I am failing the car inspections. So far 4-5 drive cycles (2 were not following any instruction, just driving) and out of those, 2 times ready lights on my obd2 reader. But turn the car off for more than about 4-5 minutes (at the inspection station and at home), car goes back to 5 "not ready". So it looks like I need to replace the ecm. i need a recommendation where to get it. I haven't looked anywhere yet but I assume the dealer price will be high and not to go look in ebay. Thank you.

BTW, does this ecm have its own battery?

 

DO NOT TURN THE ENGINE OFF when you arrive at the testing station, no matter how long you have to wait. The inspector should NOT ask you to turn it off until AFTER the faults have been read & the sniffer is done.

Ford has not offered these EECs in decades. The only ones available are remans, but there's nothing wrong with yours.

There is no battery, but there's a capacitor that supplies voltage to the KAM for a few minutes.

 

Thanks for that. i will try that, although all these years they always told me to turn the car off with handing them the license, etc. Should've ask today.
Would you explain that in some more detail, that my ecm is ok? I got all good green light on my innova reader twice, but the ecm is not remembering it after the car is turned off for a few minutes. I guess those minutes are the capacitor. If ecm is ok, and after my reader says ok, why does the ecm go back to showing those "not ready"? Is there something else I should try after the drive cycle so the ecm has more time to "program" itself? Thanks.

Another thought. Could it be that there is some electrical problem so that electricity is cut off with key off?

 

RockAuto has a replacement ECM if you determine that you need one. They and are Remans were in stock when I needed one about 3 months ago. The capacitors in my original had leaked and there was some corrosion inside the box. The new one has worked as it should since.

 

This is just a speculation. I was wondering if I go to inspection with 9v memory saver plugged into the cigarette lighter? Asking this, another thought. Do I connect the memory saver first before disconnecting the battery, or disconnect the battery first then the memory saver within the minute?
Just searched for 9v battery amps and what I found is 9v battery can discharge around 500 mAH? Is this safe enough amps to add to the truck electrical systems?

If ecm had any power or ground problems, it shouldn't be working with my reader, is this correct assumption?
Just remembered, I changed the ignition key cylinder, cylinder only, nothing else there.
Also, will do some own research also, but would you point me toward diagnosing power and power relay to ecm?

 

Got out the car, walked over to one of the workers and I was shooed back to the car. ABSOLUTELY their world. MUST be engine off and will not agree to them handling the 9v memory saver. Not sure but if I'm to get any cooperation I'd have to pay for the inspection at one of the private mechanics. Thanks for the replies. I am planning fairly extensive checks on this truck, starting with vacuum leaks. Broken ecm is still under consideration. I admit I haven't done anything at all about the vacuum leak. The hard lines (very thin plastic lines - variable colors) still look good as well as their rubber grommets but visual only.

Steve83, do you have some info about vacuum lines on this truck, how to check, and about pcv hoses (how to check this, where it goes)? I am learning about vacuum leak checks with water, carb cleaner, smoke machine. I'm hesitant about carb cleaner, being told to have a fire extinguisher ready.

 

Are you running 2 threads about this same issue? That's confusing & pointless.

PUT THE SCANNER AWAY. Don't spray flammable noxious chemicals onto a running engine.

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