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Limp mode issue- Broken locking connector on ECM

2.2K views 13 replies 3 participants last post by  Spoody  
#1 ·
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Powertrain Performance Modifications
Can a broken locking clip on the ecm cause my car to randomly go into limp mode?
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Newbeg2013
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2010 Pontiac G6 2.4L
Joined Sep 23, 2018 · 3 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 · 2d ago

So the people that owned this car before I did hit a deer and their insurance company me basically junked the car. When I bought it from a used car place close to my town, it was considered a salvaged title. The problem doesn't happen during the wintertime so when I talk about having issues it's always in warmer weather never in the wintertime The problem I'm having doesn't happen during the wintertime for some reason & it happens at random. So when I talk about having this issue, it's always in warmer weather, never in the wintertime. The first few years it didn't really go into limp mode much at all. The guy at the used car place told me when it goes into limp mode, to go under the hood & kind of just press the connectors up tight to the ECM. Got old real quick. After being irritated 1 day so bad because it was happening so frequently (even on the interstate), I was looking at it & I noticed there was this blue silicone adhesive stuff all the way around one of the connectors on the ECM & there was no locking mechanism on it. I took that adhesive off & for over a year, it did not go into limp mode at all. But for the last 2 years, once winter's gone, it randomly does it again. Sometimes it goes into limp mode multiple times just from one-stop sign to the next. I bought a code reader & changed a few things including a stupid throttle position sensor that was probably just fine but my ex-boyfriend opened the box so I had no choice but to use it (there was a no open box return policy). Is it possible that just the locking mechanism being broke on that ecm connector is what causes it to randomly go into limp mode?
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I just scanned for codes. There were 4. 2 are the same but the difference is 1 says permanent and the other says confirmed. Here they are:


C0242
1/4 Codes
ABS
PCM Indicated TCS Malfunction
HISTORY

P0014
2/4 Codes
MOD $00
Exhaust (B) Camshaft Position Timing -Over-Advanced (Bank 1)
CONFIRMED

P2135
3/4 Codes
MOD $00
Throttle / Pedal Position sensor/ Switch A/B Voltage Correlation
CONFIRMED

P2135
4/4 Codes
MOD $00
Throttle / Pedal Position Sensor/ Switch A/B Voltage Correlation
PERMANENT

The P2135 I tried to fix because that code has been on for a few years. Gas pedal was $150 bucks. My ex cut open the box so I couldn't return it. Thank you guys. I do appreciate it
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Discussion starter · #8 ·
I was in my car while it was running & it went into limp mode so I shut it off, plugged in my actron & it added another P2135 but it says pending. I erased the codes so when I take my break at 5 I'll see if she starts regularly
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
I believe you mentioning replacing the throttle position sensor. As that is a code you are throwing you might want to consider swapping the original back in to see if you get the same problem. You could also try some electrical contact cleaner on the throttle position sensor connector and checking for any damaged or broken wires.

Hope you can get it working reliably again
Yes I did change that I would have to look to see if I still have the old one but I'm thinking that I do. I scanned for codes after I erased them on my 5:00 break this morning and the only one that shows up is that ABS one as a history. I have that electrical cleaner that you were talking about and that grease that you mentioned earlier in the post as well. Without looking in my Hayes book do you know if the PCM is under the hood like the ECM? I could be wrong but I think the BCM is the one that's on the passenger side down by the center console thing whatever you call it, but I know one of them is right there and I want to put that grease on there like you mentioned and then zip tie the one around the ECM that's broken. But I don't know if the PCM is the same thing as the ECM because on some vehicles they are interchangeable words but I thought the G6 had all three I just honestly can't remember and I'm a little lazy right now so I just didn't want to get up LOL but I mean I will eventually. And before I forget I just want to thank you again for all of your help throughout this whole thing and the time to reply to me. Don't know if you have to work today but regardless of that I guess I hope you enjoy your Memorial Day
 
Discussion starter · #12 ·
The engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control module (PCM) are usually interchangeable terms to my understanding as well. On my 3.5 the PCM/ECM is located in front of the battery box and is what you were pressing the cables back onto because the locking mechanism is broken. The Body Control Module (BCM) is in the passenger foot well behind the cover on the left of the passengers feet.

If you have one in your area you could also consider trying to replace the broken PCM connector shell with one from a pick a part or car breakers. Best of luck getting it running again.
So my car was fine until I pulled in to work tonight and then limp mode crept up on me. I couldn't scan it until now because I was late getting to work but there's still three of the P 2135 codes even though I erased them off there early yesterday morning. One says confirmed one says pending and one says permanent I'm really Unsure how to get that code to just stop tripping. I'll try this stuff you mentioned in one of the last few comments you made and see how that works I figured I would let you know about the code thing right away to see if there was anything else you might suggest I could try