1990 Ramcharger no more smoke left in the ECM

Ridgerunner

Ridgerunner

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Fuquay Varina, NC
Last night we decided to go look at Christmas lights. MY RC had a different Idea. It decided to let all of the magic smoke out of the ECM and leave me and the family on the side of the road waiting for AAA.

So today I pulled the ECM out and looked at it and one of the capacitors had blown up.

Does anyone know what might have caused this? it had been stumbling off the line for a while. I am wondering if it just failed or somthing else caused the failer.

Also does any one have a ECM for a 1990 RC or truck 4x4 at 5.9ltr?
 
Time is typically the cause of electrolytic capacitor death. When I worked in industrial electronics, any unit that came in over five years old got recapped first thing. That actually repaired about 50% of the units that came in. They have a limited lifespan. They can look good and be bad, they can leak out like yours did, or they can fail catastrophically and blow up, sounding and looking like a .410 full of confetti. Your ECM may be repairable. I may have some caps on hand to rebuild it, or my buddy in Jamestown may. If not, I need to order some for a motor drive for a CNC mill next week. I can't guarantee it will fix your problem, but it sounds like the likely issue, considering the stumbling problems it was experiencing beforehand.
 
some pics
I think the cap Shorted out and took the trace with it
ai180.photobucket.com_albums_x231_Ridgerunnerras_DSCF0075.jpg



ai180.photobucket.com_albums_x231_Ridgerunnerras_DSCF0076.jpg
 
Rock Auto has 'em, some require a core, some are ship in and they'll repair yours ( probably not)

seeing that, I'd likely want to have a spare as well.

something tells me you'll run into the same deal with most parts stores as well.
 
Carl, talked to a co-worker who's into Ramchargers.

Said there is a predominantly Dodge salvage yard over near Elm City ( Wilson county) can't remember the name at this time.

Also asked me if the cooling duct from the Air Cleaner to the ECM was in place ( ? ) told him I wasn't privy to the specifics.

Says this cooling duct is essential to the life of the ECM, and after I described the failure of your, was told that is a common failure.
 
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