Need new ECM

[MEXEXP]

Well I took the explorer to a shop and it was diagnosed with a bad ECM (it left me stranded on the side of the road) so, I'm trying to find it, the problem is that they don't sell california emissions ECM in Autozone, so any of you know what's the difference in a california ECM and the Federal emissions ECM?

The difference is in the last letters California is -AGA and Federal emissions is -UC, -YB.

If I put a non-california ECM will my car run or run poorly?.

Please help, right know I don't have my car.

Thanks...

 

[MrShorty]

www.partsamerica.com (associated with Kragen in Ca) lists California computers. I expect Napa (www.napaonline.com) would be able to get them, too.

 

[MEXEXP]

Thanks but...

Well Napa sells them but at double the price of a non california emissions vehicle, so I'm looking for it at different junkyards, I have found a lot of them from the same year, 5 spd, and non 4x4, but are not california emissions, so will they work in my car, or don't even try it.

Thanks

 

[410Fortune]

It should work with a non CA computer as long as it is the same unit!
You must get one that has the same transmission and all sensors, so if your truck is a 93 it likely has dual 02 sensors and no EGR sensor. You want to make sure computer code is the same minus the CA stuff.....
The CA computer is just de-tuned slightly I believe...

 

[MEXEXP]

410, the difference between all the computers on the 93 are the final 3 letters so if I get a computer from a federal emissions explorer, with the same options as mine, it should work??? hope so because I have found a lot of them and can't seem to find the california emissions one on Junkyards at least.

 

[410Fortune]

Yes it should. I have gone through 4 computers in my truck, not one of them had the same code, but they were all forthe same application.
Some computers are programmed with a more aggressive profile as well, I would expect the CA units to the the "lamest" of the bunch
My friend has a 93 Ex, had a problem very difficult to daignose (usually computer at that point, I have seen 6 of them fail to date, mostly 93-94) I suggested the PCM, he got a new one, truck runs like a dog, the old computer had a more aggressive profile, it is noticable.

 

[MEXEXP]

Thanks

Thanks a lot 410, I found one on a Junkyard here in Mexico for 45 dlls, and I will buy it today and put it in, Thank you very much for your help. Really.

 

[MEXEXP]

Bad Luck with ecm

Well 410fortune, I bought an ecm for the same application as you said, 5 spd, 93, 4x2, put it in, and when it started it started really bad, like it was a pro stock car, the engine shaking really bad, and you gave it gas and it was missfiring, so the mechanic told me that some explorers have a different sparking pattern, and some have secuencial fuel injection and some of them not, is it true or is he giving me some bull?

Hope someone has the answer....thanks

 

[MrShorty]

Learn something new everyday, I guess. I had always assumed all 4.0's were multi-port fuel injection (MPFI). I looked through the wiring diagrams at www.autozone.com and, sure enough, some 4.0's are SEFI. It appears to go like this:
'91 all, '92 all, '93 federal -- MPFI
'93 Ca, '94 all, '95 all -- SEFI
Might verify that with a good repair manual, but it looks like that's what happened.

 

[410Fortune]

Ah yes I have heard that before.
I always verified the computer codes through Ford service and parts.
Meaning remaned PCM's have different numbers based on build date, etc even though they are the same/similar profile.
My first comp that went south was a COW1 and I replaced it with a &^HI (i forget), the point is I verified the new code had all the same pinouts and was for the same truck.

Good luck finding the right PCM, its a PITA I know....luckily in CO there are ALOT of Explorers in Junk yards...