02-06-2024, 02:12 AM
I had a code 41 error on one of my two 1990 Trackers. I used all of the info provided on the forum, FixKick pages, FSM and any other websites that covered the topic. Everything checked out. Distributor was good. Coil was Good. I had good spark. Noise suppressor tested fine. Passed all Go/No Go tests in the FSM but still no fuel to the injector.
Next I started swapping parts from my known good Tracker to the one that wouldn't start. It wasn't until I put the known good ECM in the problem tracker that I could get it started. This suggested a bad ECM was the cause of the Code 41 but when I connected it to my running Tracker it fired right up.
Scratching my head I put the suspected bad ECM back in the tracker with the code 41 and it now fires up and runs with all of its original components reinstalled. I should be happy except the next morning I tried cranking it up and again no fuel to the injector and a code 41. I unplugged the ecm, plugged a bad one in, tried to start (but didn't), reconnected suspect ECM and it fires up again.
If I didn't know any better I'd think the ECM was somehow holding the error code in memory but I swear the stupid thing has been unplugged and plugged back in a dozen times and battery was disconnected many times during the 3-4 day of troubleshooting. I know the ECM doesn't have an onboard battery that could save the code when disconnected from external power source and I'm pretty sure everything on the board is solid state so there aren't things like relays that might be sticking closed.
So the question that bugging me is why it takes plugging a different ECM (good or bad) up to the vehicle to get the vehicle to get this particular ECM to forget about it's Error 41 Code. The other question is why does it come back? Is the ECM on the verge of failing or is there maybe something in the ignition system that has an intermittent issue that could also be on the verge of failing which causes it to run sometimes but occasionally fail? This would indicate the ECM is just doing what it's supposed to do but which ignition part is most likely to cause such a problem and, again, why does it take swapping ECMs to get the code to clear up?
Thanks in advance for sharing any thoughts or insights
JC
Two 1990 Geo Trackers. Stock 4x4 MT. One works great, the other is being difficult
Next I started swapping parts from my known good Tracker to the one that wouldn't start. It wasn't until I put the known good ECM in the problem tracker that I could get it started. This suggested a bad ECM was the cause of the Code 41 but when I connected it to my running Tracker it fired right up.
Scratching my head I put the suspected bad ECM back in the tracker with the code 41 and it now fires up and runs with all of its original components reinstalled. I should be happy except the next morning I tried cranking it up and again no fuel to the injector and a code 41. I unplugged the ecm, plugged a bad one in, tried to start (but didn't), reconnected suspect ECM and it fires up again.
If I didn't know any better I'd think the ECM was somehow holding the error code in memory but I swear the stupid thing has been unplugged and plugged back in a dozen times and battery was disconnected many times during the 3-4 day of troubleshooting. I know the ECM doesn't have an onboard battery that could save the code when disconnected from external power source and I'm pretty sure everything on the board is solid state so there aren't things like relays that might be sticking closed.
So the question that bugging me is why it takes plugging a different ECM (good or bad) up to the vehicle to get the vehicle to get this particular ECM to forget about it's Error 41 Code. The other question is why does it come back? Is the ECM on the verge of failing or is there maybe something in the ignition system that has an intermittent issue that could also be on the verge of failing which causes it to run sometimes but occasionally fail? This would indicate the ECM is just doing what it's supposed to do but which ignition part is most likely to cause such a problem and, again, why does it take swapping ECMs to get the code to clear up?
Thanks in advance for sharing any thoughts or insights
JC
Two 1990 Geo Trackers. Stock 4x4 MT. One works great, the other is being difficult