Help! Need an ECM Expert for a 1994 C4 near Atlanta

[msohl]

Recent short caused a problem with ECM. Mechanic ordered and installed rebuilt ECM but cannot get it to work. He is a vette mechanic and a vette dealership. He took it to another dealer and they have not been able to fix it either. Does anyone know a ECM expert near Atlanta? I am not technical. Car has been in the shop for months now.

 

[ecss]

Recent short caused a problem with ECM. Mechanic ordered and installed rebuilt ECM but cannot get it to work. He is a vette mechanic and a vette dealership. He took it to another dealer and they have not been able to fix it either. Does anyone know a ECM expert near Atlanta? I am not technical. Car has been in the shop for months now.

What was shorted?
What do you mean he can't get the rebuilt PCM to work?
Can you pull codes from the PCM?
Does the engine start?

Need to get the car out of there and hopefully they haven't charged you an arm and a leg since they haven't resolved the problem. ad

 

[96CEVette]

Recent short caused a problem with ECM. Mechanic ordered and installed rebuilt ECM but cannot get it to work. He is a vette mechanic and a vette dealership. He took it to another dealer and they have not been able to fix it either. Does anyone know a ECM expert near Atlanta? I am not technical. Car has been in the shop for months now.

I do not have personal experience but have heard great things about VetteAide.com. From their website it looks like he really knows all the details about c4 wiring.

 

[msohl]

Sick to my stomach now...

They had the ECM reconfigured twice and it still does not work. They cannot find anyone that knows how to fix the car. They want $2,100 for the work, but I have to tow the car home. Is there anyone in America that can fix this car???

 

[kpic]

I'd ask as the car is leaving on a flat bed, $2100 for what work? I'd probably see them in court.

 

[ecss]

They had the ECM reconfigured twice and it still does not work. They cannot find anyone that knows how to fix the car. They want $2,100 for the work, but I have to tow the car home. Is there anyone in America that can fix this car???

1) What shorted out and what was your original symptoms?

2) You need to explain in chronological order what took place for anyone to help you.

3) Do you have the price break down for labor and what parts you are being charged for?

PCM reprogramming runs around $200.00.

Get that car out of there. A reputable place wouldn't be charging you for parts that didn't fix the problem.

 

[Robertwav1]

Pay for nothing if they can't fix it. Look around online for a reputable vette mechanic in your area. Give them the PCM back and tell them they didn't fix what caused the first one to fail.

 

[msohl]

Here is the history

The previous owner installed an auxiliary fan switch (cheap plastic) that shorted out and was removed. The engine began randomly shutting off while driving. The mechanic suggested the ECM was the problem and that the anti-theft was shutting the engine down. The ECM was sent to be refurbished / reconfigured twice. The mechanic is at a very well know Vette dealership here in Atlanta and worked with another mechanic at another very well know Chevy dealership. They are throwing their hands up because they do not know the answer and do not want to continue spending my money on trying to figure it out. I wish I could be more specific about the steps they took, the sequence, the error codes, but I was not there. They have tried to locate a former / retired employee that work on the ECM and PCM in the past, but have not had any luck. The car has less than 60K miles on it. I am searching for a recommendation of where I can take the car to have it repaired. It sounds like the ECM is still not configured properly.

 

[Antz81]

Does the engine have to have warmed up before it starts to cut out? Or will it do it while the engine is still cold?
Will the car restart after? Or does it need to sit for a while?

there's plenty of knowledgeable people on here that are willing to guide you through your problem. But not everyone knows of experts different areas.

 

[msohl]

More history

Completely random. Sometimes it would not start when I first got in the car. Waited for awhile and then it would start. Other times, driving down the road it would turn off, like someone flipped a switch, I would coast in nuetral for a short time and then I could start it again. Not sure how it works now. They say it won't even start now that they replaced the ECM. Picking it upthis weekend. I am willing to tow it several hundred miles if I could find the right technician. They are telling me the C5's are beginning to show signs of no one supporting computer issues now.

 

[gmjunkie]

Personally,I don't think it is the ECM causing the problem! Be sure to get the original ECM back!~!!
These guys are just throwing parts at it!~!!!

I know a guy that could repair it,But unfortunately he is retiring on Feb 28 2015 and still has at least a 2 month backlog and hasn't been taking on any new jobs for a while now!

 

[Hib Halverson]

Completely random. Sometimes it would not start when I first got in the car. Waited for awhile and then it would start. Other times, driving down the road it would turn off, like someone flipped a switch, I would coast in nuetral for a short time and then I could start it again. Not sure how it works now. They say it won't even start now that they replaced the ECM. Picking it upthis weekend. I am willing to tow it several hundred miles if I could find the right technician. They are telling me the C5's are beginning to show signs of no one supporting computer issues now.

If you're willing to tow the car several hundred miles, here's a shop which probably can help

Automasters of Bowling Green
790 Interstate Dr
Bowling Green KY 42101
Auto Masters
(270) 842-0454

It's run by a long-time C4 Corvette specialist, Jim Van Dorn whom I've known since the mid-90s.

At one time the business was in California and when it was, Van Dorn built the engine in my 95. Now that Automasters is in B.G., when I'm in town visiting the Corvette Museum and I need some work done on the Corvette I've driven there from California, I go to Automasters.

 

[msohl]

Thank You!

VetteAid sounded confident, so I plan to try them first. Thank you everyone!

 

[ecss]

The previous owner installed an auxiliary fan switch (cheap plastic) that shorted out and was removed. The engine began randomly shutting off while driving. The mechanic suggested the ECM was the problem and that the anti-theft was shutting the engine down.

This makes no sense. The manual fan switch turns on the fan relays by grounding the relay coil. If the switch was bad, either the fans would be on all the time or not at all. The anti theft system will not shut the engine down if the engine is running.

The ECM was sent to be refurbished / reconfigured twice.

If you haven't paid the $2100.00 asked for a detailed written explanation of what has been done.

Is the PCM your original one?

You can purchase a used PCM for less than $200 and some sellers will even program them for that price and require no core exchange.

Get the car home and do some simple trouble shooting your self.
All you need to pull codes is a piece of wire or paper clip.
You short pin 5 to pin 12 on the Diagnostic connector above the drivers right knee and turn
the ignition On. Codes will be displayed on the dash cluster LCD.

When the stalling or no start occurs, verify if you have fuel pressure and spark.
You can rent a fuel pressure gauge from Autozone. You put a deposit down and they refund the
money when you return the tester. A spark tester is less than $10.00. You remove a spark plug wire
and place the spark plug tester in series with the removed wire. When you crank the engine you should
see spark. Another indication you have spark is when the engine is cranking you should see rpm on the tachometer.

Shipping the vehicle long distance is going to cost you big time.

 

[Antz81]

I'm with gm junkie and ecss on this one.
i don't think it's the ECM causing your problem. You need to get the car back and perform a few checks yourself.