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car in shop may need computer?

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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 01:26 PM
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Default car in shop may need computer?

ok so my car is in the shop and they guy looking at it isnt finished yet but says the computer could be messing up which makes sence cause it messes up on/off randomly

so my question is where is a cheaper place to buy a computer for a 1999 Trans Am im sure there dealership will charge way more then necessary btw it will need to already be programmed

thx
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 03:43 PM
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try ebay
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Old Dec 12, 2008 | 03:51 PM
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How is the tech determining that the ECM "may be messing up"??
What are the problems, to begin with?
Scanned w/ data logs?
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 04:16 AM
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call jess @ wait4me (UN: wait4me)
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 05:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Old Geezer
How is the tech determining that the ECM "may be messing up"??
What are the problems, to begin with?
Scanned w/ data logs?
I'd like to know the same. What is his diagnostic process? These computers are very robust. They have a very low failure rate. Many wiring problems can easily be misdiagnosed as a bad computer.
I typically get them (cars) after someone's replaced the computer and that hasn't fixed them.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 06:53 PM
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+2 on the bad pcm diagnosis. The GM side mount battery with the liquid acid battery-boil over senario eating up a cable is pretty common. Broken batter mount letting the battery slide around will cause these problems as well.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 04:11 PM
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because while driving it around itll randomly misfire and the car will start shaking pretty bad you can go WOT and it goes just fine but makes pop sounds sometimes then after u try to cruise again it does the same thing

things replaced
plugs/wires
TPs sensor
crank sensor
MAF
cleaned TB
replaced O2 sensors
New fuel pump
New fuel and air filter
might be missing something idk
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 06:44 PM
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I take it you have LTs? Can you elaborate on your mods besides what is in your sig?
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 07:29 PM
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Sounds like either bad sensors, or bad tune for the car.

Random issues caused by the computer dont mean the computer is bad - it just sounds like the computer is taking the info that is being sent to it and causing the car to respond poorly.

If you buy another computer Id love to have yours. If the pcm is bad I like to play with them.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 07:43 PM
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no LT's engine is completly stock besides the NGK plugs and msd wires

its never been tuned so its still the factory
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 01:23 AM
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It just sounds like the person attempting to diagnose your problem is just having you throw money at it. Why were all the parts listed changed, how did your mechanic decide what was to be replaced other than what you've listed as the problem. If you have the ability to diagnose these items, the likelyhood that one of the listed items was bad and then replaced, and you still have the problem sounds more like bad diagnosis.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 03:55 AM
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I've had a PCM die with similarly strange symptoms. Call Jess, get a PCM, if that don't fix it, you can sell it for what you paid or very close too. Not trying to knock anyones attempts to help you diagnose the problem - just answering your question.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:04 AM
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So, what is shown on a datalog??
All kinds of parts thrown at the "problem", still no data to look at???
If your "tech" hasn't scanned/logged this, find another shop..
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 08:10 AM
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well i took it to the dealer and i should hear from them today
to clear things up though
most of the parts listed we did before we took it to the shop and they all showed a little improvement the only thing on the list we bought due to a scan was the o2's and the fuel pump
after replaceing the fuel pump the car ran perfect for a month or 2
then we had another problem and we replaced the crank sensor and it ran perfect for another month or 2 now its running like i said above so i took it to the dealer
will post up what they say today hopefully
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