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Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Kenton on Mon Nov 27 09:15 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I was recently stranded when the fuel pump "brain" (dealer's term) died on my '89 244 on a trip about six hours from home. I ended up stuck in a motel for an entire week without a change of clothes and eating only at Waffle House!

Here's the issue...

The dealer said that the part was bad and a new one would cost about $900. Since I only paid $2700 for the whole car, I asked them for a used part and they were able to find one and install it for under $400. When I picked up the car at the end of the week, the service manager told me that the part they got wasn't actually the right one for the car (mine has the California emissions set-up). He said it shouldn't be a problem and the car should pass the emissions test as the '89 is known for running clean. My problem is that the car barely passed last year! I've read in the IPD catalog that the aluminum hose (pre-heater hose, I think) could be the reason I had so many problems passing last year (I noticed it hanging down after the test). But what do YOU think? Am I stuck replacing this expensive part AGAIN? And why, is it my problem the dealer got the wrong part? ...not that I can go back now -- I wasn't about to spend another week in lovely Roanoke.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Jan Heynen on Tue Nov 28 07:26 CST 2000 [RELATED]

First, my ECU had the dead Fuel-pump problem. I fixed it with a cheap extra relais (cuts the pump when the engine don't fire).

Six months later, my ECU was completely dead. I had to buy a new one (900 $). It was another part number, and now it is in the car for 2 years without a problem.

So, this unit is definitely a weak point in the '89 200 series.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be r haire on Mon Nov 27 09:39 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Most 89's came with the Bosch 0 280 000 951, a known frequent dud. Rumor has it that manufacturing problems at a factory in Mexico are responsible. Some cars are equipped with the 0 280 000 561 which is, I believe an attempt to update the defective units. There is one more number in the series of suitable ECU's but I forget what it is. This ECU is occassionally available on Ebay for $100-200 (the other ECU's that rarely fail go for much much less) and you could be lucky and find one at a salvage yard. A smart 89 owner might want to get ahold of one ahead of time.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Brian on Tue Nov 28 05:53 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Mine '90 came from the factory with a 0 280 000 561, which I just replaced last month when it suddently gave up the ghost. Apparently they are duds too, since the bone yards can't keep them in stock. I guess I should consider my self lucky it lasted as long as it did.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be r haire on Tue Nov 28 06:19 CST 2000 [RELATED]

Ouch- that is ominous. My 91 has the same (either a 561 or a 951). I have one good spare though. I have noticed on the brickboard over the last two years an enormously higher rate of ECU problems with these cars. For comparison, I have never heard of a confirmed 86-88 car with an ECU problem that was confirmed by a qualified but not financially interested (dealer or money hungry/incompetent mechanic) party. It is just uncanny how regular the problem is if you look at a large number of 89 cars.

In fact, there are only three electronic things I worry about buying used from salvage yards when the cars are junked but not wrecked in a collision. The 89 ECU in question and the same from a B23 car along with its 002 AMM. Unfortunately, both these ECU's are in high demand. There is a roughly 50/50 chance a retired (not wrecked) car with these parts contains a dud unit. Fortunately, the pick and pull I visit refunds any defective part.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Kevin Bennett on Tue Nov 28 02:41 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I haven't noticed much discussion about failed ECU's on 89 200s. My 89 245 still has the original. Before I go out and buy a spare I would like to hear the experience of other 200 owners. BTW I still have a spare Ignition Module for a 1979 Chrysler 225 cu. in. slant six in the basement. This was supposed to have been a problem part for that car and I ended up driving it for 16 years with the original, and the spare in the trunk. Don't want to repeat that expense.

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Kenton on Mon Nov 27 10:02 CST 2000 [RELATED]

So this is the ECU?

I just had it replaced in January! Then it blows again in September??? What can I do to safeguard from doing the same fix again in a few months? At about $450 each time, this is getting to be a bit of a pain...

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Re: Fuel Pump "Brain"??? 200 89

posted by someone claiming to be Tony H on Tue Nov 28 02:39 CST 2000 [RELATED]

I heard that if you use this car to Jump other cars it causes Hell with the ECU.

My '89 has 186000 and knock wood, no problems.

Honestly, because I never had problems, I don't even know where to find it in the car.

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