Here's a much cheaper solution for you!
First, how old was the battery? I'd start by replacing
it. Next, for the cable, try pepboys or napa, etc for
one, I bet it would be under $200! If not, get to your
local yard and pickup a used one off of any 3.3 or
3.8L of your vintage.
As for the body computer- simple solution! Find a used
one from a junk yard. It must be the same year, and
must come from a car which has the same options as you
(i.e. if you have digital dash, power windows, etc, so
must the car the replacement computer comes from).
Will cost you under $50 (US) for the used unit
typically. Then just swap 'em!
I need a new body computer myself... since I put my
digital dash in (my car was analog before), I get the
same astrix and I can't use my digital dash and
information centre at the same time or I get a loud
constant electric buzz! In my case, my replacement
unit must be off of a '92 AC/AY with the 3.3, power
windows/doors, digital dash + evic, auto dimn mirror,
and now that I'm throwing my Imperial front end
together, folding headlamps.
The more options you have the harder it will be to
locate the unit, but just call around, and you'll find
one eventually.
In the mean time, the digital dash should still work
in terms of the speedo and volt meter, so you should
still be able to drive the car. If the fuel gauge
doesn't work at the moment, you could get a cheap
analog AC/AY cluster, throw it on your floor on the
passenger's side, and run wiring into your fuel
sender/level sensor assembly. That's what I'm using as
a fuel gauge until I get my new body computer.
And don't fell bad, these body computers do fail. The
dealer price is more because Chrysler will take them,
and rebuild them. That ensures it will work (yard one
might be bad too...), and will typically have a
warrenty (again hence the higher cost).
Let me know if you need any farther help with this
one, I have the 90 FSM and can look up any electrical
wiring diagrams and went through all this (and then
SOME) when I re-wired my entire dash to install my
digital dash in my '92 Dynasty!
-Jim
--- MAtt <cadmat@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> OK, Mom's '90 imperial now shows the dreaded
> asterisk
> in the digital dash where the odometer used to be
> displayedafter the battery died( for no reason, and
> the dealer can't find a draw). The Service manual
> says
> I need a special tool to retrieve info from old body
> computer to the new. Our friendly neighborhood
> dealer
> says we need a new body computer and and positive
> battery cable ( 200.00 for the cable!!!) he doesn't
> know where to get the body computer,he thinks they
> may
> be available "rebuilt" and furthermore for around
> 500.00 plus for install will NOT gaurentee it once
> he
> puts it in. My Latest question is this, do any of
> you
> have a source for these components? is the tool to
> transfer the data redily available? or easy to
> fashion? can I get an original styal positive
> battery
> cable with all the plugs attached without having to
> make it myself?
>
> Please help!! matthew
>
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