Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) caTCHER ecm (Marco's aka MAD)

[Marco]

Yup, got it, it's the next one I'll do.



It's going to be another looooong nite. :--)



Marco

 

[Marco]

24V-DSL,



was doing you're while you posted. Relax, everything OK.



Marco

 

[amillstream]

Marco,



PMed you with the ecm number.

 

[RCone]

Marco, you done good! I, for one, appreciate it. And... ..... I don't even have my CaTCHER back yet. But you lay it all on the line, tell people more than they need to know and you have my utmost respect. I sincerely believe you are a person of your word and we/you just ran into a few bumps along the road. NO PROBLEM!



Footnote to Gary: I live at the end of the Oregon Trail. When the pioneers (and yes, I used that word before which you don't seem to comprehend) started out from Independence, Missouri on the Oregon Trail, there was not a 6 lane freeway. They blazed the path to make it easier for others to follow. I think that what this is all about. Perhaps by efforts of Marco and others, yours and others road may be easier to follow. Where are you from, the "show me" state? Anyhow, I have said my piece.



Marco... ... .....



Have a great Holiday!!!!!!!!!!!!! School will keep and we/I will catch up with you later.



Regards,



Roger

 

[PRyker]

Marco,



I have not even received my ECM yet and also would like to express my appreciation for being such a stand up guy. If you continue to provide this type of customer service to people when they have problems two things will happen:



1. You will sell a lot of product because people love a product that works and is backed by a strong commitment



and



2. You will work yourself to death...



Have a good vacation!!



Thanks



Phil

 

[RCone]

I honestly don't think, (and I believe you are referring to me) that I launched a "personal attack. " If u r referriing to me, then what did I say wrong? I speaketh the truth, and if the truth hurts, so be it. I am merely trying to keep this thread on topic wherein I indicated that I was confident of Marco's success. Is that a problem? Naysayers without facts to back them up are second stringers to me!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

MOST of the above posts reveal EXACTLY why it is far better to keep/bring emerging issues out in the open, where they can be discussed and solutions found at the GROUP level, rather than in hushed tones behind the scenes!



We and our suppliers are BETTER than those other groups who actively attempt to silence and squelch any criticism or seemingly negative issues - NO ONE HERE in any way suggests Marco is less than capable and honest - but pretty much any new product will have teeth-cutting issues - far better to find and correct them early on, rather than potentially receive a "GOTCHA" due to lack of knowledge or information flow...



Way to go guys, the road is getting smoother already!

 

[RCone]

Nuff said, moderate away.

 

[darkhorse]

Dan, if your stock clutch is any thing like mine, you definatly will need to exercise restraint with your right foot. When I tried mine , even with the incompatible software, it would easily over power the cluch & start to slip. It was also no problem to control the slip by backing off a little. The same with the smoke. It will take a little time to develop the "touch" but acceleration just below the smoke level appears very brisk indeed. I can hardly wait to try mine after Marco has smoothed it all outwith the proper software.



I'd also like to say that I'm very satisfied with how problems are being addressed. I'm happy to have been able to take part in the process.



Richard

 

[4 wheelssmoking]

good post - goog replies

To every one concerened, I think this has to be one of the best therads I have read. Athough I have a 3Rd gen. , I hope that when Marco gets the chance to work with the 3RD gen. software that the same intrest will be present. Kudos to Marco and any one else responsible for the CATCHER. Oo.

 

[Marco]

Heads up!

First of all, thanks for your kind words!

I really appreciate!!!



I have to bring another potential problem to your attention.

Yeah, I know sooner or later you'll gonna hate me and my problems...



It's the ECM's.

Last batch one of Doug's ECM's was Death On Arrival; DOA.



I've tried to fix it to no avail... He got burned!



This batch. THREE bad ECM's !!! I've been able to fix two of them but I'm still trying on the third.



There is a simple way to test them. It's the wait to start light.

The ECM runs a self test when the wait to start light is on.

