Returning from an hour long highway drive, my 740 began act up: First, the tach jumped around, around 2500 RPMs, but the engine didn't stumble, then the engine began to stumble on acceleration- just at the point where the boost comes on, according to the guage. Ran fine as long as I was easy on the pedal, but I began to smell something like overheated electronics. When I got off the thru way and took my foot off the gas, the car died and would not start. After it sat for maybe 20 minutes, it restarted, and I was able to drive the car about two miles, before the entire car died- no gauges, lights, etc. I pulled off the road, and tried to restart it. the engine lights came back, but the car would not start.

I am guessing that the ECU failed, but does anyone know better than I about this problem?

If the ECU is the problem, what units will interchange?

thanks

Rick

Check your fuse panal make sure you didnt have any fuses melt on you, also check all wireing sounds to me like you have a burned wire somewhere, if the ECU died it would take a good short to make it itself smell/smoke.

I will look at the fusebox when daylight comes. The smell was not one of melting wire insulation, so it could possibly be as simple as a fuse. The smell seemed to come from up front, rather than under a seat, which I think is where the ECU is. I sure hope it's just a fuse.

Thanks for the reply.

R

Not too many of those 541s fail and they never smoke. By the way, the ECU is located under teh kick panel by the front passenger's right knee.

I think you may be right about it not being the ECU. It seems like the overheatd electrics smell came from the center console. I went to look at the car today, but I couldn't determine which fuse handles the ignition or the ECU. And I didn't see anything that looked like overheated components at the fuse box.

Could someone clue me in which fuse it could be?
thanks

Rick