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Thread: A9l ecu

  1. #1

    Default A9l ecu

    Hello,
    I've got an 86' GT that's been changed over to MAF with an A9L ECU. Car is in the shop right now and they suspect the ECU is bad. My question is could it be bad? I mean I put about 800 miles on the car and it's only recently become an issue. Another question is where can I even find a replacement if it is bad? I hear that they've stopped selling the re-manufactured stuff. Nothing erks me more than a "professional" that doesn't listen to what you say to them. I told this guy exactly what I'd done to try and root out the troubles and asked if he had a break out box. He assured me that he did. I showed up at his shop today and he's got the car plugged in to a diagnostic box. I told the guy he couldn't read codes on the car.. I couldn't either. So now I'm about three hundred bucks in and he's only duplicated exactly what I did before I took him the vehicle. Razza frazzan....

  2. #2
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    Tbe capacitors are what usually go bad .
    You can buy new caps, and solder in the new ones if you an use a soldering iron .
    Last edited by ashley roachclip; 06-07-2017 at 06:45 PM.
    clowns to the left of me , Jokers to the right

  3. #3
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Dj40Dkszo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sDbd9NVDNY
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O7FUoQzTB4


    http://support.moates.net/capacitor-...-ford-a9l-ecm/

    Quote Originally Posted by rob342 View Post
    i fixed mine (1992 A9L).
    you need these 3.
    it's (2) 47uF
    and (1) 10uF

    nichicon and rubycon are the best, but i didn't want to wait. i found these at the local nerd-supply store(Fry's).

    they're pretty easy to change on this. hardest part when i did it the first time was getting the holes solder free using the stupid solder sucker. that was on a motherboard i fixed. now i just heat up the solder and blow spitball style through a gutted out pen. works amazing.

    for $3-4, it's well worth the effort.
    I'm a roading engineer, and Troxler in the USA does the same thing when its older Nuclear Density Meters come in for service....just standard, good old Silcon Valley service....

  4. #4
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    Reman A9L from Cardone at Autozone and Amazon...

    http://www.autozone.com/engine-manag...11297_246100_0

    https://www.amazon.com/Cardone-78-43...ct_top?ie=UTF8


    You can try these guys too as their price is WAY right but I would call/order from them on the phone to verify pricing.

    http://www.oehq.com/oeparts_a1c78-4352.htm
    '85 GT

  5. #5
    FEP Senior Member danco86's Avatar
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    You can generally tell if it's your capacitors by looking at them closely on the board. If there is corrosion on the prongs coming out of them, then it means they've leaked and are no good. But I thought you already changed the ecu a few threads back, no?
    A9L's can be found in the classified sections on this forum, or corral.net, or eBay for starters. Don't expect to find one for under $120 though. So you better make sure yours is actually bad.
    Did you ever look for the possible bad/missing ground on you ecu?
    How is your MAF wired up? What MAF sensor are you using? It's a shame your tuner was quite clearly a dud loser who should have never put a tune on your car without making sure everything else was sound first.
    from what I recall, and someone may correct me here, but when pulling codes using KOER or KOEO, is the ECU will check itself first and display a code if it is bad. If you are getting nothing, I would suspect a crappy ground.
    We can show you where that ground terminates if you don't know.

    Here is a really good link on how to do these tests:

    http://sbftech.com/index.php/topic,2471.0.html

    Here is a list of what the codes mean:

    http://sbftech.com/index.php?PHPSESS...pic,849.0.html

    As you can see, the very first code 1-1 is self diagnostic pass.