I've build a simple "tester" so I can test the ECM's on the bench.



I test ALL ECM's when they arrive before I work on them, and then 5 more times during the process.



Obviously, the average customer can not build a tester on it's own...





How to test an ECM. Simple with your truck...

Disconnect the plug from your original ECM ( leave it in place no need to take it out) and plug in the ECM you're going to buy.



Now turn the ignition on ( Don't start the engine ) and check what the Wait To Start Engine light is doing. It HAS to work like it normally does. That means, in warm weather it has to come on for 2-3 seconds and then turn off. In colder climates it will also cycle the grid heathers and then turn off.



Very short cycling of the light, longer than normal, always on, never on, on after some time or worse flashing light are all clear signs of an ECM with hardware problems. If you're faced with such an situation please contact me so we can discuss if the purchase is worth it or not.



SO PLEASE BEFORE YOU LAY DOWN CASH FOR A USED ECM TEST IT!!!



First thing when I'll be back from the vacation I'll build a few of those "testers" for Doug, Bob... .



Having found those DOA ECM's here, faces me with an situation I don't like. Why is the ECM bad? Was it Marco that burned it while working on it? Who's responsible for the BAD ECM??????

To try to repair an ECM I have to open it anyway... .



If YOU check the ECM's before shipping, well everything is CLEAR and everybody knows why a problem does exist.



Thanks again for your PATIENCE and attention.



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

Oh Oh Marco, My wait to start light wasn't working when I tried mine. Sounds like I may have one of the duds there. If that's the case let me know as soon as you can. I bought it theough E-Bay & I'll want to give the seller that feedback.

 

[Marco]

Darkhorse,



Youre ECM is fine. If it wasn't, it would NOT have left my shop without telling you about the problem.

I check each and every ECM six times before it leaves sunny Italy!



I've send an PM to the owner of the third ECM in this batch.

I've tried to fix it, no go... . :{ :{ :{



Marco

 

[PRyker]

Ummm...



I betcha my ECM was one of them that were bad. I got it off eBay and it did some seem "right" if that makes any sense at all. Marco, PM me if it is mine.



Thanks



Phil

 

[Marco]

Yup yours was one of them. It had a VERY SHORT wait to start light. I've swapped the RAM et voilà now the Wait to Start Light works perfectly. It's a major PITA to fix them ECM's...



Went home by 2 am this night... I started yesterday morning 7 Am.....



Test it and see how it runs now. There's also a sticker on the rear of the ECM saying that it was DOA.



Marco

 

[darkhorse]

Thanks Marco. It's a relief to hear that. You are really earning your vacation time this year.

 

[PRyker]

Marco,



The RAM et voila? What the heck is that? Are you saying you fixed it?? WOW, all I can say is WOW... . If it was bad and you fixed it I really do owe you a lot!! Most people would just send it back saying it was DOA... did you fix it? WHat was wrong?



Thanks



Phil

 

[PRyker]

Ohhh... .



I read the post again... I think you mean you replaced the RAM (Random Access Memeory) and Voila! It now works! Is that correct? Tell me a bit more... Is the Ram where the software image is stored? Is it similar to BIOS on a motherboard of a computer? Did you have to re-solder the RAM IC or is it in a chip holder? I was an electronics tech for 7 years and this stuff fascinates me... still!



Thanks



Phil

 

[Marco]

In short, yes RAM = Random Access Memory, yes SW image stored there, nope not like bios, SW to RAM- Cpu reads RAM not flash prom, no it's soldered, no you owe me a ****. customer service... ( for now)



I'm in a hurry, have to get several boxes to the UPS office now.

That's if you want your ECM's back!?!



Later,

Marco

 

[darkhorse]

Hot Dog!!Oo. I just got my tracking # from Marco. UPS Express may have it here Monday afternoon. Re installation will be quick since I now have all this experience changing ECM's. I'll be posting right back here as soon as I have new info to share.