Can oil pressure sender wires shorting cause ecu damage? Reliable ECU testing?

[smartaxel]

I have a 92 VR-4. The engine was recently replaced with a used one and I noticed some issues before storing it for the Winter.

When I got it back from the engine install, it was backfiring and the check engine light was flashing, but not showing any codes. I popped the hood and noticed the oil pressure wire harness up top (3 wires) lost chunks of the insulation and the wires were touching. I separated them, started the car, and the check engine light was no longer flickering. The backfiring seemed gone also. The car wasnt running "right," but it was running better.

A day or so later, it started having troubles starting, seemed to backfire a bit (Well, pop), and at one point, the idle was acting really odd. No matter how much gas you gave it, you couldnt get the idle to change. It was almost stuck at this wierd idle where the car was barely running, and there was nothing I could do to change. Eventually, it evened out and the gas pedal controlled idle again.

When I later started the car, I heard a rapid clicking noise in the interior. It WAS NOT coming from the ECM though. It was coming from the engine compartment, near the throttle body but you could hear it in the passenger compartment. Eventually it went away but comes back occasionally when the car is started.

Now, I have a thought that maybe there are other wires shorting somewhere. Its entirely possible that there is other brittle insulation.. or those oil pressure gauge ones shorting perhaps damaged the ecu?

The ECU was previously rebuilt and had no problems with the original engine. This problem only surfaced with the new engine install.

Does anyone know if the oil pressure wires shorting could blow the ECU?

Are there trustworthy shops that can test the ECM and know enough to do more then just replace the caps?

Thanks everyone.

[box]

The ECU does not monitor oil pressure so its not related to that at all, however it is connected to the power steering pump pressure switch. Have you tried pulling the code when the engine light is on/flashing?

Thats just an earth switch though so a short to ground on that wire wouldnt do any damage.

[smartaxel]

I tried pulling the codes, and there were none. That's what was wierd. It was flashing the check engine light on and off. I used the Palm Pilot and it showed no codes at all. The light stopped when I pulled the oil pressure wires off each other. That's what was odd. That's comforting that they're not tied into the ECU but that leaves me at a loss for what's going on then. Hey, thanks for the reply