    It is amazing how much you can do with a paperclip jumper and test light.
    Now I know you said you can't get codes from your reader. Which brings me back to grounds again. If you want to jump ahead and dump another $100+ on another ecu, well, maybe you'll luck out and that'll be it. I hope if you do, it is. The worst thing you can do to make an already frustrating situation worse, is by playing dartboard diagnostics by throwing new parts at the problem. All I'm saying is when I had all my driveabilty issues, the only part I replaced unnecessarily was my pip, and that was because I didn't have a proper tester to check it. The technology of our cars is so old now, it is virtually impossible to find everyday mechanics who know how to work on these cars. You have to find someone who deals with them specifically, or take the time to try to figure it out yourself. Sorry for ranting, but just my $0.02
    Last edited by danco86; 06-08-2017 at 03:05 AM.
    Dan

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    1986 Mustang GT Cobra
    Lotsa stuff, lotsa work. Check my thread above.

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  6. #6

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    Thanks fellas. I'm going to pick the car up tonight after work. The mechanic hasn't called once in two days now and that can't bode wel. I'd hate to spend a pile of money in hours and not have them find anything. Frustrating

  7. #7
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    With the mention of A9Ls being in short supply I may have to just go buy one for my stash of parts.

  8. #8

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    Just spoke with the mechanic. He put a new computer in it and it did the same thing. He didn't charge me anything since he couldn't find the issue. He got me in to see his "mentor" on Monday. This fellow can scope it thoroughly I'm told. Good news is my ECU is not bad!

  9. #9
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    What's the parts combo and what is it doing?

  10. #10

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    Hehe, you and I have had this conversation. It's an 86' GT and I've put it together but I've been hounded with trouble.

  11. #11
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Note to Self

    Quote Originally Posted by Oberu View Post
    Hehe, you and I have had this conversation. It's an 86' GT and I've put it together but I've been hounded with trouble.
    Ourobos and Oberu aint the same person....I kept trying to work out why Oberu wasn't in Hawaii any more....


    Goes back to pinouts:

    One of the references I gave you was wrong back in "Looking for a good mechanic" post #4 05-15-2017, 05:30 PM

    "http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?19748-Mass-air-conversion-questions"


    Not "http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthread.php?126752-Mass-air-conversion"

    In http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...sion-questions

    It covers the kind of MAF conversion. There are a bucket list of basic things to check, depending on how its done.

    And this

    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...SOLVED!!/page2

    Its a three pager, it covers the IAC diode issue...replacements are diode equiped, and yours may have a standard diode as well. The stock diode needs to be removed if the IAC is the newer type, which all IAC's are.

  12. #12

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    Thank you! The mechanic put a break out box on the car and everything was looks good. Oddly he couldn't discover why he couldn't pull codes either. It was a bit relieving to know I'm not a stooge. Sending it to a fellow to put a scope on it and try to chase this persistent gremlin away!

  13. #13

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    I've taken the car to another mechanic. The ECU is getting hot (104 F) and failing. The first mechanic said he'd replaced the computer and nothing changed but it appears he must not have. So does anyone know where I can get a refurbished A9L?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oberu View Post
    I've taken the car to another mechanic. The ECU is getting hot (104 F) and failing. The first mechanic said he'd replaced the computer and nothing changed but it appears he must not have. So does anyone know where I can get a refurbished A9L?
    Reman A9L from Cardone at Autozone and Amazon...

    http://www.autozone.com/engine-manag...11297_246100_0

    https://www.amazon.com/Cardone-78-43...ct_top?ie=UTF8


    You can try these guys too as their price is WAY right but I would call/order from them on the phone to verify pricing.

    http://www.oehq.com/oeparts_a1c78-4352.htm
    '85 GT

  15. #15
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    see below

  16. #16
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Ask for the old A9L ECM back, and check the capcitors at some later stage.


    Buy a new ECM if thats what is at fault.

    You'll have it sorted shortly if those are the issues.

    Good work on this. Its just an electronics thing, the modern age we live in. You gotta be tenacious, and follow through with simple step wise checks, then only replace if the tests show a problem.


    The injector issue is proof positive that the ECM is in failure. There is still the possibility of some other earthing fault, but I agree, new ECM time.

