ECM electrical issue?

HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
I've had this issue for some time now and thought I could get rid of it by replacing the distributor, but the problem still remains. I spoke to Todd Austinson about the problem and he found it very odd and that I was the first and only case he heard of.

Basically, my truck has two issues.

1) The Ultimate chip setting will change by itself.

For instance, if I have the Ultimate chip set to 120, at idle the truck will stumble, check engine light will momentarily illuminate only during the stumble and then the Ultimate chip display reads 324! It does this about 4 times a month on average.

2) Frequently, the truck stumbles similar to above w/ check engine light illuminating momentarily. This occurs at idle, slow cruise back to the staging lanes and near the last third of a 1/4 WOT run. It happens when the Ultimate chip is set to the 324 setting. The truck runs fine at the 120 setting.

At first I thought the old OEM distributor was the culprit because I assumed it couldn't handle the demands of the advanced timing settings in the Ultimate chip, but after I replaced the distributor with an MSD unit, the problem continued.

I have been running different versions of the Ultimate chip for many years and am pleased with the performance and features of the programs.
I don't believe the Ultimate chip is the culprit as I've swapped versions and the problem remains.

I'm not an electrical engineer, but my guess it's electrical issue or a bad ground.

Todd A. said that it is impossible for the chip setting to change by itself as the data is physically burned into the chip memory.

Any help from BG, TA or any other whiz is appreciated.
 
SY-1193

SY-1193

Active member
This all sounds very familiar to me! I too had similar problems to what you are describing. I just started replacing stuff - but I found a simple problem that I believe was causing my problem and maybe yours too. I too replaced my distributor (MSD) and also the coil (MSD). This did not make the problem go away either. I found there are 2 GROUND wires just behind the alternator bracket on the bolt to the lower intake manifold they were corroded and about to break off. I cut the wires shorter - past the corrosion and crimped and silver soldered a new connector there. I belive this is the ground for the ECM.

This would be something for you to definately check.

Also check the GROUND strap on the rear of the block attached to the head(turbo side of engine) make sure it is in place securely and not corroded. Getting any trouble codes? - check for that also.

One other possibility is the pic chip in the display is bad. This can cause it to jump to different modes.

Keith
 
ty1548

ty1548

Member
All components of this chip have been replaced at least once. Since this situation is so unusual, I can't imagine that he's gotten two with the same unusual flaw. I've been sending him parts back and forth for I don't know how long, well over a year, and the ones he sends back work in other trucks when tested.

I agree that it is some sort of grounding/electrical issue with his truck. The PIC (IC chip that controls the display) is returning to an initial boot-up state, that you only see after it is programmed. There is no way to "instruct" the PIC to do this under normal operation. All I can think of that something abnormal is happening electrically, causing the EEPROM in the PIC to reset.

Todd
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
SY-1193 said:
This all sounds very familiar to me! I too had similar problems to what you are describing. I just started replacing stuff - but I found a simple problem that I believe was causing my problem and maybe yours too. I too replaced my distributor (MSD) and also the coil (MSD). This did not make the problem go away either. I found there are 2 GROUND wires just behind the alternator bracket on the bolt to the lower intake manifold they were corroded and about to break off. I cut the wires shorter - past the corrosion and crimped and silver soldered a new connector there. I belive this is the ground for the ECM.

This would be something for you to definately check.

Also check the GROUND strap on the rear of the block attached to the head(turbo side of engine) make sure it is in place securely and not corroded. Getting any trouble codes? - check for that also.

One other possibility is the pic chip in the display is bad. This can cause it to jump to different modes.

Keith
Click to expand...

I really appreciate the input. I'll inspect the grounding point as you described.

Thanks much!
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
I would have to agree on the electrical issue as stuff may have aged/deteriorated over time, which accounts for the strange ignition issues that started popping up around 80k miles or so.

Just to clarify, I have nothing, but positive things to say about Todd's chip programs. I'm not knocking the chip, only describing strange things that occur with the Ultimate, due to outside influences.

