No codes, "Service Engine Soon" light stays on steady, no flashing

Tiny
RICHARDMOR
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 GMC C2500
  • 7.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180,000 MILES
I have checked all fuses, connections and relays - they are good. Grounds seem clean and tight. When I jump A and B on the OBDI connector the "Service Engine Soon" light stays on steady, no flashing. I've tried this numerous times with paperclips and a dedicated OBDI jump tool. I even replaced the output TSS to no avail. Could this indicate a defective ECM? This particular truck has the 7060 module.
Thursday, August 19th, 2021 AT 6:57 PM

24 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Let's try a couple of tests. First, confirm there is power to terminal B with the key on engine off. Also, confirm continuity to ground at terminal A.

Now, if you have a good ground, try putting it into field service mode. See pic below for directions. If there is still no response, there is a good chance the ECM is bad. However, make sure to test for power and ground.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pics below.
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Thursday, August 19th, 2021 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
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Thank you, Joe! I will test in the morning and report back.
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Thursday, August 19th, 2021 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
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Hi,

No problem. Hopefully, it is something simple.

Take care and let me know what you find.

Joe
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Thursday, August 19th, 2021 AT 9:18 PM
Tiny
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Joe, I don't see my previous reply, so I'll try again. There is no 12v signal on Terminal B of the OBDI port. No power to anything in that port. That is with the key in the "on" position. If nothing is getting to the OBDI connector, does that mean the ECM is defective (P/N 16147060)?
Thanks,
Rich
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Rich,

If you are sure the ECM fuse is good and it's not sending power to the DLC, something is likely bad in the ECM.

I attached two pics below. The first shows an inline fuse. Check to make sure it is good as well as the ECM fuse in the fuse box (Pic 2). In addition to checking the fuse, confirm there is power to and from it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Let me know what I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 8:08 PM
Tiny
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Joe, I can confirm the fuse in the fuse box is good (I checked everyone of them :-), but I did not know about the other one. It looks like a relay. Is that located on the firewall, passenger side? I'll check there.
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 8:37 PM
Tiny
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Okay, I just went out with a flash light and removed the cover and found two grounds, fuel pump relays and an inline small fuse. I checked the fuse for continuity and it was good. Put it all back. Is that inline fuse the one to check?
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 8:50 PM
Tiny
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I should state - the truck runs good. I can drive it. But it seems like it's starting out in 2nd gear and maybe shifts to 3rd, but will not shift into 4th, nor lock up the converter. I turn about 3,000 RPMs at 50 MPH. The "service engine soon" light is on and that's what I'm trying to understand, why it won't flash codes.
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
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Hi,

It sounds like you got the right one. If it runs good, then it isn't a fuse issue from the ECM/PCM. Either there is an open in the wire to pin B or the ECM isn't sending the signal.

The transmission issues could be the cause of the check engine light. Have you checked the connection at the TCM? It's under the dash, passenger side, above the blower motor unit. See pic 1.

Also, when you checked the fuses, was power present to all of them?

Joe
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 9:06 PM
Tiny
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Joe, I previously checked the Transmission Control Module and it's connector. Seems okay. I didn't check for 12v at the firewall locations. I'll do that tomorrow morning. Tonight, I ordered a remanufactured ECM (BSE's ECC-7060). Hope I can get it tomorrow. I'll report back.
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 10:04 PM
Tiny
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Sounds good. Take care and I'll look for your reply. I'm interested in knowing if that takes care of the problem.

Take care,

Joe
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Friday, August 20th, 2021 AT 10:38 PM
Tiny
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Hi, Joe. Sad news. (I hope you'll continue to help.) I checked power at the connections on the firewall (fuel pump and fuel pump relay) - all had 12v power. I double checked power to Terminal B in the OBDI port. There is no power when the key is on. I received and installed a new ECM (after disconnecting both positive and negative terminals on the battery and touching them together). All the wires and connections looked good (truck overall is very clean with zero rust, just dust). I used di-electric grease when connecting the new ECM. After install, I still had no power to Terminal B. I removed the OBDI port, found the wire to Terminal B is white with black stripe. I found the same white/black wire in the ECM connector and poked the sharp point of my 12V test light and still had no 12v power (with the key on). I'm stumped and very disappointed. Any suggestions?
Again, thank you very much for your assistance.
Rich
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Saturday, August 21st, 2021 AT 8:51 PM
Tiny
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Hi,

Let's go back further. There is a fusible link in the junction box that powers the ECM. If you look at pic 1 (the best pic I could find, sorry), note the fusible link indicated to power the ECM. If there is no power to terminal B at the ECM, then we need to know if the ECM is getting power.

