Car running horrible flashing code 14 FIXED

[fixkick]

My 93 Sidekick 1.6L 16v (G16B MPI) was running real bad, low idle, barely drive in 2nd etc. (limp home?). I used the OBD1 method of paper clip to jumper 2 to 3 and it flashed code 14 (coolant sensor circuit). I took it in and had a diagnostic test done and they found that:


"...ECT SENSOR HAS LOW VOLTAGE. VERIFIED THERE IS .5v AT THE ECT SENSOR WITH THE SENSOR UNPLUGGED. TESTED FOR VOLTAGE AT THE ECM AND FOUND 1.5V COMING OUT OF THE COMPUTER. VEIRFIED THE MAIN RELAY IS PROVIDING PROPER POWER AT THE ECM. VEHICLE WILL NEED AND ECM"

The mechanic said $800 or to replace the ECM myself and gave me a part number. Very nice of  them! I replaced the ECM (ECU) with a Cardone as recommended by fixkick and using the directions provided here. The car runs like a champ now and no codes flashing. The ECU that I pulled out was rusty and had moisture on it from my car leaking. It had a number in yellow paint pen which leads me to believe this was a used part. Hopefully the Cardone lasts longer.

My car leaks pretty bad and it rains 76" a year here so I'm still wondering if water damage had anything to do with it or if it was an old ECU on its way out.

Not sure if this will help any one but figured I'd share just in case. Tried to post photos but couldn't upload from my computer.

is this card 2door, rag top, ? you said water leaks, but why are there water leaks, bad window..front glass????

but yah water and electronics is never ever any good.  The ECU is self protected from say fog, or high humidity not floods, not ever that.

SENSOR UNPLUGGED. 0.5v,
that means ALSO, the wires to it or cut or shorted...... not just the ECU. but you found it was ECU.

the car new,  had a plastic cover   cover #3 the top of  the ECU, so if say window cracks water does not wreck the ECU. missing now, and yellow marks from used ECU from the wrecking yards.

The ECU Pin B6 must have +5vdc there,  or the 5v regulator in the ECU is blown out, this makes sensor go dead, many run on 5vdc.. so.... there is that,


if you keep car dry the ECU can last 20 years easy. (with good CAPs inside from JAPAN)
your car is 26 years old,  on newer car , say JEEP these damage would go over $3000 , with many front controllers are damaged, lucky you your old car has only 1 computer.
the days of simple cars with 2 wire ignition and A Carb are sadly gone.

in the old days they said, "keep your powder dry" ,noW  it's puter dry.  and is way of saying GOOD LUCK PARTNER..