Just sharing unfortunate experiences about an ECU

[super-bee_ski]

WELL.... YOUR WAIT IS OVER......metaphorically speaking....perhaps I should have aimed farther up....around the head???
BOB RENTON

Whats up RJ Renton?
Why do you seem to enjoy your disparaging and sarcastic comments aimed at Nacho and now Kiwi?

Gosh man, give it a break please?
Be supportive and helpful as the rest of the forum tries to be.
Nacho is a great and respected member, commenting on an issue...sure, you like Points/Condenser/dwell etc but that is an archaic system, unfortunately some aftermarket stuff has flaws in the ECU etc.
For instance, when MSD started up, they had inexperienced Techs assembling the items, did not understand ESD and Static Discharge and many NEW items in the box were shipped out defective...(Late 70s)
Lets all try to be helpful on this Forum, after all, it is "ours" and our mission is to be supportive and helpful..
Just saying.
PS: Glad you like points and old school...yup, it works.

 

[rumblefish360]

Anyone ever heard of cross fire , due to defective ecu ignition?

I understand that a crossfire is due to plug wires being on top of each other. When one is fired, the other one picks up the energy and fires it’s plug.

The ignition box itself doesn’t have anything to crossfire onto. Short out onto itself is a possible problem. Defective, worn parts within would be the problem.

 

[kiwigtx]

WELL.... YOUR WAIT IS OVER......metaphorically speaking....perhaps I should have aimed farther up....around the head???
BOB RENTON

I guess that's just your opinion.

 

[RJRENTON]

Whats up RJ Renton?
Why do you seem to enjoy your disparaging and sarcastic comments aimed at Nacho and now Kiwi?

Gosh man, give it a break please?
Be supportive and helpful as the rest of the forum tries to be.
Nacho is a great and respected member, commenting on an issue...sure, you like Points/Condenser/dwell etc but that is an archaic system, unfortunately some aftermarket stuff has flaws in the ECU etc.
For instance, when MSD started up, they had inexperienced Techs assembling the items, did not understand ESD and Static Discharge and many NEW items in the box were shipped out defective...(Late 70s)
Lets all try to be helpful on this Forum, after all, it is "ours" and our mission is to be supportive and helpful..
Just saying.
PS: Glad you like points and old school...yup, it works.

FYI....
IF you read between the lines.....I have do not have any issues Kiwi whatsoever; i was simply just answering/responding. With regard to the other person you noted......you and I are diametrically opposed to the logic and purported knowledge he expresses. If you accept the premises, often presented without and fundamental understanding of them, without any calculations or references to industry standards and practices but just to a personal opinion or hearsay....all well and good....I choose to disregard all of them. If you have not investigated my credentials, noted in several locations on the forum, I invite you to do so. Those qualifications and 45+ years in industry, managing a 75 man Maintenance Department in a Chemical plant plus designing and installing capital equipment gives me the background and knowledge to comment.
With regard to the old points vs modern electronic ignition control systems (MSD and similar), I realize that sometimes innitial offerings are not without problems any may require a few iterations and revisions to the design.....been there done that. As electronics evolve, capabilities and accuracy of the systems will improve by several orders of magnitude.....95% if not all, of the new cars do not have distributors but individual coil pack ignition and crank triggered ignition systems with computer conttolled fuel and engine management systems. Personally, I'll keep my old GTX the way it came from the factory, with all its faults.....and embrace the electronics and flawless operation of my 2021 Escalade's multiple systems. BUT...this is just my opinion of course, wether you accept it or not.....it's up to you.....
BOB RENTON

 

[Nacho-RT74]

well, fortunatelly most of us don't need to get or show credentials for anything to help each other as far is posible... but just being human beings. Actions and words show those credentials

 

[Speedbird]

I guess points work 99.9999 percent of the time if you take time to fiddle with them on a regular basis.
I prefer to put something in that allows me to daily drive my car without having to do that.
For 99.9999 percent of my miles so far.
But I'm funny like that.
Post 2.

Stay away from anything that looks like this.
It's a crap shoot.
No, make that junk.
I've had them off the shelf at the auto parts store that would not run a car when old ones with a real transistor there would run the car fine.
Showed the sales staff.

