My backup car has recently developed a hell of a problem. It's an 83 buick lesabre with a carbed 305. It started a week ago when I found a vacuum hose split. I replaced it, but the car was still running bad. I took it to a shop where they found my cat was melting and had destroyed my muffler as well. I've got an SES light, and I'd like to be able to read what the problem is. I've got a laptop and ALDL cable, but I'm not sure what the ECM is. I know that WINALDL didn't work when I tried to scan, but i might have just had a setting wrong. Is there any software available for this ECM? The O2 sensor is also powder coated black, and the spark plugs are also just as nasty. It runs like it has no power, even when floored, and spits out black smoke when driving. It idles rough, and can't get any power. Is there any way to find out what the ses code is?

 

In order to read this SES ,you might need to locate an ol'time mechanic that has a tech one scan tool for that year.I am guessing its a rich code,you have too much fuel running through that engine,which you decribed all the classic signs/cat melted(can't handle all the fuel)plugs black(too much fuel)..I would be looking into a new coil(possibly weak) and other tune-up parts(cap.rotor/wires/fresh plugs) if the problem still hangs on then would lean towards the carb,you could look down into the throat with the engine running and see if you notice fuel just drizzing down the holes.Thats a good sign of carb problems,idle circuit problems.

 

Sticking injector? Yea sounds like waay too much fuel is going through it. Bet on that O2 sensor is giving a faulty reading. Never seen one powdercoated.

ECM ID 1228746
Its at the very bottom of this page.
https://www.thirdgen.org/promintro

 

never put an update on this, so here it is. The fuse for the ECM was blown, so it went into limp home mode and ran so rich it started melting parts. New fuse, and tune up... Runs like before