Odd 850 no start issue

[BatStig]

What are the last 3 digits on the ECU you're flashing?

That is a great question and unfortunately one I do not have the answer to. When Vast modifies the ECU's (bootloader switch and nipple) all of the identification stickers are removed.

[Chuck W]

Hrmmm.

Well, what you really need, just to make sure that there are no non-ECU issues is a stock 98MY M4.4ECU. It will plug in and the car will run (*should*) OK, but the AC won't work. (We tested a '98V70R ECU in the wife's car for a bit, but it was WAAAAYY too aggressive).

One from a '98 LPT car would be best, but any would start the car up and run it.

The '97 GLT is M4.4, but it's a special case, due to the ECC interface. The ECUs are different internally. I also found that I was not able to get one of the -936 (stock 97 GLT) ECUs to run with a flashed .bin on them. Flashing a -936 .bin to a 98 M4.4 ECU didn't work either.

The stock '98 ECU would allow you to verify if there is indeed an issue outside of the ECU itself.

[BatStig]

Hrmmm.

Well, what you really need, just to make sure that there are no non-ECU issues is a stock 98MY M4.4ECU. It will plug in and the car will run (*should*) OK, but the AC won't work. (We tested a '98V70R ECU in the wife's car for a bit, but it was WAAAAYY too aggressive).

One from a '98 LPT car would be best, but any would start the car up and run it.

The '97 GLT is M4.4, but it's a special case, due to the ECC interface. The ECUs are different internally. I also found that I was not able to get one of the -936 (stock 97 GLT) ECUs to run with a flashed .bin on them. Flashing a -936 .bin to a 98 M4.4 ECU didn't work either.

The stock '98 ECU would allow you to verify if there is indeed an issue outside of the ECU itself.

Okay. I think I have found a 98 S70 GLT LPT manual ECU in a scrapyard reasonably close to me. My car is an auto, but I don't believe that should matter for this test but please tell me if I'm wrong. I will be going in the morning to pick it up. Thank you for the suggestion.

[SonicAdventure]

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble. Also, sorry that I am going to be that guy that asks...why?

What is the point of all of the reprogramming of the ECUs? If its a more or less stock turbo car, what can you expect out of an aftermarket tune?

IMnotsohumbleO, these cars are finicky enough with the stock set-ups...add 25+ years to all the old electrical components throughout the motor, and it seems a recipe for disaster to introduce home-brew ECU flashes for the net gain of a little more aggressive shifting or revving if that is all this procedure accomplishes in the end.

I'm hoping that you can remedy the issue quickly and get back on the road. At this point, unless you've changed something physically in the car to accommodate your flashed ECUs, I would get to a scrapyard or ebay and buy a correct, stock ECU for your car and just get the thing running again.

[Chuck W]

Okay. I think I have found a 98 S70 GLT LPT manual ECU in a scrapyard reasonably close to me. My car is an auto, but I don't believe that should matter for this test but please tell me if I'm wrong. I will be going in the morning to pick it up. Thank you for the suggestion.

That should be fine for the test. You won't be able to drive it, as there will be no communication for the auto trans. That manual GLT is rare-ish, at least in the US.(You're in Canada, correct?).

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble. Also, sorry that I am going to be that guy that asks...why?

What is the point of all of the reprogramming of the ECUs? If its a more or less stock turbo car, what can you expect out of an aftermarket tune?

IMnotsohumbleO, these cars are finicky enough with the stock set-ups...add 25+ years to all the old electrical components throughout the motor, and it seems a recipe for disaster to introduce home-brew ECU flashes for the net gain of a little more aggressive shifting or revving if that is all this procedure accomplishes in the end.

I'm hoping that you can remedy the issue quickly and get back on the road. At this point, unless you've changed something physically in the car to accommodate your flashed ECUs, I would get to a scrapyard or ebay and buy a correct, stock ECU for your car and just get the thing running again.

The answer is "Because". I like the ability to make adjustments for changes in components, and not have to hunt down hard-to-find "correct" factory parts to make things work. Then again, I'm a person who likes to tinker with stuff. T

[BatStig]

That should be fine for the test. You won't be able to drive it, as there will be no communication for the auto trans. That manual GLT is rare-ish, at least in the US.(You're in Canada, correct?).