  17. #17
    FEP Super Member erratic50's Avatar
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    Grounding straps are hit and miss with age. Hook on at your existing block ground and run a heavy lead to your core support or k member to avoid a back flow loop between the ECU case ground and internal grounds when the strap is bad. A bad strap can cause a ton of ECU heat.

    Replace the "4 wire to one" ground connection on fender (what a mess) with a lead straight to the battery. I added a second nut to my ground cable and secured a loop there and soldered to the grounds.

    Simple fixes needed on every foxbody anyway. then you can see where you are at on ECU temps.

  18. #18

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    Well I thought we'd found it.. but not yet. I've got another ECU coming in tomorrow to see if it continues. This is as much fun as calling your wife her sister's name at this point. I haven't even broken the engine in yet and the car has officially spent twice as much time in a shop than it has with me at the wheel. Better luck tomorrow I hope.

  19. #19
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oberu View Post
    I'm wondering if any of you have had an issue like this as several mechanics and myself are scratching our heads. So it's an A9L ECU and it's been replaced to see if the issue persists, which it did. When the car reaches operating temps the injectors begin to lose pulse until it eventually kills the engine. The distributor is checking out, the harness checks out on a box, and replacing the ECU didn't change anything so we put the old one back in. The car runs until it doesn't. It's the strangest thing.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Stelmezack
    We have to find out what were doing...this isn't going well.
    F1 EECIV missfiring and unable to log injector pulse width

    Quote Originally Posted by Henry Ford
    Look at all the dummies I got here.....
    Before the Model A luanch, stuck with a bunch of faulty ignition parts....

    An all roads go to Rome grounding matter, I'll bet. Or inductance.

    It ring fenced off, so your guy will find it no doubt.

    Hang in there.


    This is why others build Megasquirts and EMS 'Stinger' Controll ECU's in race cars.EECIV is upset by low voltage matters, but because its upset by them, you can find the problem.


    I've seen Pinout 30 pull ground in EECIV in this video....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LkxGx5WJzA

    Fords smartest guys just did a full case ground check. 42 to 52 minute mark...its an eye popper!

    I've seen a host of "other" problems with those too. EECIV is best.


    Sucess!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RCdRKkt4ds


    They found rouge signals at 5 minutes...they had a plan....

  20. #20

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    Part of the reason why i mentioned pins 20 40 and 60 are grounds in another thread was that you could jump a good ground to one of these pins and possibly bring the computer back to life even with bad capacitors. When they fail, they usually remove the grounding connection. A computer is nothing more then an on and off switch. Interrupt power or ground, and it doesnt work.

    My old 86 has around 350k miles on it, still on the original computer. Fuel pump failed around 318k and the map sensor around 320k. Other then that everything is all original electronics wise. Ive had probably 10 fuel injected cars now with 200+k miles on them an all well over 20 years old when ive owned them. Not one had the computer fail, although i have seen pictures of blown up capacitors before.

    If it were me, id try to de convert the maf wiring temporarily and try to re install the origonal computer just to see if it functions. Think about what has changed since the problem started and work your way back from there.
    2 1986 cougars (both 4 eyed and 5.0)
    1 1987 cougar

  21. #21

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    I have a new'ish ECU coming tomorrow and I'm excited! Wish me luck!

  22. #22
    FEP Super Member xctasy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oberu View Post
    I have a new'ish ECU coming tomorrow and I'm excited! Wish me luck!

    Right back atcha!


    As was said in a song by Beck back in 1993...

    "Im a driver I am a Winner My lucks gonna change I can feel it"



    I believe in making my own fortune and taking the provendence provided to me, not luck per se.

    But we are all dif'rent. Some sacrifice chickens, some burnt offerings.

    I wish all the very best fortune, man. I'll pray too.

    But you know, its all Where the Wire Things Are.....



  23. #23

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    Well it's finally back. I bought an A9L from one of our forum buddies and it's finally right. I can read codes now.. well I could if I had any . The ECU has a few bad capacitors but it functions for now and that's good news.

  24. #24

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