concerning a 1990 spfi to be installed with the "silver " colored ECU...can a "black" ecu be used instead as a direct fit or will wires have to be moved around on the yellow ecu connectors...also what yrs did not have the sliding automatic belt tensioners...thanks

Auto belts came out in '90.

 

Silver and Black ECU's are interchangeable - the only difference is that on manual transmission silver ECU's have a clutch switch in addition to the neutral switch in the tranny. But other than that they will still work - just might get a code about it.

 

GD

Auto belts came out in '90.

 

Silver and Black ECU's are interchangeable - the only difference is that on manual transmission silver ECU's have a clutch switch in addition to the neutral switch in the tranny. But other than that they will still work - just might get a code about it.

 

GD

 

my 89 had auto belts, it doesn't anymore, but that's what it came with

It was built 6/89 or later, so it was a 90 model year, but an 89 build date on the door post. Take a look at the emmissions sticker on the hood, It will say "this vehcile complies with 1990 model year emmisions specificaitons" or something like that. That's the model year.

Auto belts came out in '90.

 

Silver and Black ECU's are interchangeable - the only difference is that on manual transmission silver ECU's have a clutch switch in addition to the neutral switch in the tranny. But other than that they will still work - just might get a code about it.

 

GD

I believe I remember that from your EA81 conversion write-up...although being interchangeable, ...for testing purposes, will the motor still fire up without the clutch switch installation or will some temporary "on off switch" have to take its place

Should run fine - just get a code eventually if you drive it.

 

GD

Auto belts came out in '90.

 

Silver and Black ECU's are interchangeable - the only difference is that on manual transmission silver ECU's have a clutch switch in addition to the neutral switch in the tranny.

 

GD

 

mostly true.

 

But early black ECU's (86, 87) have two wires swapped for the disty. Signal and Reference wires are swapped pins. this can be gotten around by simply switching the pins at the disty. Easier than swapping pins on the ECU plugs.

 

ideally you want an 88 or 89 ECU

 

And FWIW, auto belts were optional since 88.....mostly found on FWD models but listed as optional for all. Standard after 90:)

Yeah - some of the early stuff has funny connectors as well. The distributor pin issue is something I should add to my conversion page.

 

GD