After doing some searching I've been unable to come up with a solution to the rich problem I've been having. I did a TPI swap into my 86 Cutlass and got it to run somewhat. After modding the ECM for a ZIF socket I started having problems with running rich. At first the car would actually start and run, then throw a code rich code. Now it's progressed to the stage where I can vary rarely get the car started. I've checked the continuity on the ZIF socket and it is good. All the wiring has also been checked for continuity and is good. To date I've replaced pretty much everything electrical except for the TPS which checks out good.
The big problem that concerns me is that the scantool I have does not seem to want to communicate with the ECM. I have tried both a chip I burnt and the stock chip, and it doesn't like either of them. Sometimes it will get connection then loose it. However, after checking the wires everything is good between the ECM and the ALDL. Sorry for the length, but I'm starting to run out of ideas on this.

 

From your post it sounds like your problem began after you modified the memcal so maybe try and install a factory unmodified memcal and see what happens. Just a thought. -John

 

What did you do to install the ZIF socket?

I just ended a 5 month saga where the car ran outrageously rich no matter what I did or replaced. Until I got to the EPROM and found out that I was burning corrupted PROMs due to corrupted software on desktop PC. It sounds like your problem is similar in that it is associated with your ECM/EPROM. Like Rocket Bird said, I'd verify with a factory ECM/EPROM.

 

What did you do to install the ZIF socket?

I just ended a 5 month saga where the car ran outrageously rich no matter what I did or replaced. Until I got to the EPROM and found out that I was burning corrupted PROMs due to corrupted software on my desktop PC. It sounds like your problem is similar in that it is associated with your ECM/EPROM. Like Rocket Bird said, I'd verify with a factory ECM/EPROM.

 

Sounds like you in limp home mode.

Have to tried taking a stock, untouched ECM and plugging it up to see if the symptom changes?


HTH

 

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. I've tried plugging in the original 87 chip that I had, as well as two different burnt chips. There does not seem to be much change either way. Another thing I noticed was that one of the few times I could get the scantool to connect, it was telling me that the required Idle RPM was something like 3100. IIRC that WAS with the stock chip. I tried a burnt chip and got the same thing.
For the installation of the ZIF it was just soldered in. Its been checked several times for solder bridges and the like, and nothing seems to be out of the ordinary.
If it was in limp home mode it would throw a code wouldn't it? Sometimes I'm able to get it started and hold it running with the throttle, and in the time it wouldn't throw any codes.

 

I think what ctandc was getting at was that perhaps the modification with the ZIF socket damaged the ECM such that no matter what EPROM you put in (stock or otherwise), the car will run badly.

 

That's sorta where I've been leaning for the problem to be. Guess I just need to pick up a stock unmodifed ECM and try that. I'll try that and see what happens. Thanks for the help.