ECU Questions

[Morania]

I have a 87 with the 22RE that was missing and stuttering when it was cold. The problem got progressively worse and the mileage was falling off. One day when it got to the point that I was losing power, I took it over to my car bubba and he found ants living in the ECU. He cleaned it out and I was back to just a little missing when the engine was cold. Yesterday I ran it and it was flawless. This morning, it won't start. Not even with a shot of ether. I suspect I may have to replace the ECU:

Where is it? Inside the cabin by the passenger kick panel?

How do I know I'm getting a decent one that won't cook my electronics?

Why do I keep this rotten old truck around?

Could it be that I really am able to become emotionally attached to an inanimate object?

Too many questions?

 

[fourwd1]

Yes
You don't
I don't know
Possibly
Maybe

 

[KidVermicious]

Where is it? Inside the cabin by the passenger kick panel?

Yup

How do I know I'm getting a decent one that won't cook my electronics?

You don't, but you can try finding a wrecker that'll let you bring it back for another one if the first one doesn't work.

Why do I keep this rotten old truck around?

Because it's awesome and you love it.

Could it be that I really am able to become emotionally attached to an inanimate object?

I refuse to believe that, on the grounds that it might call my own sanity into question.

Is your truck an automatic or a manual?

 

[Morania]

Back to the drawing board

So I put a new ECU in a the truck started. Well it ran under it's own power when I released the key. No power and it sounds like a cylinder or two is off. I put the old ECU back in and got the same result.

With a lack of test equipment here, I'm thinking that the tune up, then injectors need to be examined. All the tune up stuff should be new since a new engine was put in a few years ago, but the injectors are still original.

Any logical flow charts out there?

 

[KidVermicious]

If it's been a few years, it's time for a tuneup anyway. Air filter, plugs, wires, hit it with a bottle of seafoam, all that stuff. Keep track of which plugs came from which cylinder, and post up hi-res pictures of the electrodes, they'll tell you if any particular cylinder isn't firing. They might even tell you why.

 

[fourwd1]

While it's running, pull the plug wires of the plugs one at a time.
When you pull the wire off of a good running cylinder you'll notice a change.
You won't notice much difference when you pull the wire off of a bad cylinder.