What its like owning a lemon sc400

"sony1492" (sony1492) 07/25/2016 at 21:30 • Filed to: SCfoursosa

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Honestly I wrote this for technical help on a forum but If your bored, continue.

Ive got a 1992 sc400 with a cd009.

The limp mode saga:

I bought it and it ran fine for about 1 month maybe 2 then began the limp mode issues(after 20 miles of driving the motor would cut out until it reached idle than would allow power modulation until 2500 rpm was exceeded at which point it cuts power again and the cycle repeats. The quick fix was to turn the car off and on at which point you got another 20 miles of limp free driving. This issue is accelerated by heat.) I swapped the ecu with one from my parts car and this worked fine for roughly one month, so I bought another off ebay, this one had limp mode issues right off the bat but I lived with it for a few months and eventually sent it in to be rebuilt. When I got it back the issue persisted.

The plot thickens;

Im driving along and the car does it so I turn it off, when I turn the key I get nothing, no fuel pump, no cluster lights, no chiming, no start. (There was a dull relay click that sounded like it was behind the motor or deep in the dash but Im not sure its relevent) Soon I notice the 150A fuse is blown, Ive got no money for a $250 tow so I push the two tabs togeather, chiming happens, cluster lights work, fuel pump works. I start the car and soon after doing so, the cluster lights turn off again and basically everything besides the motor stops working. I have a drive ahead of me that should put the car into limp mode at least twice, no limp mode happens. I put a 150A fuse in from my parts car and drive it a few times. On my third time driving it, it goes into limp mode after roughly 7 miles(far too soon) I turn it off and when I go to turn it on, nothing. Pop the hood and the 150A fuse that I installed the day before is blown. And that is the state of the car as of today, Ive got no clue how to solve this problem but all the variables are stated above. Also this is my only running car and its supposed to be getting me to and from college (120 miles a day 5 days a week) in one month.

CRider > sony1492 07/25/2016 at 21:39

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OPPOsaurus WRX > sony1492 07/25/2016 at 21:46

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Did you google cd009

Milky > sony1492 07/25/2016 at 21:46

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First off, DAT HOOD SPOILER.

Second, I once lost a drag race to a PT Cruiser when my SC400 was only running on 4 cylinders. It was so embarrassing, but luckily not hard to fix (coil pack, plugs and wires).

Third, if the issue is accelerated by heat, have you checked heat related engine sensors? Clearly it thinks it should be going into limp mode.

sony1492 > CRider 07/25/2016 at 21:50

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Yes I write like shit Im aware.

sony1492 > Milky 07/25/2016 at 21:53

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But the last section decouples the motor from the problem due to it running correctly while almost everything not run by the ecu was off.

What you said makes total since. This is why its so confusing

sony1492 > OPPOsaurus WRX 07/25/2016 at 21:53

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Didnt have to.

CRider > sony1492 07/25/2016 at 21:54

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Übel > Milky 07/25/2016 at 22:04

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The hood spoiler’s a real thing, too. Apparently it was a TRD offering or something like that.

Milky > Übel 07/25/2016 at 22:15

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Oh I’m well aware, I love posting it too whenever relevant.

It's a "Porch-uh" > sony1492 07/25/2016 at 23:13

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Which tech forum did you post on?

I ask because I’m in the middle of discussing branding with one right now so just curious if you’re a potential user I’m going after.

sony1492 > It's a "Porch-uh" 07/25/2016 at 23:39

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I guess,”tech” forum is incorrect. Its more of technical section of forum.

Club Lexus

E92M3 > sony1492 07/26/2016 at 00:17

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You’ve got a short somewhere. You’ll have to look at all the wiring and see if you can find it. Start at the ECU, and follow each harness till it ends at it’s different branches looking for compromised insulation.

And please don’t ever jumper a fuse block like that again. If it blew, there was a reason. You could easily cause more than $250 in damages by jumpering it.

sony1492 > E92M3 07/26/2016 at 00:32

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Im going to put this motor and transmission into my parts car at which point I know all the wiring is working for a fact.

If you dont have money on hand to pay for the tow you cant get a tow. At this point anything can happen to this car, just as long as the transmission and driveshaft arnt damaged I wont too concerned.

E92M3 > sony1492 07/26/2016 at 10:41

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Ok, but depending where you live you could Uber to the parts store and back. Most insurance policies today include roadside assistance and limited towing. Mine covers the first 10 miles for free. I’ve taken advantage of that twice already.