Top 4 Causes Of A Failing ECM

You wouldn't drive a car without an electrical system. After all, no one would want to navigate through traffic without power steering, GPS, or the cooling of an AC. But most importantly, you wouldn't want your car to lack the advantages that come with an ECM.

The ECM is short for the engine control module. This part acts as the brains of the modern engine, with a computer that controls various functions related to performance and driving. The ECM is responsible for your fuel supply and injection systems, emission control, and ignition control. In other words, it's related to most parts of the engine, so when it starts to fail, the car starts giving you problems too.

But why would a control module fail? Here are a few reasons:

Dead Battery:

Car batteries are composed of electronic cells that keep working to allow the ECM to function. If any of the car's battery cells go dead, the whole ECM might fail not long after. After all the cells have died, the battery is said to be finished, leaving your vehicle inoperable.

If the battery is dead, you won't be able to start your car or engine, so it's better to have the latter examined regularly and prevent this from happening.

Corrosion:

The ECM is sealed to prevent water and moisture from getting inside it, but after a few years of use, these seals may get worn down and allow moisture seepage. Once the ECM gets wet, its parts will rust. This corrosion needs to be cleared away as soon as possible to prevent total malfunction.  

Low Voltage:

The average ECM has at least 9 volts, preferably 12. If wires are running into the ECM's harness, you can use those to check the voltage your ECM is getting. Alternatively, use a voltmeter gauge to detect the amount of voltage in the ECM. Anything less than 7 is generally risky and may be behind ECM failure.

Poor Jump Starting:

A jump start is typically done to revive a weak or dead battery, but you should ensure the jumper cables are attached correctly while performing one. Without properly connecting them, you may risk shorting the ECM entirely since it will spike rapidly. As a result, you may have to get the ECM replaced or repaired, costing you hundreds of dollars.

Need help with your ECM? CAT ECM provides ECM repair and replacement services for Caterpillar machines. The firm delivers all over the United States, and their engine parts include a 1-year warranty.

Visit their website to learn more about their ECM repair services or get in touch to book them now.

 

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