northern-tpi

I just got my car back from the shop after waiting so long to finally drive it. I had the engine rebuilt with a bigger cam and other things including #24 SVO injectors. I should also mention that I have the Prominator in my car. The engine was running lean so I adjusted the inj constant down to 19.5 knowing it would run rich, but better rich than lean. Anyhow I plugged my laptop in using a new invertor that I purchased, got TunerPro Rt running and set everything up to take a scan. I then started the car and the laptop shut down. The car started idling really rough and the service engine soon light came on. I shut the car off and then proceeded to get the laptop up and running again. When I turned the accessories back on the service engine soon light is on and the fans now turn on too. I have disconnected the battery and reconnected but still the same thing. I have even tried plugging in a scanner and I can't get a connection. Is there a sure way to check if the ECM is fried or should I already assume the worst. Also what are the chances that the Prominator is fried too...

JPrevost

Have you tried just reflashing the prominator with the ecm unpowered?

Grumpy

Start with the basics.

Plug the just the memcal, and see if the engine at least runs, without a SES light. If using the stock memcal gets a SES, then Prominator, etc., are probably OK. If it runs OK with no SES light, then try reprogramming the Prominator, or better yet use just a chip with the same memcal .bin.

Go one item at a time, starting at square one, and you'll find the problem.

Might even take a look at the plugs, and see what they're like. While at the shop it might have undergone alot of cold starts, and fouled some.

northern-tpi

I used the laptop again and tried to connect with the Prominator software. It tells me that no Prominator detected.

Grumpy: I will do as you suggest and remove the prominator card and insert the origional memcal back in to see if that remedies the situation. I should have thought that through some more. I am just a little frustrated when I am so anxious about driving this car and all I seem to do is chase problem. lol I even cleaned up the interior for its maiden voyage of the year... oh well back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the help I will be sure to give these suggestions a try ASAP

northern-tpi

Well a reflash to the prominator turned out to be the answer. Thanks. My next step would have been to rule out the ECM by replacing the Memcal as Grumpy suggested. I took it out for a run and it is too rich. I hope to adjust the inj constant to 21 or so and see what difference that makes.

I am running a ZZ9 cam and I understand that large cams tend to run lean on a stock fuel/spark curve... after getting the blms in order I hope to address that lean area next... thanks again

JPrevost

If you're running newer 6E code on an 88 or older TPI then you need to unhook the cold start injector. I don't know details about your car and for future reference so you don't have to mention it have your car/ecm in your signiture.

northern-tpi

Thanks, I added my car information to my signature - I should have thought of that sooner....