Computer chip out

Asked by chant Jan 21, 2011 at 08:18 PM about the Ford Escort

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

  I was rear ended and the bumper needs relacement. Along with that the license plate lights were  knocked out. There were sparks flying out of the back and the smell of gas.  A few weeks after the car wouldnt spark up. It would simply appear at the time that it was out of gas but wasnt..  At garage, They say that the computer  chip is out This costs over 500.00 . Does anyone  know if this accident and the license plate lights being  bumped and knocked out could have caused this problem?

18 Answers

NO WAY.,they probly figured insurance co would total it,parts for this car are cheap and not much labor involved to fix it,they not makeing much money on the car,they trying the chip thing to make a bigger profit,besides a chip is not $ 500.00,you can replace the computer out of another wrecked one for $180.00.

1 people found this helpful.

The garage that assessed this problem isnt the same garage that is doing the work on the damage this garage doesnt even know about the accident.. It isnt sparking.. cud that be caused from the short in the license plate lights that was sparking and smelling of gas after the accident? DO YOU think that these are related that one ( the short) caused the computer chip to go wanky?

I am not concerned price wise as if the short caused it then the insurance will payor write it off one or the other.

What could have caused the chip to go out any idea papa.. So 500.00 is absurd uh! I am pondering whether or not to have the 1998 Ford Escort towed thing towed back to the Ford dealer Help I am a woman This is sounding more expensive as time goes on

what makes you or them think the chip is bad,even when a computer is bad the car will still run.will it start and run,dont feel you have a bad chip just from getting hit in the rearend.besides i never heard of a chip going bad.

papa the machanic said something about the module and the chip ( cant understand these ppl) he now says that they have to find a used one ( whether it be the full module or the chip not know) No the car sounds likeit wants to turn over but wont..Sounds like a car thats out of gas and the battery went dead and then got a boost then it windled down again and nothing happening. He says that the car is no good unbless the module is replaced

I dont know what module he would be talking about,I would have another mechanic check it,as for it not wanting to crank,turn on keyswitch,listen for a mumming sound comeing from gas tank,if you here nothing the fuel pump is bad.but back to other it dont make any scence to me .you do hav a ignition control module on top of ac,is a gray box ,but it cost about 30 bucks,that is he onley one that has anything with the running.

I havent seen the car since he got it by tow truck. it wasnt tuning over but there was no strange noises. it wanted to start but wouldnt. Is there anyway that I can tell if the complete or ehatever module neds replacing ( hes vietnemese guy).. ? I am on foot and need the car back fast! shud I have it towed to ford dealer? I will be simply pisssed if the car gets a completew module replaced and that turns out not to be the problem.

Papa, I went to the mechanic today he has replaced the ignition module.The car still doesnt work.. There is a smell of rubber burnt rubber in the car.. This car was stolen 2 years ago and the thieves were turning off the alarm system ( it had a remote for the alarm not the to start it) Anyway he says now that the car needs a new computer as its dead and wont start at all. The alarm system was never turned off inside the motor or wherever..It is missing the remote and I was driving it that way and just manually locking the doors by clicking the button for all doors to lock them.. Its still wired for a remote.. Could that be the burning smell that ruined my computer? Maybe another opinion is in order here at Ford dealer as this is ridiculous.. I cant afford a new computer I am not even sure if they even sell them anymore.. What to do papa?

Anyone out there know if the license plate lights ( they have a short that caused big big sparks flying out) could cause the wiring to burn and now affect the car not to start..it stutters but wont go. The smell of rubber is in the car. Any good knowledgeable advice welcomed here.. In other words do youthink that the back end wire short caused the car not to run..... Wiring etc

all that spark from the tag light would do is blow a fuse,grounding it out,have told you before it has big problems,not worth trying to fix,it would be cheaper for you to get another car,I have 35 years of ASE experience in this work,sorry for the bad news on this.

and Papa what happpend all of a sudden? it has to be assessed as it still hasnt been ( body work ) done and the claim is still open... form that rear ender accident ..They willl want to know why I am having a car towed in that doesn t run to get body work done on it! The insurance claim hanst been resolved yet! The body hasnt been fixed! What can I do with insurance? This is ridiculous.!

see what I amtrying to do is get the car written off..Not take a 100% loos on it..i was wantingto know what andif this was rlelasted ( light short and the startporblem ) there was an new ingniton coil put in and it still wont go IN Canada this car is worth maybe 3500. I have all new rad, etc all the history on it. I want some? money back from insurance

are you in canada as here we have to go thru channles. I have to get the body fixed as it need a new bumper andthe lights fixed .FRom there they were goingto trace the short. Not at my expense... If there is a new ignition coil put in and it still wants to go but wont turn over, then we have to find out why? We have to find out if this was part of the accident or what? I cannot just go out and buy another car..I need the money form thisone for the next one as a down payment.. I am a 59 yr old single woman on a disabilty ..

1,255

well fords have this thing called an inertia sensor. on impact it should shut off the fuel. bypassing it or trying to start the car may cause funny things to happen

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