There is one from a 1998 V70 XC AWD 2.4 LPT 0 261 204 460 a little further away. I tried Googling putting a AWD ECU in a FWD car, but could not find any useful information.

Yes sir, I am in Canada. Which has shown that scrapyard cars are a bit harder to come by. I see the correct ECU across the border, but then I'm dealing with shipping and duties. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point!

[BatStig]

Sorry to hear that you are having trouble. Also, sorry that I am going to be that guy that asks...why?

What is the point of all of the reprogramming of the ECUs? If its a more or less stock turbo car, what can you expect out of an aftermarket tune?

IMnotsohumbleO, these cars are finicky enough with the stock set-ups...add 25+ years to all the old electrical components throughout the motor, and it seems a recipe for disaster to introduce home-brew ECU flashes for the net gain of a little more aggressive shifting or revving if that is all this procedure accomplishes in the end.

I'm hoping that you can remedy the issue quickly and get back on the road. At this point, unless you've changed something physically in the car to accommodate your flashed ECUs, I would get to a scrapyard or ebay and buy a correct, stock ECU for your car and just get the thing running again.

Thanks for the sympathy. And no worries; it is a valid question. Why? Longevity. The car came with a larger turbo and a 3" exhaust. Those two will mess with the AFR. Add in the garbage gas we have in Ontario and I have a recipe for detonation. I would like to keep this wagon happy and healthy. The alternative to a tune? OE turbo and exhaust? Finding those in good enough condition to put on my car will be difficult to say the least thanks to the insane amounts of salt used every winter around here.

[abscate]

That should be fine for the test. You won't be able to drive it, as there will be no communication for the auto trans. That manual GLT is rare-ish, at least in the US.(You're in Canada, correct?).

There is one from a 1998 V70 XC AWD 2.4 LPT 0 261 204 460 a little further away. I tried Googling putting a AWD ECU in a FWD car, but could not find any useful information.

Yes sir, I am in Canada. Which has shown that scrapyard cars are a bit harder to come by. I see the correct ECU across the border, but then I'm dealing with shipping and duties. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point!

If you ever cross into Buffalo we can solve that shipping nut for you.

[Chuck W]

There is one from a 1998 V70 XC AWD 2.4 LPT 0 261 204 460 a little further away. I tried Googling putting a AWD ECU in a FWD car, but could not find any useful information.

Yes sir, I am in Canada. Which has shown that scrapyard cars are a bit harder to come by. I see the correct ECU across the border, but then I'm dealing with shipping and duties. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point!

You could actually drive the car with that ECU. Timing and loading maps will be different, but it would work enough to start it, etc without any glaring ETCs. It won't like the bigger injectors, so it would run a bit rich, however, but not enough for it not to start and run. Shame the previous owner didn't save the stock ECU.

That V70R ECU we used for a short bit was also an AWD car. We had the 16T and blue injectors in the car, but with the higher compression LPT motor (from an '01 LPT car), it would detonate when you really got into it. It would spin the tires for 100' if you put your foot into it from a roll leaving a stop though. We needed working AC at the time, so I put the stock -936 ECU and red injectors back into the car until we sorted that out. (Which was solved by a special "97 GLT" M4.4 .bin).

I have a -460 ECU here on the bench, but it's being modded for the COP conversion in the wife's car. I don't have any "stock"unflashed M4.4 ECUs sitting around at the moment, or I'd offer to send you one.

[BatStig]

You could actually drive the car with that ECU. Timing and loading maps will be different, but it would work enough to start it, etc without any glaring ETCs. It won't like the bigger injectors, so it would run a bit rich, however, but not enough for it not to start and run. Shame the previous owner didn't save the stock ECU.

That V70R ECU we used for a short bit was also an AWD car. We had the 16T and blue injectors in the car, but with the higher compression LPT motor (from an '01 LPT car), it would detonate when you really got into it. It would spin the tires for 100' if you put your foot into it from a roll leaving a stop though. We needed working AC at the time, so I put the stock -936 ECU and red injectors back into the car until we sorted that out. (Which was solved by a special "97 GLT" M4.4 .bin).

I have a -460 ECU here on the bench, but it's being modded for the COP conversion in the wife's car. I don't have any "stock"unflashed M4.4 ECUs sitting around at the moment, or I'd offer to send you one.

That's perfect! 460 it is then. That will at least get me to the point where I can figure out if there's anything else going on with this car. Thank you very much for the quick response this morning!