to start off with my car has been parked for a bit. i had to replace the distributor a few months ago and right after the engine started to knock. i tried out a few things and it still knocked. the thing is it doesnt knock all the time, just sometimes. so im thinkin its not a internal problem. i took it too a shop this week and they put it on the computer, they said there are 3 updates for my prom in the ecm. they said that is most likely whats makin it knock sometimes. they told me to take it to gm and get the updates for it. i was wondering if anyone has had this problem before? i know nothing about ecm's, so i dont know if this would make it knock. i have checked the timing multiple times. any help will be appreciated.

 

Wow, I have never heard that one before. What kind of "knock" is it making anyway?

Maybe the shop meant it had 3 trouble codes stored?

 

Since the problem started right after you replaced the distributor, I'd suggest you go back and recheck that the base timing is where it's supposed to be. It's not unheard of to have a dizzy slip a little bit, either as you're tightening it down, or from not being fully tightened.

As far as the updates, if you take the cover off your ECM, you should find a sticker with a 4-digit "broadcast code" on you MEMCAL (RBob's sticky post in this forum shows what I'm talking about). If you post that BCC here, we can easily tell you if your calibration was superceded by an updated one, although I doubt that has much of anything to do with your sudden onset of spark knock.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave_Jones
If you post that BCC here, we can easily tell you if your calibration was superceded by an updated one, [B]

Would this be like a "recall" on the vehicle?

 

Not that extreme.

Most of the time GM's updates are kind of like "if customer reports xxx problem, update calibration to yyy" kind of thing. Especially with the newer flash stuff where all they need to do is load a new program.

Only rarely is a problem severe enough to warrant an actual recall, and it's usually only for safety or emissions reasons. I do know of a couple instances over the years where emissions recalls were done to update cars with revised calibrations, but those weren't for thirdgens AFAIK.

 

Thanks for clarifying that for me. I never heard of it till now. I have been "studying" DIY Prom for about 6 months now, and I've owned my Formula for 10 years, with 3 different engines, and it just goes to show you learn somthing everyday.

 

im gettin the car back today so ill check that number and post it here when i get it home.