Quote:
Originally Posted by Crude Rudy
the DME relay is an analog relay not a silicon micro-IC, ESD will not damage it. Maybe an ASIC in the DME itself but I really doubt it. Computer digital components are at risk not auto electronics unless you have an open modern car ECU and are probing carelessly
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Who said anything about the relay?
The first line of his post clearly says he swapped the chip. A chip is in the DME. That is wholly electronic.
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Back to the OP.
The minimum static shock you can feel is in excess of 3000 volts. A shock you can feel could conceivably damage a chip but it is incredibly rare. As a rule professionals working on electronics don't worry much about static but they usually learn habits like resting their arm on the case and don't shuffle your feet.
But... Working on a towel on the drier is a bit of a 'poster child' for a high static work area. Automotive electronics are heavily designed to deal with rogue currents but with the case open it is
possible to damage it but it is still unlikely.
I would (
as mentioned before) check the pins on the wiring harness connector and be sure that it is fully snapped in place. It is possible that opening and moving the boards in the DME made a 'cracked solder joint(s)' issue in the DME to become critical.
If you have someone near that has an 84 thru 89 911 you can try plugging in your DME and see if the problem follows the DME. Otherwise it is going to be harder to chase this down without first getting the DME checked out.