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simple ICM question?

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Old Jul 20, 2016 | 08:13 PM
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simple ICM question?

I *think* this is a simple question. I have a '95 F250 with a 5.8 EFI, and my fender-mount ICM is grey. Is this the wrong ICM?

If the answer is "maybe" can somebody point me in the right direction to figure out which ICM I should have?

Thanks,

Brian
 
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Old Jul 20, 2016 | 10:24 PM
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I believe that it should be black.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2016 | 10:36 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
Yes you have the wrong one on the truck. The gray one will set a problem code of no IDM to the computer. You also have a CCD computer and a gray ICM is a push-start ICM.
You need the Black CCD ICM.
 
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Old Jul 20, 2016 | 10:51 PM
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If it is wrong it will set a code. Don't remember right off hand the code
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 07:31 AM
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I was pretty sure I needed the black one, but there seems to be a lot of confusion on the subject. Thanks for all the feedback!


I have CM code 212.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 07:37 AM
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From: Easton,Ks
Yes the code 212 is from the wrong ICM.
The gray ICM will also cost you MPG and not as much power from the engine.

DTC 212 indicates a loss of IDM input to the PCM.
Possible Causes:
-- Open harness circuit.
-- Shorted harness circuit.
-- Damaged Ignition Control Module (ICM).
-- Damaged Powertrain Control Module (PCM).

IDM: Ignition Diagnostic Monitor.
ICM: Ignition Control Module.
PCM: Powertrain Control Module.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 08:36 AM
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So bottom line is..

IF your truck has the original PCM then it will require a black ignition module, but given the age of these trucks it's entirely possible the original PCM has been replaced so don't just assume that the black ICM is correct, pull codes first and if you get a code 212 follow the above advice. But if you don't get code 212 you're probably on the wrong diagnostic track and changing the ICM may make things worse.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 08:55 AM
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From: Easton,Ks
Note a 1993 or older PCM in a 1994 truck with a gray ICM would also give a 212 code.
The gray ICM does not output IDM information and the 1993 and older ignition wiring would not be in a 1994 truck so the IDM pin at the ICM would not get any information.

The 1993 and older trucks got the IDM information from the Ignition/ICM coil wire (-) through a resister and the 1994 and newer OBS truck got the IDM information from the ICM.
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 12:00 PM
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Conan, I DO have code 212 - so I think I need the black ICM.

Subford, you lost me on your last post. Are you saying that I could also be getting 212 due to an earlier PCM as opposed to getting it just because I have the wrong ICM?

If I need the black ICM, what's my best (budget) solution. From everything I've read there's a lot of misinformation surrounding part numbers. It sounds like a junkyard OEM black ICM or a Ford dealer black ICM is the best bet.. Correct?
 
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Old Jul 21, 2016 | 12:40 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
Post #8 was not meant for you. Pauls post sound like he was saying you would not get a 212 if someone had put an older PCM (1993 or older) in with a gray ICM. That was not true as you would get the 212 also with that setup.

Yes the salvage yard is were I have gotten most of my black remote mounted Motorcraft ICM as the black remote ICM very seldom goes bad. But you need to make sure you use a lot of white thermal compound between the heat sink and the ICM.

As far as the color goes all 1994 and newer Ford trucks take the black ICM.
 
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Old Jul 22, 2016 | 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted by subford
Post #8 was not meant for you. Pauls post sound like he was saying you would not get a 212 if someone had put an older PCM (1993 or older) in with a gray ICM. That was not true as you would get the 212 also with that setup.

Yes the salvage yard is were I have gotten most of my black remote mounted Motorcraft ICM as the black remote ICM very seldom goes bad. But you need to make sure you use a lot of white thermal compound between the heat sink and the ICM.

As far as the color goes all 1994 and newer Ford trucks take the black ICM.
I don't mean to hijack here, but I'm firing up my 89' MAF build tomorrow and have the black dizzy/ICM but with a Mustang computer and modified truck harness...If I'm picking up what your laying down; I need the Mustang specific (gray) dizzy that comes with the Mustang-specific ICM?

Thanks,
-Glaser67
 
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Old Jul 22, 2016 | 09:21 AM
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From: Easton,Ks
The 1989 Mustang was a SFI-MAF but I do not know if it was a push-start (gray ICM) or a CCD (black ICM) system.
That said the ICM must match the wiring and the computer of what it is in.

The push-start system has a wire from the starter relay wiring to the ICM and also the IDM wire to the computer comes from the Ignition coil (-) wire through a resister.

The CCD system has the IDM coming from the black ICM going to the CCD PCM.

The CCD system (black ICM) (ICM does have to be remote mounted):


The gray ICM push-start system:


Note the gray ICM for the push-start system does not have to be mounted on the distributor:


Note the #1 pin (PIP) is at the top in most diagrams also the PIP pin is PIP in on the remote mount and PIP out on the distributor mounted ICMs:


/
 
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Old Jul 22, 2016 | 09:48 AM
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Wow that's great information...and I'm a little over my head here. The engine that ECU came from had the gray dizzy with the ECM mounted on it, but I used the black one from the truck also with the attached ICM, and it started and idled OK (engine proceeded to throw a rod; unrelated) so my guess (I know "guess") was that the one from the 89 SD setup worked with the MAF mustang computer. It did start and idle and I was able to pull the spout and set the timing. Maybe I'm overthinking...

I think tomorrow I might as well grab a replacement for a mustang just to be sure...
 
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Old Jul 22, 2016 | 12:01 PM
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From: Easton,Ks
As I said you would have to go by the wiring.

Here is the Black CCD moudule mounted on the distributor that I left out above:


/
 
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Old Jul 22, 2016 | 09:27 PM
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So I narrowed down the differences between my two distributes on hand for MAF conversion using subford's diagrams. One is gray from mustang with mounted ICM, other the black truck one also with mounted ICM:

Difference is in the ignition side of the wiring, not the pinouts to the ECU. Per the diagrams, the ICM #4 wire is START/SIGNAL on the gray and IDM out on the truck.

Because my ignition wiring itself has not changed on the truck, and the other wires on the two ICM's (other than #4 are the same) AND because last go around the swap/conversion did fire, I have concluded that the truck distributer is OK.

NOTE: The dizzy gear is steel to match the steel roller cam: your truck dizzy with stock iron gear may not bot be OK to use with steel roller cam

-Glaser67
 
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