What is this Module thing?

[izzy_Britton]

As some of you may know i have been having issues with my carb and I THINK the computer that runs my carb and spark and all that jazz.

So today while it is 110F outside i decided it would be the perfect day to crawl up under my dash and investigate my issues a little further. while removing parts to get to my brake switches i found this little domaflogie.



Any Idea what it is? it appears to be aftermarket as it is inline of the wires coming out of my steering column. you can see by this next photo that it is easily bypassed with what appears to be the factory wiring.




I thought that it might be something to do with ignition or starting of the truck or some sort of anti theft thing. however looking at it, it doesnt appear to do a damn thing. If i disconnect it, the truck starts and seems to run fine (in my drive way) and if i bypass it completely it also starts and runs fine.

also you may notice that someone hacked up the wiring for something else here but i have not gotten that far yet to see where they go.

any clues?

86 c-10 305/700r4 (i assumed 96% factory stock but the more i dig the more i find oddities)

Izzy

[duramaxing]

delay wipers module

[y5mgisi]

x2

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by duramaxing

delay wipers module

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I went out to test this and your right the wipers work but the delay doesnt.

for an added level of head scratching... I plugged the module back in and now the wipers dont work at all. hmmm.

-Izzy

[INSIDIOUS '86]

The esc computer can be bypassed and if yours is stock the quadrapuke may be acting up like a stubborn two year old.
Posted via Mobile Device

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

The esc computer can be bypassed and if yours is stock the quadrapuke may be acting up like a stubborn two year old.
Posted via Mobile Device

Forgive my ignorance, but can you please explain what you mean? mine is stock and the carb is acting up. but are you saying that i can bypass the computer and it will run better or worse?

I picked up a spare used ecm? from the local wrecking yard ( computer behind glove box) and swapped it for my original ecm and it runs exactly the same. suggestions?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

All it does is detect knock and detonation. And will retard timing if that happens. But basically timing stock on these trucks is real low at 4-6* btdc while most stockish engines run 10-12*btdc. It's good for emissions but that's it. Advancing will get you more power throughout and better mileage. Bypassing the computer will just makesure there's on less thing to fail and leave you on the side of the road. If you reaced it its possible that it may already be bypassed
Posted via Mobile Device

[INSIDIOUS '86]

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/escrepl.htm

Some reading about the esc controller
Posted via Mobile Device

[cedens]

Some time i'll take a pic of what i have made up to bypass the ESC controller if there is and issue with it, basically its a jumper wire with bullet connections on each end that plug in and jump across to bypass if needed.

Something dad came up with some time ago when having problems with the ESC which he didn't want to upgrade or do away with.

[beamn7]

If you have CA emissions, the system does not just monitor spark knock. The computer monitors the oxygen sensor and Throttle Position sensor and pulsates the mixture control solenoid dwell in the carb accordingly as well as operates the two stage accelerator pump (85+86 model year) along with the electronic spark control system (built into the ECM rather than having a seperate ESC module like on Federal emissions vehicles). (Oddly enough, 85-86 CA emission vehicles with this set up have NO knock sensor - go figure) So..........CA emissions equals you can not bypass it. The only way to do it would be to remove the ESC distributor and install a standard HEI distributor and non-ecm controlled Quadrajet. (Wouldn't be legal to pass smog in CA though.....)
Now..........these are actually a nice set up if you know what you are doing, dial them in and they allow for alot of adjustment. You can monitor your air fuel ratio with a dwell meter and adjust the rich stop and idle air bleed valve along with idle mixture screws on the carb while the vehicle is in closed loop and get her to run pretty darn good. Mine passes smog better than my old 96 2500 MPI 350 did...
The ECM is mounted above the heater core housing behind the glove box. Alluminium box approx 12" x 5" with 2 plugs....

Hope this helps.

[beamn7]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/escrepl.htm

Some reading about the esc controller
Posted via Mobile Device

I've seen this before and it does not pertain to CA emission equipped vehicles and could be confusing to someone with CA emissions. Good info for fed engines though.
LE9 mentioned in the article is a fed motor. LF3 was the CA engine in 85 which is what my 85 had originally. Two different set ups. 3 electrical plugs on the carb = CA emissions. See my previous post....

[izzy_Britton]

This is all great information. I dont know why i was not notified of the recent updates to this thread.

[izzy_Britton]

Loads great info but prompts loads of questions. well maybe not loads but a few.

for starters, can i ditch all of the extra crap that makes up the difference between CA and FED? making it a fed truck and thus making it possible to just bypass the ESC for now?


I have decided to go all in with a standard HEI distributor Eddy Performer Intake manifold and a summit holley clone or a holley. However i am a broke bloke and need a band-aid to get me thru until i can get the 5.3 Installed late next summer or next winter, Until then I cannot afford to buy all these parts at once.

Until such time that i can buy the intake and carb can i just bypass the ESC until then without damage to the motor? I dont really care if the carb might melt on me 6 weeks from now i just need depandability for a while to get me to work and back without the fear of leaving me on the side of the road...
know what i mean?

-Izzy

Originally Posted by beamn7

If you have CA emissions, the system does not just monitor spark knock. The computer monitors the oxygen sensor and Throttle Position sensor and pulsates the mixture control solenoid dwell in the carb accordingly as well as operates the two stage accelerator pump (85+86 model year) along with the electronic spark control system (built into the ECM rather than having a seperate ESC module like on Federal emissions vehicles). (Oddly enough, 85-86 CA emission vehicles with this set up have NO knock sensor - go figure) So..........CA emissions equals you can not bypass it. The only way to do it would be to remove the ESC distributor and install a standard HEI distributor and non-ecm controlled Quadrajet. (Wouldn't be legal to pass smog in CA though.....)
Now..........these are actually a nice set up if you know what you are doing, dial them in and they allow for alot of adjustment. You can monitor your air fuel ratio with a dwell meter and adjust the rich stop and idle air bleed valve along with idle mixture screws on the carb while the vehicle is in closed loop and get her to run pretty darn good. Mine passes smog better than my old 96 2500 MPI 350 did...
The ECM is mounted above the heater core housing behind the glove box. Alluminium box approx 12" x 5" with 2 plugs....

Hope this helps.

[hatzie]

If you need to pass smog and you made it a federal truck it will fail regardless of the tailpipe emissions.

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by hatzie

If you need to pass smog and you made it a federal truck it will fail regardless of the tailpipe emissions.

Good point. i probably should have mentioned that i am smog exempt where i live, even tho it is California... only gotta smog it when i sell it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[68longhorn]

You can find the 4 wire connector behind the dizzy and jump 2 of the wires together or just install a older style dizzy. Mine went bad and truck had no balls. lol

[izzy_Britton]

Originally Posted by 68longhorn

You can find the 4 wire connector behind the dizzy and jump 2 of the wires together or just install a older style dizzy. Mine went bad and truck had no balls. lol

My understanding is that you cannot do as you described if the computer controlled carburetor is still installed? because as mentioned above all the knock sensors and other weird stuff installed.

Have i misunderstood this?

[68longhorn]

Mine still has original carb and dizzy and I have had no bad effects from this. I was told the module uses the knock sensor to pull timing. I was told by a old GM mechanic that they did that all the time, the pinpoint test I found on alldata even has you jump those 2 wires together and see if drivabillity improves.

[68longhorn]

You jump pins A & C together. It bypasses the Electronic Spark Control.

I haven't found the wire color yet, but I found this, if need be I can go look later today tho.