Toyota Cressida - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

11-12-2005, 02:53 PM

I've got a 1991 Cressida. Most times the transmission shifts out fine,
but sometimes it shifts very erratic. A service bulletin I've located
advises to run a new groundwire from chassis to the ECT ECU ground. Can
you tell me where it is located?
Is it the same as the engine ECU?

11-12-2005, 03:18 PM

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:53:23 -0800, [email]jimleverett28@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
[color=blue]
> I've got a 1991 Cressida. Most times the transmission shifts out fine,
> but sometimes it shifts very erratic. A service bulletin I've located
> advises to run a new groundwire from chassis to the ECT ECU ground. Can
> you tell me where it is located?
> Is it the same as the engine ECU?[/color]

No.

Chances are, it is to be found behind the passenger's side kick panel,
secured with a 10mm nut. Remove the nut, remove the trim panel from the
door jamb and remove the kick panel. The ECT should be behind it.

Also, chances are that replacing the bolt with a new nut and bolt and a
star washer will probably solve your problem.

11-12-2005, 03:36 PM

Hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
> On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:53:23 -0800, [email]jimleverett28@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
>[color=green]
> > I've got a 1991 Cressida. Most times the transmission shifts out fine,
> > but sometimes it shifts very erratic. A service bulletin I've located
> > advises to run a new groundwire from chassis to the ECT ECU ground. Can
> > you tell me where it is located?
> > Is it the same as the engine ECU?[/color]
>
> No.
>
> Chances are, it is to be found behind the passenger's side kick panel,
> secured with a 10mm nut. Remove the nut, remove the trim panel from the
> door jamb and remove the kick panel. The ECT should be behind it.
>
> Also, chances are that replacing the bolt with a new nut and bolt and a
> star washer will probably solve your problem.[/color]

I've had that kick panel off, it's pretty stuffed back there, could you
describe it?
I'll be anxious to look again.

11-13-2005, 01:09 AM

<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1131827817.464422.235690@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
>> On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:53:23 -0800, [email]jimleverett28@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>> > I've got a 1991 Cressida. Most times the transmission shifts out fine,
>> > but sometimes it shifts very erratic. A service bulletin I've located
>> > advises to run a new groundwire from chassis to the ECT ECU ground. Can
>> > you tell me where it is located?
>> > Is it the same as the engine ECU?[/color]
>>
>> No.
>>
>> Chances are, it is to be found behind the passenger's side kick panel,
>> secured with a 10mm nut. Remove the nut, remove the trim panel from the
>> door jamb and remove the kick panel. The ECT should be behind it.
>>
>> Also, chances are that replacing the bolt with a new nut and bolt and a
>> star washer will probably solve your problem.[/color]
>
> I've had that kick panel off, it's pretty stuffed back there, could you
> describe it?
> I'll be anxious to look again.[/color]

The engine and transmission ECU are both about the size of a paperback,
silver in color.
--
Ray O
correct the return address punctuation to reply

11-13-2005, 01:38 AM

I wasn't able to find any components behind the kick panel that looks
anything like that.
I looked again above the glove compartment. No luck. (only the engine
ECU).
Took the center console out, found a plastic device named "ECT shift
solenoid".
I still have the erratic shifting, seems to be worsening, and more
troubling after engine warmup.
Anything you can tell me will be appreciated.
That email is jimleverett28@

11-13-2005, 01:43 AM

On Sun, 13 Nov 2005 00:09:45 -0600, "Ray O"
<rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOT.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
><jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1131827817.464422.235690@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>
>> Hachiroku wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:53:23 -0800, [email]jimleverett28@hotmail.com[/email] wrote:
>>>
>>> > I've got a 1991 Cressida. Most times the transmission shifts out fine,
>>> > but sometimes it shifts very erratic. A service bulletin I've located
>>> > advises to run a new groundwire from chassis to the ECT ECU ground. Can
>>> > you tell me where it is located?
>>> > Is it the same as the engine ECU?
>>>
>>> No.
>>>
>>> Chances are, it is to be found behind the passenger's side kick panel,
>>> secured with a 10mm nut. Remove the nut, remove the trim panel from the
>>> door jamb and remove the kick panel. The ECT should be behind it.
>>>
>>> Also, chances are that replacing the bolt with a new nut and bolt and a
>>> star washer will probably solve your problem.[/color]
>>
>> I've had that kick panel off, it's pretty stuffed back there, could you
>> describe it?
>> I'll be anxious to look again.[/color]
>
>The engine and transmission ECU are both about the size of a paperback,
>silver in color.[/color]

It's behind the glove compartment. Remove the glove compartment door,
then remove the clove compartment. It's 1 and 1"inch thick and larger
than a paperback book.

