Need help. New computer?
Need help. New computer? So I recently came across a decent deal on a 97 TA. It ran a little rough but it was rust free and I was ready to buy right then.
Well it's running very rich. A code reader and a proper scanner will not communicate with the car. I don't see any burned out wires or anything in the wiring harness or any bad grounds or anything else that would make me think it was something else. I assume from this that the computer is bad. Any other suggestions?
I really think I need to this first because all the simple stuff I checked hasn't shown any problems. Heck it might even just be the computer making it run so rich.
What do you guys think?
Well it's running very rich. A code reader and a proper scanner will not communicate with the car. I don't see any burned out wires or anything in the wiring harness or any bad grounds or anything else that would make me think it was something else. I assume from this that the computer is bad. Any other suggestions?
I really think I need to this first because all the simple stuff I checked hasn't shown any problems. Heck it might even just be the computer making it run so rich.
What do you guys think?
Might have been converted to OBDI therefore an OBDII scanner will not communicate with it. For the life of me I don't have an idea how one can simply tell whether it's OBDI or II.
So I recently came across a decent deal on a 97 TA. It ran a little rough but it was rust free and I was ready to buy right then.
Well it's running very rich. A code reader and a proper scanner will not communicate with the car. I don't see any burned out wires or anything in the wiring harness or any bad grounds or anything else that would make me think it was something else. I assume from this that the computer is bad. Any other suggestions?
I really think I need to this first because all the simple stuff I checked hasn't shown any problems. Heck it might even just be the computer making it run so rich.
What do you guys think?
Well it's running very rich. A code reader and a proper scanner will not communicate with the car. I don't see any burned out wires or anything in the wiring harness or any bad grounds or anything else that would make me think it was something else. I assume from this that the computer is bad. Any other suggestions?
I really think I need to this first because all the simple stuff I checked hasn't shown any problems. Heck it might even just be the computer making it run so rich.
What do you guys think?
Also, what computers can I use? OBD2 started in like 95 or 96 I think, so it has that be that or later. Does it have to be a six speed as well? ( my car is a 6 speed). If I happen to find a wrecked formula will that work too?
Will I have to get it flashed or something like that so the car will start since it has one of those chipped keys? The chances of me finding a computer from a car with the same number key is slim to none. As far as the security system is concerned, does it make a difference if I buy a brand new computer or a used one?
Thanks for any and all help. I want to get this thing running properly and don't want to just throw money at it guessing.
Will I have to get it flashed or something like that so the car will start since it has one of those chipped keys? The chances of me finding a computer from a car with the same number key is slim to none. As far as the security system is concerned, does it make a difference if I buy a brand new computer or a used one?
Thanks for any and all help. I want to get this thing running properly and don't want to just throw money at it guessing.
Also, what computers can I use? OBD2 started in like 95 or 96 I think, so it has that be that or later. Does it have to be a six speed as well? ( my car is a 6 speed). If I happen to find a wrecked formula will that work too?
Will I have to get it flashed or something like that so the car will start since it has one of those chipped keys? The chances of me finding a computer from a car with the same number key is slim to none. As far as the security system is concerned, does it make a difference if I buy a brand new computer or a used one?
Thanks for any and all help. I want to get this thing running properly and don't want to just throw money at it guessing.
Will I have to get it flashed or something like that so the car will start since it has one of those chipped keys? The chances of me finding a computer from a car with the same number key is slim to none. As far as the security system is concerned, does it make a difference if I buy a brand new computer or a used one?
Thanks for any and all help. I want to get this thing running properly and don't want to just throw money at it guessing.
You need to scan it properly somehow, take it to a dealership if you have to. Could be any number of sensors; MAF, O2's, coolant temp sensor, ect. ect......The PCM itself is almost never the culprit; it is simply interpreting the data (wrongly) from whatever sensor that is FUBAR is misinforming it.
Trending Topics
LMAO, sound like said dealership is incompetent; maybe ask Autozone to scan it for free or someone who is familiar with these cars? You need to list the mods if any, it could be something the previous owner did or didn't do.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo I find a lot of times people at dealership are incompetent. Idk if they just want to sell your parts or just want to keep charging me money while they guess what is wrong. Who knows. I try to do as much as possible myself but after over a week I am stumped. Which isn't saying much. Lol
The fuel pressure is good, all cylinders have good spark. One plug didn't look any worse or better than all the other ones. The opti isn't full of antifreeze which is kinda what I first thought, and hoped, because that's simple enough to fix. Just time consuming.
The car has 130,000 miles
If you have a laptop, you might just want to buy one of these scan tools and download some free diagnostic software and do it yourself: http://www.aldlcable.com/allinone.asp
Last edited by ahritchie; Apr 5, 2014 at 12:15 PM. Reason: add link
Any difference between the OBD1 and OBD2 computer? On the outside that I could tell by looking at it I mean.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 1
From: Kingfisher Oklahoma
If you get a 96-97 puter make sure all your crank sensor wiring is there and hooked up.
If it does have all that still in place unplug the crank sensor and start it, if it starts and runs the same with no SES it's got an OBD 1 puter in it.
If it does have all that still in place unplug the crank sensor and start it, if it starts and runs the same with no SES it's got an OBD 1 puter in it.
That is some awesome information. Unfortunately, I can't read any of of the numbers on the PCM. That is awesome to know for future reference though.