 

[super-bee_ski]

FYI....
IF you read between the lines.....I have do not have any issues Kiwi whatsoever; i was simply just answering/responding. With regard to the other person you noted......you and I are diametrically opposed to the logic and purported knowledge he expresses. If you accept the premises, often presented without and fundamental understanding of them, without any calculations or references to industry standards and practices but just to a personal opinion or hearsay....all well and good....I choose to disregard all of them. If you have not investigated my credentials, noted in several locations on the forum, I invite you to do so. Those qualifications and 45+ years in industry, managing a 75 man Maintenance Department in a Chemical plant plus designing and installing capital equipment gives me the background and knowledge to comment.
With regard to the old points vs modern electronic ignition control systems (MSD and similar), I realize that sometimes innitial offerings are not without problems any may require a few iterations and revisions to the design.....been there done that. As electronics evolve, capabilities and accuracy of the systems will improve by several orders of magnitude.....95% if not all, of the new cars do not have distributors but individual coil pack ignition and crank triggered ignition systems with computer conttolled fuel and engine management systems. Personally, I'll keep my old GTX the way it came from the factory, with all its faults.....and embrace the electronics and flawless operation of my 2021 Escalade's multiple systems. BUT...this is just my opinion of course, wether you accept it or not.....it's up to you.....
BOB RENTON

I do not need to "Read Between the Lines"
Too funny:
"Accepting premises"
"If you have not investigated my credentials"
Ha Ha
What is this?
A Congressional hearing?
RJRenton, your a cool guy..
Keep it simple and sweet!
It's a Forum to HELP other members
Not criticize/ridicule

I have no clue what you did, many of us do not need to know what you did in your 45 year career.
It's ok, some on this forum have lots of electronics Experience...a Real Lot!

Keep it simple
Help or be Helpful
Thats all.
PS: Thank you for your Bio!
Impressive to say the least!

 

[rumblefish360]

I couldn’t give a rats a$$ about anyone’s boasting on what they did and to bolster there stance is just pathetic because it was never needed in this instance AT ALL!

 

[Ranger16]

I'm confused. Are you saying that the failed ECU (post #1)was from Rick or the replacement was from Rick?
The reason I ask is that I am using the one from Rick after an orange box failure because his website says
"THE MOST RELIABLE ECU MONEY CAN BUY!"

Update
The "Most Reliable ECU Money Can Buy" lasted less than 2 years (579 miles). It died yesterday after the first run of the season. Time to find a new spare. It sure as hell won't be from Rick.

 

[Bee1971]

It sure as hell won't be from Rick.

C H I N A

 

[Ranger16]

Maybe I was too quick on the draw.

I emailed Rick (on a Sunday morning), not even expecting a response, but got one. He said he has sold about 2500 to Jegs and never had a return. He asked for some details and then took the time to have me check several things. After the 4th email, he had me check the reluctor gap. I almost blew it off because it ran, although it was always a bit hard starting. Found the reluctor gap to be larger than the .008 spec'd. Readjusted and it started with the orange (spare) box. Reinstalled Ricks and low and behold IT STARTED. I never would have suspected the reluctor gap.

Not only did he help me trouble shoot it, he even offered to "do whatever I thought was fair". So as I wipe the egg off my face, I want to give Rick a big . He's a stand up guy and I'd highly recommend him. You just can't ask for better costumer service than he gave me.

 

[440 4 speed]

Maybe I was too quick on the draw.

I emailed Rick (on a Sunday morning), not even expecting a response, but got one. He said he has sold about 2500 to Jegs and never had a return. He asked for some details and then took the time to have me check several things. After the 4th email, he had me check the reluctor gap. I almost blew it off because it ran, although it was always a bit hard starting. Found the reluctor gap to be larger than the .008 spec'd. Readjusted and it started with the orange (spare) box. Reinstalled Ricks and low and behold IT STARTED. I never would have suspected the reluctor gap.

Not only did he help me trouble shoot it, he even offered to "do whatever I thought was fair". So as I wipe the egg off my face, I want to give Rick a big . He's a stand up guy and I'd highly recommend him. You just can't ask for better costumer service than he gave me.

 

[440 4 speed]

The “booger” has always given good advice. One Saturday morning I was reading an answer of his about 64 Polara four door hdtps not having bucket seats. I emailed him and sent Canadian information showing we had buckets. Much to my surprise, about 2 hours later he replied and thanked me.
I trust his integrity and advice.

 

[threewood]

As old as our cars are and having gone through dozens of hands along the way I don't trust a thing unless I performed the work. I've dealt with cobbled wiring messes that are cringe worthy.

So I am in the opinion that install / user errors are responsible for 98% of electrical issues we face. Points work when done right. Electronic ignition runs right when installed correctly. Old cars = bad/corroded connections. Of course outsourced products are becoming less reliable but check the install first.

I've seen posts trashing Pertronix as junk. I have 2, installed myself, that are still 100% reliable 6 and 8 years. Something I have personal experience with that I will share with anyone. Mopar orange boxes...I don't run one so I won't comment.