ok, here is my problem. every since I took the old hypertech chip/memcal out and tried either a stock one or my own version the car will only run in limp dick mode. I have verified that it is by removing the prom and starting the car, and it runs the same way. I have an 89 mecal attached to an adapter purchased from craige moates and I have the ARAP bin on a at29c256 chip. Yes I made sure to start the device at 4000 in PP2. When the chip is in the adapter I get no check engine light, but it still runs in limp home mode. I am unable to get any data from my ALDL port as well, but that may be due to my laptop and not the car. Does anyone have any idea why this is happening??? oh ya, btw, I veriofied that the chip programed correctly by reading it off the chip. I would appreciate any help... hopefully I can get this resolved and get on my way.

 

How have you verified the car is in limp mode? Can you save and link to the .bin and .ecu files you're running on the web somewhere so that we can take a look? If not, Email them to me and I'll have a look-see since I've had similar problems when I first started out. I can post them temporarily on my web space if I get a chance too.

One tip, the later fan switch flag is checked N/O for normally open, my '86 was obviously not a N/O switch since the fans came on all of the time when that box was checked in the bin I was trying to use. Unchecked the box, viola, no fan turning on with the ignition.

 

I really have no idea what to think of this.... will the car run in limp mode if the ECM is fried?

Should I be able to get any ALDL info if it is in limp mode or does it not send out any data?

I doubt it is the ECM being fried, but I get NO check engine light, the only time I do is if I try to start it with no prom, to verify that what I am experiencing is limp mode, and the light is obviously for the missing bin in that case.

Does it matter that I have an 89 memcal in an 87 car? I dont think it should since I am running a 6E code....

As far as I can tell, the memcal and adapter are all on tight enough that contact is being made.

Anyone have any idea why it would run in limp mode with the pom in, but not throw an engine code?

I am running out of ideas here

thanks for any help :hail:

 

What changes were made to the bin? What mods do you have?

 

mods are... 383, LT4 hot cam, 1.6 rockers, 1 5/8 headers, free flow exhaust, and a different intake arm. Other than that it is still a TPI until I get my new injectors, then it will be getting an LT1 intake. The only changes made to the prom were... disable vats, uncheck the fan, turn off the EGR error, and I have been playing with the injector constants to try and see if it was a mass fuel problem. I have FMS 19# on it right now from my brothers thunderbird, but the regulator is broken and has it pegged around 57 PSI.

grumpy, if you read this, what do you think??

 

You're in Limp home mode? How so? Car runs like crap at idle? Unplug your IAC.

 

yea, it runs like garbage, and I need to run 20 degrees of BASE timing to get the thing to even stay on. it is running way rich, stalls when I put it in gear, etc. I have tried starting it with no chip in at all and it runs the exact same way, that is the only way I have been to 'verify' it is. I also can't get any aldl data, but that could be due to my laptop and not the car. But before I put the new memcal/adapter in, everything ran 'great'. Unfortunately I dont have the old one anymore, so I am kind of screwed in terms of seeing if it will run ok with the old one.

...oh yea, BTW, it doesn't just run like crap at idle. It does it all the time, it stalls when I come to a stop sign, it backfires through the exhaust under decel, and it has almost no power. I can barely break the 225 truck tires loose that I have on it right now.

 

It sounds like you're trying to tune out so many broken parts here. Fix the parts that you know are broken, then go from there. Heck, I'm surprised a 383 with that many mods runs at all on a basically stock chip and pegged fuel pressure. I don't think you're in limp mode at all...

 

Isn't the only difference between a stock chip and a hypertech chip the spark curve and the fan on/off temperatures? The car ran 'fine' for two months with that chip in. That is the only reason I think something may be messed up other than the chip itself. When I replaced the hypertech chip with the 89 memcal, with nothing done to it, just the stock memcal, it did the same thing it is doing now. It seems no matter what bin I use, or what I try and do to the injector constants to level out the fuel, it runs the exact same wha, which makes me think that it isnt running off the chip at all. I have verified the base timing with a timing light, and I really dont think my balancer ring has slipped since it has less than 5000 miles on it.

ok, I unplugged the IAC just to see what would happen, and I dont even get a check engine light... will the car run if the ECM is fried? or will I get nothing???

 

So it started with this bum '89 memcal then? Is that the same memcal you use on the Moates adapter?

 

The 165 has a bit of a reputation for sudden failures.
Might try sliding another on in, it's not a bad idea to carry a spare ecm anyway.

 

yea, I am using the 89 memcal on the moates adapter.... It all started when I tried to use the 89 mecal, which besides the bin, should be exactly the same as the 87, correct?? I wish I still had the hypertech one, because I KNOW it ran on that. I will just pick up a spare ECM today