Corrosion in DME

fiminod · 09-09-2004, 07:22 AM

78 SC with 3.2 carrera (1985). Vehicle cranks no start. Diagnostics show corrosion in control unit. any other options other than replacement?

RickM · RickM's Garage

What kind of diagnotics show corrosion?

And where in the DME?

Joeaksa · 09-09-2004, 07:58 AM

Find a "spare" DME computer to swap out and confirm.

If it runs fine then pop the cover off of the DME and see where and what it is and go from there. Look in the back of most Pano mags and there were one or two companies who overhaul them.

JoeA

fiminod · 09-09-2004, 08:17 AM

The corrosion is on the lower left corner by the terminals and on the board itself. It's about the size of a quarter. DME removed and attached to another carrera and that vehicle would not fire. All relays, fuses, speed sensors spark etc. checked.

Joeaksa · 09-09-2004, 08:29 AM

Good troubleshooting, now find a spare and plug it into your car. Might inspect the DME main harness plug and insure that there is no corrosion or damage that could effect the "new" DME unit and give it a try.

You can open the DME up. Its held together by four or six metal tabs that need to carefully be bent up then the cover opens. Worth looking inside and checking if its worth overhauling.

Then fix the source of water. If its a Targa its time for new seals but if its a Coupe then time to find out where the water got in and fix it.

JoeA

fiminod · 09-09-2004, 10:06 AM

Finding a apare is the challenge...most people don't want to offer their "brain" in the event it gets fried. 20 years can lend itself to more than a few "moist" moments.

TC_SJ · 09-09-2004, 11:05 AM

My car can not start and the shop found out DME is bad, I paid them for diag cost, and took the DME back home, touched-up and refresh most solder joins, car have been running fine for many months

You may give it a try

Good Luck