Hi everyone,

I have a '95 kick, and my ECU has gone bad.  Apparently it was telling my #4 injector to stay wide open all the time causing my engine to run extremely rich and causing it to stutter.  A brand new one from Suzuki costs.....get this.... $1900 Cdn.  I found one for $175 Cdn and it will be installed hopefully monday.  I was just wondering if ECU's failing is common on tracks & kicks.

Are you sure its your ECU and not just the injector grounding causing it to stay open? To my knowledge ECU's are not a common thing to go bad. Good luck Andrew

Did I mention my CEL came on too?  I've been reading a bit on the net that failing ECU's are often overlooked when there seems to be fuel/ignition troubles.  I brought my truck to Suzuki to have it checked and that's what they had diagnosed.  I also read that ECU failures are not uncommon for sidekicks between the years of 92-94...although mine's a 95.

Did you try pulling codes from the computer? How did you come to the conclusion it was your ecu? Andrew

That's what the tech told me.  I didn't ask what code it gave.  I don't think they're trying to rip me off either, this dealer seems reputable.  I'm not a master mechanic, but I can do simple things like change an alternator, plugs, distributor, header, exhaust, sway bars....basic maintenance, but when it comes to electronics of the car...I know nuthin'.  

Its really simple to get codes out of the ecu. Im' not saying that your garage is trying to rip you off. I just personally like the satisfaction of knowing exactly what is wrong myself.

I'll ask them what code it gave and ask for my old ECU back.....That's what they told me that it's the ECU.  I guess I'll have to believe them.  Cause if I find out that they're ripping me off, then they'll have some serious problems on their hands.

just to be cautious since i paid 600 bucks for new front axel berings and the dude only changed the outers not both sets...(yah i know totaly hosssed) i like to get as much info as possible on what wrong

if they say my berings are toast and need replacing i say fine but i want to see them when u are done.they should have no problem with this..or like my moms car they said a seal went bad(my fault so i paid for it) i told them before i ordered anything i wanted to see the parts for myself..it soaked the drums so they were shot

just make sure that u get the codes from the pearson mabey take a chiltons or haynes manuel with u( do they tell what the codes are?)

its so easy for people to rip customs off it becomes tempting..but not all shops are out to rip u off..the ones that are honest and truthfull will usually have no problem showing u the old parts or explaining what is wrong and how it happened

Believe it or not, my ECU was repaired at the local TV repair shop for $160CDN.

My mom got screwed over by the shop, they told her the water pump on her car was bad, and she needed new wheel bearings charged her 500 bucks for something i could have done for like 150 then come to find out it was the radiator! thats why I do all my work myself....its too bad that people can't be trusted now adays.

Now I'm paranoid that I'm being ripped off.  Maybe it was just my spark plug wires that needed replacing, cause that's what they're doing too along with the ECU.

Sorry to make you paranoid but wouldn't you feel more comfortable knowing for sure? I know I would rather have the 200 bucks in my pocket not in the mechanics.

I don't know for sure, but the EFI system on the
16V probably doesn't fire each injector seperatly,
most likely it has 2 channels, each drives 2 injectors.

That being said, it would not cause only one injector
to stick/stay open, at least get the old computer if
you have already bought a new one, other than that,
a set of wires might have been the problem, and an
Exhaust Gas Analizer could tell you if the injector is
wide open  ........... Mechanics    always screwing up.

I thought it was batch fire, all four at the same time???

Mine on my 90 failed about 2 days after I got the engine rebuilt, back in and together.  Died after the truck went through a car wash so maybe something got shorted but since I put a remanned one from Hawk in I've never had a problem.  Might have just been something like an old electrolytic capacitor crapping out after 10 years in AZ.  They're not very high tech inside, not even an epoxy/glass pcp just the cheap kind and all plain non surface mount components.  Hell if I had the schematic and an o-scope and some baseline readings I could probably fix it myself.

If anyone else has one crap out on ya, check with Hawk Suzuki, they sell remanned ones on an exchange basis for 400 US or so with a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty.  Better than a dealer price and the dealer usually has no warranty on electrical parts anyway.