Pic 2 is the only pic I could find for the fusible links. Because I don't have any color schematics, I need you to check each of the connectors in pic 2 to make sure they have power.

Let me know.

Joe

See pics below.
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Saturday, August 21st, 2021 AT 11:11 PM
Tiny
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Just saw your reply. I’ll check the fusible link tomorrow. I’m wondering if the truck would run if one of the fusible links failed. Aren’t they supposed to reset themselves - never have like fusible links. The truck runs fine. The two issues are: (1) the “service engine soon” light is on and (2) the transmission is in limp mode. Regardless, I will check the fuse and report back.
Thank you!
Rich
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Saturday, August 21st, 2021 AT 11:39 PM
Tiny
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Joe, I have to admit I was in bed when I saw your last reply about the fusible links. I opened the drawing this morning and see that it shows the connections under the plastic cap on the passenger-side of the firewall. I previously checked all those and everyone had 12 volt power. That is the location of the small in-line fuse that I also checked (it was good). Does the ECM get its power from those connections? If so, I'm guessing that would mean the ECM is getting power. Yet two different ECM's are not providing power to Terminal B on the OBDI port. This is both interesting and frustrating at the same time. What can it be? Thank you again! Richard
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Sunday, August 22nd, 2021 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
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A friend and I have checked several things today:

1. All the fusible links are good
2. There is a connector to the right of the junction block coming out of a large wiring loom that has a white/black wire (same as Terminal B in OBDI test port). There was no 12v power to either side of that connector.
3. We checked all the wires going into the ECM (the right side plug) and found only four have 12v power - purple/white, tan/black, solid green and yellow/black
4. We checked the white/black wire coming out of the new ECM (left side plug) and found there is no 12v power present.
What else can we do?

Rich
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Sunday, August 22nd, 2021 AT 3:58 PM
Tiny
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I crawled underneath the truck to see if I could find any broken wires, wires with abrasions of plugs disconnected. The only thing I found were two plugs beside the transmission that were not plugged in - a four prong and a 2 prong. But could not see the other side of the plug nor where they might plug into anywhere.
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Sunday, August 22nd, 2021 AT 4:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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When you checked the white/black wire, could it be a black wire with a white tracer?

Also, check terminal D at the DLC to see if there is power.

Let me know.

Joe
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Sunday, August 22nd, 2021 AT 9:41 PM
Tiny
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Hi, Joe. I was sure to report the white/black wire (as having no 12 volt power). If I am correct in assuming the right side plug going into the ECM is the input side, I checked all the wires:
Green - ground
Black/white - ground
Solid black - power
white - nothing (neither ground nor 12v power)
purple - nothing
blue - nothing

these were all tested with the key "on"

I can report there is no 12volt power to any terminal in the OBDI port. I made sure my test light was working by checking fuses and getting the light to illuminate with 12v power. Again, this is all with the key "on".

I tested the leads within the left side plug of the ECM and found power at the following:
yellow/black
solid green
tan/black
purple/white

Note: the lower right two terminals on that same plug are grounds (orange and pink wires).

I hope you have some idea of what problem I have cause I'm at a loss.
Thanks for your help.

Rich
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Monday, August 23rd, 2021 AT 1:38 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Hi, Rich.

I had a conversation with the site owner regarding your vehicle. He went through the OE wiring schematics and indicated the DLC power is from the instrument panel.

I attached the schematics below (pic 1 and 2). If you look at pics 3 and 4, I highlighted the connectors/locations C200, C200A, and C206. If you haven't already, start checking those connections to make sure none are damaged or loose. Additionally, check for power at each connector to determine where power is lost.

Also, the last pic shows the fuses he suggested. Make sure there is power to and from the fuses as well.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pics below.
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Monday, August 23rd, 2021 AT 8:26 PM

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