CA20 1992 Pintara exec

[wazza83]

Hi all, just a quick question i have a 92 Pintara exec (4dr superhatch) with a FWD CA20E motor,
weird thing is when im drivin along all of a sudden the battery, brake fluid and ecm light will come on and stay on, but then they go out and the ecm light flickers,
i know when they are all on if i take the positive lead off the battery while its runnin the car stops, but if its just the ecm light on when i take the lead off, she keeps runnin,

im pretty sure its the ecm goin but just wanted to see what u guys think, and if it is what can i replace it with, as my mate has 2 88-89 pintara wagons with CA20 rwd as part cars
cheers for the help
Oh an if anyone knows of a place that sells ecms in perth would be a great help.

[SSS]

Sure fire way to fry your electronics by disconnecting the battery whilst the car is running.

[Habibosaurus]

Hi all, just a quick question i have a 92 Pintara exec (4dr superhatch) with a FWD CA20E motor,
weird thing is when im drivin along all of a sudden the battery, brake fluid and ecm light will come on and stay on, but then they go out and the ecm light flickers,
i know when they are all on if i take the positive lead off the battery while its runnin the car stops, but if its just the ecm light on when i take the lead off, she keeps runnin,

im pretty sure its the ecm goin but just wanted to see what u guys think, and if it is what can i replace it with, as my mate has 2 88-89 pintara wagons with CA20 rwd as part cars
cheers for the help
Oh an if anyone knows of a place that sells ecms in perth would be a great help.

Search on here for the Full Service Manual on how to diagnose however I would if I was you put the ECM in Diagnostic mode (FSM will give you details on how to) and see if anything pops up. I had almost the same problem recently minus the ECM light coming on. I had other issues as well (hesitation etc) but this smelt electrical so took it to a local Auto-Elec who found the AFM/Coolant Temp Sensor and other wiring was shorting out on and off and the plugs were a bit effed. The actual AFM and Sensors seemed ok, so he checked all the grounds etc and changed some of the wiring and seems fine now, no more lights flicking on randomly/cutting off etc. I do have other issues on and off and looking for a day to run through it all to diagnose.

Another possible fault could be alternator/alternator wiring as well. Just some food for thought but look up the FSM for some more info. 

Sure fire way to fry your electronics by disconnecting the battery whilst the car is running.

x2

[wazza83]

ok thanks for that,
really i used to do it all the time with my old corolla never had any problems elec wise with that lol,
when the batt light comes on all the lights dimn, but when it goes the lights are at full power so i know that there is somethin wrong with the alternator/wiring there, plus i can tell when its runnin cause the engine is under load and idles lower, but when the batt light comes on the car idles higher,

i read on a couple of threads on here that theres a problem with the regulator on the back of the alternator (could this be givin me grief) but then would the ecm light come on and stay on cause of it or just the batt light?, or do i just have a real bad case of gremlins in my wiring lol

thanks for the help guys

[LoW GLi]

Sure fire way to fry your electronics by disconnecting the battery whilst the car is running.

Really?? I was told by an auto electrician that once the car is running it runs off the alternator, battery doesnt get used at all... good way to figure if ur alternator is stuffed is by disconnecting the battery while the car is running, if the car stops, alt. is fucked...  

*8edit and yes wazza it could be the regulator, i have had mine replaced twice and ur symptoms sound very much like what was my problem!

[wazza83]

bit of an update i was havin alook through my engine bay yesterday just checkin wires an such seein if i could see any that had melted n so forth lol.
wiggled the wires on the back of the alt, and now no ecm light at all, i still get the bat light and brake light flicker on and off but nowhere near as much as it did the other day

[Jono]

It really isn't a good idea to disconnect your battery with the engine running. The battery helps to absorb voltage spikes in the electrical system.

The battery and brake lights come on in CA powered U12s when the alternator stops working.

This is usually caused by the pins not having enough tension in the plug on the regulator of the alternator. The loose pins cause an intermittent connection. Also check to make sure they are nice and clean.

[wazza83]

k thx for the info.

[Habibosaurus]

How'd you go?

My alternator started playing up causing the same problems again, refurbed it.. now all good.

[wazza83]

hey sorry its been ages since i had a chance to get online lol, i got my alt refurbed buy a sparkie i know and it works a treat now no more lights flickering on my dash but my ecm light still comes on so i think thats the next to be rerplaced, im interested in gettin a stage 2 chip tho lol

[Slarty_Bartfast]

hey sorry its been ages since i had a chance to get online lol, i got my alt refurbed buy a sparkie i know and it works a treat now no more lights flickering on my dash but my ecm light still comes on so i think thats the next to be rerplaced, im interested in gettin a stage 2 chip tho lol

The flashing ECM as fair as I'm aware is an indication that there's something wrong with teh electrics of your car. The Gregorys service manual for the u12 has instructions on how to get your ECM to tell you whats wrong. If you are (and by the looks of it you are) thinking of fixing the car up etc. you should invest in a copy. I too am working on a U12 and it's pretty handy to have about the place.

Aaron