I don't run into issues such as wiring harness problems. My biggest concern right now is while I was repairing the accident damage on my '99 SE from my wife's episode, I noticed the battery cables look melted, and I always polish my terminals about once a month.
What do you mean the car was running odd? Even though my CEL is out now, it still doesn't feel 100%. Did replacing the PCM (which I assume is the same thing as the ECM) cure the problems?
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Well, went out at lunch and the CEL is back on. I knew it couldn't last... I just want my car back to the way she used to be, but I'm also tired of spending money on her. Thank God the payments are almost over...then I won't care as much about spending to keep her up.
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Originally posted by GreenHornet:
Originally posted by sysanalyst:
Originally posted by GreenHornet:
Does anyone know anything about having to replace the ECM?
If the trouble is truly the ECM and your vehicle has less than 100,000 miles on it, and is less that 7 years old, the Dealer will have to replace it under the federal emissions warranty of your vehicle.
Usually, when the ECM is posting codes and the engine is running, it has not failed. Now if you have jumpered your car "backward" and have "cooked" the electrical system by this polarity reversal, then you could very well have destroyed the PCM. That aside, I'd suspect that cheap Contour wirining harness from the PCM to the engine. The wires are know to have insulation cracks, the connectors get brittle and decompose in a short amount of time, and when you add a little seeping engine oil, road salt, and rain water... well... things begin to go wrong in a big way.
Head over to "Wally World", plunk down $80 for a code reader, read the PCM codes, and post them here. It is quite possible that a single fault is creating a "ripple effect" and generating other codes. Example; MAF is reading high due to an insulation problem, causes fuel injectors to run rich, causes upstream O2 sensor to read ultra rich, and then the downstream O2 sensor reads rich indicating a faulty cat. The PCM tries to adjust and reaches programmed limits. This will leave quite a few codes in the PCM, although the cause is only a single simple issue.
Keep the code reader until you are done, and then take it back to Wally-World for a full refund.
Post them codes!
Thanks for the great information!! I've gotten the codes scanned at AZ and posted them here. I took the good information I was given from here to my mechanic. I will share the information you posted above with him, though. I hope there isn't much that will need to be done. I've spent way too much this year on my car...most of it was maintenance, but 1/3 has been dealing with these continuing CEL's. Thanks!
Apparently the ECM is bad. I called the Ford dealer, and apparently the emissions warranty is only 8 years or 80,000 miles. I'm unfortunately at 82,000! I'm going to ask my garage, though, when their computer shows I started having the CEL problems that ultimately led to the determination that the ECM is bad. If it was before 80,000 miles, and I can document it, I'm hoping that I have a case for a warranty claim. I REALLY don't want to spend another $350 on this issue.
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 363 |
Just as an update to anyone interested, I had the computer replaced and reflashed yesterday. The car drives like new once again!! It took a lot of experimenting and new parts to get this point, but I'm just happy she's back and running right now! Thanks for everyone's help in figuring this out.
2002 Nissan Maxima SE
Former 2000 SVT Contour owner
|
|
|
|
|
