Orange wire at the battery

[Torvus]

If you disconnect the quick connector on this wire my understanding is that this kills power to the ECM. I take it the car wouldn't start if this wire is disconnected? To the point, I disconnected this wire to rotate the engine without it starting and the thing fired right up and ran.

 

[GN ERGY]

On my GN the car won't start if I disconnect that wire. But on Taylors car it will start, so we think it must be the way he wired up his aftermarket stereo and amp.
Any other ideas guys???
Tarey D.

 

[Torvus]

Mine is all stock, other than a hot wire kit on the fuel pump as far as electrical is concerned. That and a pit bull chip. I just installed a new ECM as well.

 

[S10xGN]

On mine, I was having some run problems and discovered pin C-16 (the orange wire) at the ECM connector was corroded completely off. Car started and ran with NO power on that line!

 

[XxDarkSidexX]

the orange wire to the battery is the power to the ecm. there should be the factory harness close to the battery which allows for easy disconnecting, like when ur changing chips.

 

[Torvus]

That's my point. It is the orange quick disconnect wire near the battery. I can unplug mine and the car starts right up. I figured if this were killing power to the ECM the car wouldn't start.

 

[XxDarkSidexX]

roger that

 

[GNICETRY]

Mine will not start without it connected.

 

[TurboJim]

Technincally, that wire is KAM or "keep alive memory". I *believe* by the size of the wire, and the fact its fused with a link and not a fuse, it is supposed to be the current supply for the ECM for the FP relay etc (things triggered by positive voltage). Maybe it depends on what revision your ECM is?

 

[tom h]

referring to pages 8A-21-0 of the 1987 Regal factory service manual,

the orange wire near the battery is a fusible-linked, "hot at all times" power source, intended to maintain the ECM's memory.

there is ALSO the primary ECM power source, that is fused and is "hot" only when the ignition key is "on".

Power lines that are switched "on" by the ignition key, are usually pink with a black stripe

 

[Torvus]

So if this is only the keepalive for memory, all cars should start with this wire disconnected. Then why do they use this wire to kill startup in documentation on gnttype.org? Aslo, why don't all cars start with this wire disco'ed.

 

[Just a Six??]

I have a fuse in that wire so when removed it does NOT Start!
This is one of my theft deterrants! Dont know how yours started?? That seems weird. You can crank the ignition all day on mine without the fuse in & no way its starting!

 

[Torvus]

Mine doesn't have a fuse, it's a link. When disconnected the car will still start. It scared the crap out of me the first time it started when I wasn't expecting it (hanging over the engine with a flashlight when a friend bumped the starter). That's why I asked.

 

[bar87]

im in the middle

i have found that when i disconnect the orange wire, but still have residual fuel pressure(rail hasnt leaked down press. from previous startup) that my car will start and run briefly...after that it wont start

 

[Just a Six??]

Sorry I wasnt clear. I added the fuse to the orange wire so that there is no start when the fuse is removed!

 

[Torvus]

Re: im in the middle

Originally posted by bar87
i have found that when i disconnect the orange wire, but still have residual fuel pressure(rail hasnt leaked down press. from previous startup) that my car will start and run briefly...after that it wont start

Hmmm....how long does this normaly take? I didn't drive the car like this..but I figured it wouldn't run long like this. I might double check and see if this is the case.

 

[bar87]

just a second or two

 

[Torvus]

Mine ran longer than that. Probably 10-15 seconds before I shut it off.

 

[V6POWER]

Mine won't start.