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Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

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Old 05-26-2015, 12:32 AM
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Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

Hey Guys,

I've been unable to resolve an inoperative Check Engine Light on my 85 Trans Am. Its an LG4 Carb 5.0 V8

I can only get it to come on if i ground pin D on the ALDL.

Here is what i know
  • I've been troubleshooting and it has lead me down the path in yellow in the diagram.
  • I'm not sure what test for "open" means, but when i grounded terminal "D" i got 12 volts - does that mean its not open? i.e i need to replace the Lamp Driver.

The car runs EXACTLY the same with the ECM plugged in or out, does that mean my ECM is also fried? Or is that because of the lamp driver?

So lost....

Old 05-26-2015, 03:52 AM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

If there is continuity from D to ground the lamp driver module is faulty.
Old 05-26-2015, 02:53 PM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

Any way to repair it? I'll try to find one online today.

Do you think my ECM is fried also? (Seeing as there is no difference between having it plugged in or out), or is that because of the lamp driver?

Originally Posted by Tuned Performance
If there is continuity from D to ground the lamp driver module is faulty.
Old 05-27-2015, 02:07 PM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

I don't have a schematic for the lamp driver, is the mc solonoid clicking KOEO ?
Old 05-27-2015, 03:13 PM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

Hey,

Yes the MC solenoid clicks for about 20 seconds then off with KOEO, i "think" it does this also with the ECM disconnected. I can check later.

Originally Posted by Tuned Performance
I don't have a schematic for the lamp driver, is the mc solonoid clicking KOEO ?
Old 05-28-2015, 02:55 AM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

Can confirm - No clicking with ECM disconnected.

I think i may have found the culprit for the check engine light though.

Looks like a transistor on the Lamp Driver is blown, i never noticed it before.

Check it out... I've already ordered a whole Lamp Driver module from Amazon, but maybe i could have just gotten the transistor.




Originally Posted by KNIGHTE
Hey,

Yes the MC solenoid clicks for about 20 seconds then off with KOEO, i "think" it does this also with the ECM disconnected. I can check later.
Old 05-28-2015, 04:48 AM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

That's a easy circuit. Makes you wonder why it wasn't incorporated into the ECM.
You may have better luck identifying the transistor on the new LDM or can unsolder it and see if it's a npn or Pnp or just instal a 2n2222 and give it a try.
Old 06-09-2015, 08:57 PM
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Re: Unable to Fault Find Check Engine (SES) Light - Help Needed

Update - this was a faulty lamp driver. ECM was perfect - passed smog today!
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