Jeffrey,

Thank you and my thanks to all others who replied.  I spoke with the shop
owner first thing this morning and concluded he had done a reasonable job of
troubleshooting.  Apparently what through him off in terms of getting a new
ECM, was the location and part number was not the expected one.  The shop
gave me the part number of the old ECM and when I spoke with Glen at ECM
TO-GO,  he knew exactly what I needed and is shipping the right part
directly to the shop.  Hopefully, my Mom will be back on the road tomorrow
evening.

John

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Earl" <jefferrata@yahoo.com>
To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Cc: <lauterba@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 1:26 PM
Subject: OT NVC 1990 Dodge Colt Vista

>>> My Mom (age 95, lives west of Daytona, FL) called
> me tonight and told me that her mechanic told her that
> her 1990 (or 91) Dodge Colt Vista cannot be fixed
> because the engine computer is bad, and he cannot get
> the a good
> one.
>
>>> However, assuming mechanic is right, how do I
> source replacement parts for her car.  While vehicle
> has the Dodge brand, it was made by Mitsubishi.
>
>
>
> John,
>
> I drive a 1992 Dodge Colt hatchback, and my wife a '94
> Dodge Colt Vista Wagon. In the rest of the world, they
> are known as the Mitsubishi Mirage and Expo,
> respectively. These cars are indeed prone to ECU
> failure, and it has to do with some faulty capacitors
> which tend to overheat and leak. Very hot weather
> often precipitates the problem. That doesn't
> necessarily prove that is indeed your current problem,
> but it will cause all manner of trouble, so should be
> checked. Rebuilt units can be had for $150-300,
> exchange.
>
> Here's a source for rebuilt Dodge/Mitsu ECUs:
> http://www.ecmtogo.com/
>
> And here's a forum which I have found helpful:
> http://www.4g61t.org
>
> My boring little transportation appliance is evidently
> highly regarded as a mild street performance car,
> since the forum is populated mostly by
> twenty-something boy-racers with a penchant for ground
> effects and tuned coffee-can mufflers. So as you type
> your questions, be sure to wear your perfectly
> hemispherical ball cap backwards and make liberal use
> of words like "jive-fresh", "hempyed", and "baloney
> skins".
>
> But these guys know a LOT about these little cars and
> are very helpful.
>
> Good luck!
>
>
> Jeffrey Earl
> 1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
> http://www.vanthology.com/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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