The ultimate is a very affordable, safe and flexible tuning program, IMO.
 
BigBadSmoosh

BigBadSmoosh

Picking fights on I-65 since 2013
it definately sounds like a electrical issue, sounds like either a pin on the chip or PCB is grounding out, causing the chip to reset..

or as mentioned a ecm ground..
could it be possible there is a bad solder joint somewhere in the equation?
maybe a spliced wire somewhere between the ultimate chip and the ecm..
I mean all the pic does is change memory locations on the eeprom, which in turn changes the "program"

so if its randomly changing settings, it sounds like the pic is being reset, or something with the connection of the chip itself to the ecm isn't making good enough contact..

does it tend to happen when you go over a bump? when you slow down quickly? or when you excelerate quickly?
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
smaug said:
it definately sounds like a electrical issue, sounds like either a pin on the chip or PCB is grounding out, causing the chip to reset..

or as mentioned a ecm ground..
could it be possible there is a bad solder joint somewhere in the equation?
maybe a spliced wire somewhere between the ultimate chip and the ecm..
I mean all the pic does is change memory locations on the eeprom, which in turn changes the "program"

so if its randomly changing settings, it sounds like the pic is being reset, or something with the connection of the chip itself to the ecm isn't making good enough contact..

does it tend to happen when you go over a bump? when you slow down quickly? or when you excelerate quickly?
Click to expand...

The problem happens when the car is not moving, typically at idle or when the chip is set to the T3 settings. Maybe the cut out issue during idle, cruise and WOT is the pic reseting and always defaulting to T324. It's a good thing I pay attention to the gauge display as I don't think I'd want to go WOT with CA 91 pump gas on the 324 setting.
 
0966Sy

0966Sy

Code what?
Have the wires been pinched running from the chip? might have a intermitant short through the insulation. Or it could be interfearence from another electrical component.
 
ty1548

ty1548

Member
Obviously the best thing is to figure out what's causing this, but if you can't figure it out as a band-aid I think I can custom program the PIC to default to a different setting if it is reset. At least it won't go into full blown race mode when you're not looking.

Todd
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
Erik said:
Have the wires been pinched running from the chip? might have a intermitant short through the insulation. Or it could be interfearence from another electrical component.
Click to expand...

The thought had occured to me since the ECM has been in and out so many times. What a fooking stupid place to locate the ECM!!!

I had also considered adding some sort of protective sheath similar to Patrick Dicochea's ultimate chip harness.

Thanks again, and will consider.
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
ty1548 said:
Obviously the best thing is to figure out what's causing this, but if you can't figure it out as a band-aid I think I can custom program the PIC to default to a different setting if it is reset. At least it won't go into full blown race mode when you're not looking.

Todd
Click to expand...
I can send you back the WB chip since I haven't installed it yet.

Adam
 
HighPerformanceTrucks

HighPerformanceTrucks

Lift & Shift Specialist
Btw, I spent about 2 hours reconditioning the ground terminals to the block and lower intake manifold. Even sanded the surfaces to remove any corrosion and installed w/ dielectric grease, but I still have the big cut out at idle when I switch the chip to T324. I'm going to ask to borrow Wicked Style's ECM and see it resolves the problem.
 
Tooky

Tooky

Serious about performance
Re: ECM electrical issue?

Ivanko did this problem ever get solved? I have a similar problem.
 
TYTILIDIE

TYTILIDIE

METH HEAD
Re: ECM electrical issue?

Ive had this problem recently. Basically what I found was that the wires to the security lock were shorting out and changing the program everytime. However, I have programs on mine that are just straight up bad. If you turn on T1 22PSI and give it more than %20 throttle, you get popping and the truck dies. There are actually a couple programs like this. Anyway, I resoldered the Security lock wires back on and havent had the changing programs problem since. Cant say this is your problem but worth looking in to.
 
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