ECM replacement

[DanBronco89]

Hello All, new guy needing some info. My Bronco-1989, 302 auto, abs, loaded Eddie Bauer completely stock. My mechanic buddy check this vehicle over for me when it wouldnt start, then started and stalled and ran rough until it died. He went though it and says my ECM is bad. After checking online with auto parts stores they state they have the replacement. But the cross reference part numbers dont match. Stock no. is E8TF-AGA, theirs end with FA, AJA,AJB, or JA, but they say it is the replacement. Does anyone know if there is a conflict using one of a different Ford part number. Thanks in advance, I've found this site very helpful in the past and had to join.

Dan

 

[Broncobill78]

Your best bet will be to physically bring the bad ECM down there. There's a sticker with a calibration # on it that they should be able to match up. Beyond that you *can* swap different ECM's but I've never seen a list for what swaps with although the Hollander's Interchange Guide may well have something on it (That's a set of manuals I'd dearly love to have but the $$$ is always a bit outside my budget) so it might be worth trying to get someone at a local scrapyard to look it up for you. If you have no other choice then you'd have to go with what they list as a replacement part but just make sure they're willing to exchange it if the truck won't fire with what they give you. I believe the only significant differences are with the fuel & ignition maps that are burned into the PROM's. Last year I swapped out a bad one in my 88' with a junkyard piece I pulled from an 87' and I didn't have any problems but down here in Florida I don't have any emissions testing to worry about and that's where I'd expect differences between boxes to show up.

 

[DanBronco89]

I do have emissions testing in my part of Penn. I did find a site www.fordautocomputers.com that has added some more confusion. With the AGA they have 3 different units. One says -1W/ID, the next -standard system, and the third- FED W/AT. I'd prefer to buy a reman unit as to get the warranty. Is the calibration number the 3 large ones on the end? If so mine is 8QP. It is amazing how many numbers plus a bar code they can put on this small label.

 

[miesk5]

yo

8QP is what you need to give to them

Some info from Westers Garage

How not to find your box code. DO NOT take the numbers printed onto the other side of the box. The numbers we need are on a white sticker on the computer as indicated above.

DO NOT look on the door jam -- it's in the hinge area. The emissions calibration code or any other set of numbers found there will not aid us.

DO NOT copy down the VIN number. We need the number off of the computer.

DO NOT call your Ford Dealer for the numbers -- they will laugh at you. Ten identical vehicles of the same make, model, and year can easily have different computer codes. Your Ford dealer cannot guarantee the correct code for your vehicle.

 

[DanBronco89]

I went and got the exact matching number ecm, installed and she fired right up and running smooth. Thanks for the help and interest.

Dan