I am in auto hell!

My rebuilt tranny was refusing to come out of first gear with 250 miles left on the warranty (thank goodness!) so we took it to back to that shop. Meanwhile my Subaru Forester's check engine light came on again (it's been coming and going, horrible fuel economy) so I had the codes pulled and it's the front O2 sensor and possibly the front cat. Meanwhile we get a call from the tranny shop saying the check engine light came on in the truck and it had two codes, one for the tranny (which they fixed) and one for the ECM. They said we needed to take it to a dealer for that.

I don't have all the info, but when the ECM code comes on, does that mean it needs a new one (very expensive!), or are there various other levels of things that lead to that code that have to be teased out but are less expensive? Both my rides are giving me trouble and I'm going to be bleeding cash here.

Is the ECM something I can replace myself; is it a part that I can just replace the old one, or does it need all kinds of programming and stuff when installing it? I'm trying to do as much of this work as I can myself to save $$ where possible. I did my fuel lift pump successfully - why not try?

I'm getting really sick of old vehicles but we can't afford new ones and they drop so precipitously in value right off the bat when you get them!

One last thing: with these check engine lights coming on all over the place I've been having trouble getting codes pulled for free. Our AutoZones stupidly loan out their scanners for a deposit; one shop said for up to 90 days and another said for 30, and they didn't have any to loan out and couldn't say when the checked out ones would be coming back! I'm starting to itch to buy one but my husband says nah. Any thoughts on the lower priced scanners and whether they're worth it?

TIA

 

I would do a bit more troubleshooting before replacing the ECM. Will the truck start? Do you know what codes you are getting? Connections clean, dry, and tight?

 

I got the truck back after they replaced a speed sensor (the first code for the tranny). The second code was 1693. I drove home with the CEL still lit, turned it off, started up again and the CEL was off. The only thing they told us was that the code referred to ECM I, and that we needed to take it to a dealer for that. So, could the ECM have thrown that code because of the first code, and then detected that the problem was repaired?

I'm getting an inexpensive OBD II scanner so that I can recheck these things!

 

i keep a 80 dollar code scanner under my drivers seat and a haynes manual under the passengerseat but thats cause i drive my truck all over the eastern half of the states and if i have problems i want to no what and how to fix right now

 

P 1693 is the "companion code". Remember we have an ECM and a PCM in our trucks. The ECM (Cummins) is linked with the PCM (Dodge). P 1693 is the code set by the PCM telling you there is a code in the ECM. 1693 shows up for a lot of things such as dead VP44, sensor problems, etc.

I even got a 1693 after the pivot stud on my #5 exhaust valve rocker arm broke and kicked over the Y bridge that pushes the valves. The exhaust valves got held shut so the exhaust gases just got re-compressed and went screaming into the intake when those valves opened. And #5 is the closest to the IAT (temperature) sensor and when that hot exhaust gas went past it it set two codes P0112 IAT high, out of range, and the 1693.

So, just because you got 1693 doesn't mean your ECM is dead, if it was truly dead your truck would not even run.

 

^ What JRS said

1693 only means that the ECM has a code waiting for you.
Incidentally I had my ECM go out at around 22,000 miles. Not sure if the ECM is covered under the 100,000 mile engine warranty, but its worth checking.

There are a lot of aftermarket parts for your Forester though. Do you have an XT? If you do, just get an aftermarket (performance) up and down pipe (ones that are catless). This would eliminate 2 of the 3 cat-converters, but may not give your better fuel economy. The subies will probably give you the same economy as your CTD due to the AWD. We only get 19 on ours.

 

Does the truck run and drive normally?

I think maybe your Transmission folks are not familiar with the Dodge/Cummins Electronics.

Exactly! If your check engine light comes on and a P1693 is present it means that there is a companion code stored in the JTEC module. That companion code could very well be the one that your transmission set.

Instead of buying a scanner for yourself why not get a Smarty? It has the ability to read codes as well as give the truck a swift kick in the behind!