90 Tracker-Bizarre Problem Please help Soon!!!

I have a 90 Tracker, 1.6L. It starts fine, idles for hours, and can be revved to 4000rpms(while in park and idling). The second it's at normal temp, I put it in gear, step on the gas(it hits 18-2000rpms), and it pops the Ignition Coil fuse. I've had everything from a 5 to a 30 in there, and they all pop. It calls for a 15. I can run it at idle speed (about 10mph at most), but as soon as it hits 1800-2000---nothing. Even tried it in Low instead of Drive, but it did the same thing. I replace the fuse and the same thing happens. If I start it up cold, I can get about 1-1 1/2 miles out of it before it happens again---this is when it hits normal operating temp.

I called Chevy about this and none of the dealers ever reported it. I've talked to many people, and they've never heard of this. I did check the price of the pickup coil and module, but I don't have $800 to spend. If I did, I'd buy another tracker. I don't want to junk this, and I don't even know if its the pickup. Is there a way to test the pickup? Is this another problem all together??

Before anyone posts that it's a short, please explain where the short can be. It can't be in the coil or it wouldn't start. It can't be in the alternator, battery, starter, solenoid, thermometer, etc. I've got power to everything else.

It has to be something that's electric that's feeding back too much amperage thru the coil, after the car's in gear, up to temp, and tached at 2000. But the coil is fine. It hasn't overheated at all. I get no codes at all, nor does the engine light come on (just on startup).

In http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/sidekicksandtrackers/ I've been seeing quite a few electrical problems being discussed and most of them end up pointing back the ECU/ECM, apparently some of the capsitors begin to leak a caustic liquid which in turn eats away at some to the different electronic connections. A place to contact on having the ECM repaired would be: http://www.avproecm.com/index.htm, I've not used them myself but a trip to their web site shows some nice pics of the type of damage done to the ECM's motherboard. They also say that they are happy to talk on the phone (no 800 number), or correspond by e-mail.

good luck and please let us know if you find out anything,

dwh

I have a 90 Tracker, 1.6L. It starts fine, idles for hours, and can be revved to 4000rpms(while in park and idling). The second it's at normal temp, I put it in gear, step on the gas(it hits 18-2000rpms), and it pops the Ignition Coil fuse. I've had everything from a 5 to a 30 in there, and they all pop. It calls for a 15. I can run it at idle speed (about 10mph at most), but as soon as it hits 1800-2000---nothing. Even tried it in Low instead of Drive, but it did the same thing. I replace the fuse and the same thing happens. If I start it up cold, I can get about 1-1 1/2 miles out of it before it happens again---this is when it hits normal operating temp.

I called Chevy about this and none of the dealers ever reported it. I've talked to many people, and they've never heard of this. I did check the price of the pickup coil and module, but I don't have $800 to spend. If I did, I'd buy another tracker. I don't want to junk this, and I don't even know if its the pickup. Is there a way to test the pickup? Is this another problem all together??

Before anyone posts that it's a short, please explain where the short can be. It can't be in the coil or it wouldn't start. It can't be in the alternator, battery, starter, solenoid, thermometer, etc. I've got power to everything else.

It has to be something that's electric that's feeding back too much amperage thru the coil, after the car's in gear, up to temp, and tached at 2000. But the coil is fine. It hasn't overheated at all. I get no codes at all, nor does the engine light come on (just on startup).

If it is infact the ECM, I've located an article on a quick fix that bypasses the injector circuit of the ECM for the 90-95 Trackers, it is at: http://www.ecmking.com/_disc1/00000034.htm

dwh

Thank you so much....I was hoping it wouldn't come down to changing out the computer, and perhaps I won't have to with that fix. At this point, it wouldn't hurt to try it.

I'll let you know what happens, and I'll also join that group...it's nice to know there's others out there with trackers...there's none around here--junkyards or otherwise.

Thanks again :-)

Well, that didn't do it. I also don't have a computer problem. I talked to the guy from AvPro, and he's thinking it's a short somewhere, but he's got no idea where. I've untaped and checked just about every wire that makes any sense to check.

Any other thoughts????

This may be a long shot but look to ess if the coil wire is arching to one of the posts on the coil. Look for a white mark. Also try another coil if you can get one cheap. A universal from a parts store should be fine.

have tried another coil, and we didn't notice any white marks on our coil. Thanks tho. I'm also on the yahoo groups, and everyone over there says to check all the wiring. we've unwrapped most of it, so perhaps we'll find it soon.

Also, it's only doing it when we're moving, so unless we can get the hood up partway so we can see under it, I don't think we'd be able to see if it's arcing. :-(

You could just take off the entire hood with only about 4 bolts. Then look at it at night while driving it.

You can take off the entire hood with only four bolts; drive it then at night where it's really dark and you may see any arching.

Found the problem. There's a wire that goes to the tranny solenoid--the one that changes the ratio to 1:1. The tranny was sending that we're going 36mph and the computer said no, so it blew the fuse. If you take off that wire, it runs just fine. We don't do any out of town driving with these gas prices, so it doesn't matter for now. Perhaps springtime I'll rebuild the tranny and replace it. Thanks for all your help.

Missy h, I have almost the same problem on my '90 Tracker. The ign. fuse blows. Where is the wire that you disconnected for the Transmission solinoid? Please help. Thank you