Truck Broke (Bad ECM) Update

They are paying for everything, the ECU is under the 8 year 80K warranty, otherwise it was covered anyway by an extended warranty. Exactly why I may just dump the thing soon, I don't like chasing things down a rabbit hole, and it just loses resale every month I keep it..with the change in years coming up especially.

 

Too bad it's already restored. You can get some great deals on old "vin. numbered" rigs. Sometimes it's just the shell, but as long as it's got the vin. number, you can restore it yourself. Fun project!

Cheers

 

Yeah, I don't have the time or patience for a total restoration anymore, I've brought a couple of Jeeps and a vintage mustang back to life over the years and in my experience, the savings is not as much of a difference as I would have liked or none really at all. Especially if you add the bits that make them nicer to drive, (power brakes/power steering/A/C etc).

You can pick up a good driver quality with all the comfort bits with shiny paint, clean/new interior, solid motor etc for not as much as you might think. Especially if you consider the price of cars and trucks today.

Now if you can't get over the fact that a truck that was brand new in 1966 cost $1800 and now is up for 25/30K...thats another story....I just have to breathe and look at the inflation chart...lol

 

The anxiety with owning your truck! Losing money by the minute!

 

No reason to lose money on something that is not functional or confidence inspiring I would say....no anxiety. Just a thought on taking a different approach and curious on the thoughts if there were any differences to the durability of the parts between the two generations, or any difference since the 2nd gen does not have the safety sense extras etc.

I'm not sure its anxiety to think it might not be a bad idea to sell something when it is at peak resale or at least take a look at the scale. Is that not one of the reasons that we pay more for less when buying Toyotas? I have zero anxiety or zero emotional attachment to a mass produced vehicle, hence exploring after its in the shop for a week, the value proposition of selling it while it is still holding a strong retail. Maybe its just me but 8K for 5 years of use is pretty solid.

 

Update number 2....New ECM is in...TPS is shot, who knows what went first so wait for another part to come in. This one is shaping up to be the lease reliable vehicle I have had with under 100k on it in 25 years. A shame, this one was in contention to be a long term keeper.

 

Load the parts cannon ! Ready … aim….

 

I wonder, if you remove the new ECM and install the TPS alone, can the ECM be returned and the cost for ''diagnostics'' and install applied to the TPS with any remaining returned to you?

Sometimes I wonder if certain wonder mechs have a spinning chart dartboard in the back and whatever the ''diagnostics'' dart hits, is the issue.

 

I'm not sure if that is a thing or not. Since the truck has less than 80K the ECM is covered under the 8/80 warranty and the TPS and the rest of the powertrain is covered under the extended warranty I have on it.

I was planning on keeping this one a long time since I haven't really been putting a lot of miles on it, but I'm leaning towards moving it down the road before the warranty runs out.

 

Gotcha. I seriously doubt the ECM and the TPS both failed at the same time but I suppose a dead short may be able to do it.

 

The guy at the service desk when I called for an update said the TPS went and took out the ECM so I guess what you are describing possibly. Who knows, I fully expect them to find something else when they put the TPS in.

Iv'e had the TPS go bad in an older jeep once, it gave a little warning that it was on its way out the door. This was just turn the key, done after driving an hour no indication there was anything failing etc.

 

I had a weird electrical issue in my 2015 F150; which is what made me buy my Tacoma. When looking through the Ford service manual to try and find the problem (abs wouldn't communicate) it specifically noted that it was extremely uncommon for for things like the ECM to go bad. And if they did it was almost always caused by something else (EG a wiring issue). Not saying thats the case here but after finding and fixing a short in the main harness I traded the truck in. Electrical problems are something I didn't want to worry about in a 4 year old truck.

 

100%...plans have already changed and this one will find a new home before the warranty is up...or if it throws any kind of code or blip of any kind. This is the first vehicle I have had in 25 years that has spent time in the shop for anything other than an oil change with less than 100K on it.

 

You found out why the ECU got toasted? Truck would not start, somebody cross connected jumper cables, and BAM, blow ECU?

 

They don't know for sure, it actually appears that the throttle body (not the TPS) took a dump and took out the ECU on the way out...at least that is their assessment. According to the service advisor, it is not uncommon.

Truck started when I brought it in, it had a rough idle and was in limp mode but it would start each time you pushed the button so there was no reason for anyone to use jumper cables.

So they replaced the throttle body and the ECU.

Truck is back and runs fine so far. Thankfully extended warranty and Toyotas 8/80 emissions warranty took care of it. About 2K in work.

 

So……The throttle body killed the ECM.
And then they plugged a new ECM to the same throttle body?

I can still be wrong, but I’m starting to think what is said in post 20. Might just be…..
Well……

 

I dnk if dealer plugged in ECU to old throttle body.
But the OP said the dealer replaced throttle body and ECU.

 

Sounds kind of suspicious that they said it was the ECM. =First=
Then ordered an ECM, and now it is the TB. (After the ECM didn’t fix the issue)
But….But…the throttle body is what killed the ECM



Sounds a bit fabricated to me.
I think the OLD ECM is probably fine.
And the throttle body was the issue all along.

 

That’s a terrible investment strategy.

 

Yea but if I had 'money' I wouldn't care 'eh ?..