Code 43-Electronic Control Module has detected an electronic spark control input signal for too long a time period.

While at Ivy Tech this morning when trying to start my car it took 3 trys and just kept dying everytime. while driving home i had a SES light and my timing retarded. pulled over and restarted the car. the light went away and the timing was back to normal. went to check knock sensor reving the car in park and knocking on the block around the sensor. rpm's dropped saying that the sensor was good. SES light has came on before 4 months or so ago and just now came back. The car has had problems starting all day after sittin half an hour or more. Could this be the knock sensor on its way out...comming in or out or do you think it is more computer related???

Autozone info on code 43....

If the timing changed/rpm dropped the cause of code 43 is intermittent.... no more info on if it did drop what the causes could be....

it is not a hard light...sometimes when tyring to start almost always takes 3 times and after driving sometimes i get the SES light making the timing retard and sometimes i dont get the light or the retard. This problem always seems to be happening with a cold start. The car starts each time but just stumbles and dies and giving some gas doesnt help at all making me believe that it IS the sensor not sending the signal of the initial start up knock. I cant think of why it would only happen with a a cold start ??

 

Start by unplugging and reconnecting the connector on the back of the distributor. This circuit is a low voltage very low current deal. I fought this for about two months and finally soldered the wires direct to the ignition module, fixed it. Also, AutoZone can test the module itself for the timing circuit but that's probably not the cause of it.

 

I have fought this particular battle twice(different cars)and both times it was the computer itself.It can be the ignition module,but never seems to be.In my case it was always the computer.They are real bad 80's technology design which are sensitive to vibrations and physical jarring and the rinky dink surface mount components inside crack.Fortunately the ecm itself isn't too expensive.I think about $80 with the core tradin.There are trouble shooting charts to double check everything else,go through those first.

 

Lately no SES light or retardation but still the same start up problem.

 

my car is having the same problem let me know when you fiqure it out so i can try and see if it will work for me.

 

hope this works...here is a code 43 diagnostic chart

 

sry so big

 

that diagram says 5.0 tbi would tpi be the same?

 

here one for tpi...david_0161 car is a tbi so I posted chart for it...hope this helps...