ECM B, ALDL and the tan wire under the dash

[Quickstop [UK]]

Seeing as these are three common connections that we have to mess around with, I figured I'd make life easy and install rocker switches to make it easier to make/break these circuits.

The people that installed my old alarm cut a hole in my dash for the security key fob and I've been struggling to think of something to fill the hole for ages.

Now, if I have a CEL, I can flick a switch and view the codes instead of looking for a paperclip. The switch is illuminated in case I have it on by mistake.

I'm going to put one in under the passenger footwell also to make the tan wire thing redundant. Now you can just reach under and flick the switch.

Finally, doing an ECM B reset without pliers or a torch (flashlight ) can be annoying - no longer. A simple click and the truck has all the codes wiped.

I've only half wired up the ALDL one but before I go ahead with the others, what do you guys think?

 

[Don W.]

Re: ECM B, ALDL and the tan wire under the dash

Convenience is good. :tup::tup:

 

[blacktyaffair]

Re: ECM B, ALDL and the tan wire under the dash

Sounds dangerous.

 

[sly dvl]

Re: ECM B, ALDL and the tan wire under the dash

I like the idea, but you might want to be careful how you wire the lighted portion of the switch for the code reading. I doubt there's much if any amperage flowing through that paperclip. If you put a light in there that could pull all the magic smoke out of the ECM.

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: ECM B, ALDL and the tan wire under the dash

I like the idea, but you might want to be careful how you wire the lighted portion of the switch for the code reading. I doubt there's much if any amperage flowing through that paperclip. If you put a light in there that could pull all the magic smoke out of the ECM.

I checked the wiring diagram and the black ALDL pin goes to ground. I hoped that the switch and the light would function in parallel but alas, that was not the case. They're in series in the switch itself which means the switch illuminates slightly and doesn't properly ground the ECM.

I reverted to just a simple rocker switch in the dash which works much better. I'd need another relay to illuminate the switch so in the interest of simplicity, I've abandoned the light switch for now. It looks tidy though.

As for the ECM switch and the ESC tan wire, I'm unsure if they're advantageous. They mean respectively adding a series fuse holder or making the switch vulnerable to being kicked inadvertently.

Hmm.