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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11-13-2005, 01:53 AM

On 12 Nov 2005 22:38:41 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I wasn't able to find any components behind the kick panel that looks
>anything like that.
>I looked again above the glove compartment. No luck. (only the engine
>ECU).[/color]

It has three connectors coming out of it, right? That's the
engine/transmission ECU.
[color=blue]
>Took the center console out, found a plastic device named "ECT shift
>solenoid".[/color]

That changes the shift points.

[color=blue]
>I still have the erratic shifting, seems to be worsening, and more
>troubling after engine warmup.[/color]

You have transmission issues. To be sure, disconnect the wires at the
transmission. (The connectors are just even with where the
transmission and engine joine.

It'll go into a sort of manual mode called "limp home mode". IF the
shifting is just as bad, you need to get it rebuilt or replaced.

[color=blue]
>Anything you can tell me will be appreciated.[/color]

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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11-13-2005, 02:00 AM

The ECU above the glove compartment on my car has a tag that is stamped
"engine ECU".
Behind the glove compartment is all plastic A/C and heater components.

11-13-2005, 02:09 AM

On 12 Nov 2005 23:00:27 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>The ECU above the glove compartment on my car has a tag that is stamped
>"engine ECU".[/color]

It has three harnesses, right? The cressida's ECU combines engine and
transmisson controls into one TCCS ECU

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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How you look depends on where you go.
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11-13-2005, 02:10 AM

Let me make sure I understand, disconnect the three connectors coming
from the side of the transmission up toward the wiring harness in the
engine compartment and test drive it?
Thanks for your patients, in the "limp home mode" should it shift
somewhat normal, just not erratic?

11-13-2005, 02:12 AM

On 12 Nov 2005 23:00:27 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>The ECU above the glove compartment on my car has a tag that is stamped
>"engine ECU".
>Behind the glove compartment is all plastic A/C and heater components.[/color]

BTW, do you have the Toyota Repair Manual? If not, I'll post the
diagnostic steps to let the TCCS tell you if IT think's something is
wrong. Also, is the OD light blinking when you have the OD switch in
the normal position?

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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11-13-2005, 02:13 AM

On 12 Nov 2005 23:10:48 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Let me make sure I understand, disconnect the three connectors coming
>from the side of the transmission up toward the wiring harness in the
>engine compartment and test drive it?[/color]

Yeah. But I'd try reading the TCCS codes first.

[color=blue]
>Thanks for your patients, in the "limp home mode" should it shift
>somewhat normal, just not erratic?[/color]

Right.

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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11-13-2005, 02:21 AM

It doesn't have the "TCCS" that I know of. Is that the diagnostic
system?
On my car the only manual I have has me to jumper the test connector
and check OD light and it flashes continuously, it doesnt see a
problem.

11-13-2005, 02:38 AM

On 12 Nov 2005 23:21:30 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>It doesn't have the "TCCS" that I know of. Is that the diagnostic
>system?[/color]

That's just what the ECU is called on a Cressida.
[color=blue]
>On my car the only manual I have has me to jumper the test connector
>and check OD light and it flashes continuously, it doesnt see a
>problem.[/color]

Drag. Then chances are you're losing the tranny. That was the test I
was going to recommend.

So now disconnect the connectors I referred to. Then drive it. You'll
need to shift with the shifter to get an idea if it changes proplerly.

If it seems "better" with the electronics off, then it's likely the
ecu. If it seems the same or a bit worse, it's the tranny.

Remember when you reconnect the wires, you'll need to clear the ECU
codes.
--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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11-13-2005, 12:50 PM

On 13 Nov 2005 08:36:55 -0800, "jimleverett28@hotmail.com"
<jimleverett28@hotmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Thanks for your assistance. I have never found a Haynes or Chilton for
>that car.[/color]

Go to Toyota. Buy the REAL Cressida Repair Manual.

Or just pay someone else to work on your car.
[color=blue]
>Have one for Supra and older Cressida's and vans.
>Based on what you've said, the xmission ECU and the engine ECU are the
>same unit, and it's above the glove compartment?[/color]

Yes.
[color=blue]
>Seems I may have to breakdown and take my car to the shop.[/color]

Or, go to your local salvage yard. You've got a 7MGE engine, I
assume, so the tranny is quite common. $350 or $400 with a torque
converter. (DON'T buy it without the torque converter)

Install it yourself. It'll take ya a day if you've never done it
before. It's really not hard.

--
gburnore at DataBasix dot Com
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