ECM Failure... just replaced 4 months ago, now again?

Hi, this is the car:

4Runner 1995 two wheel drive 3VZ engine, mechanically very good, lots of things replaced just 4 months ago,approx. 200K miles:

Ignition wires, plugs, new distributor, igniter, ECM (used from eBay)
That was because the engine stopped dead at a traffic light.
We did the above work ourselves and run horrible until we the installed an used ECM from eBay. So for 4 months has been running well until last week.....

Run perfect after repairs 4 months ago, but the car died on the road last week.
Again as before the no NE error, and would not even start at all.
Also the starter quit now so replaced it yesterday and checked all resistance at ECM wire bundle and the NE-G-minus ad also the G1 and G2 resistances OK. Has a new distributor.
Tried today with the old ECM and just runs horrible as before,which makes sense to me that the ECM is again the problem as before.

Now the Questions:
Is this a common problems on those ECM's or just bad luck with the also 25 yrs. old from eBay? We cannot afford the $600 new.
The error code is 12, No NE Signal to the ECM. In the past I checked the signal reaching the ECM using laptop Picoscope and the signals reached the ECM, I tried to twist a little the pins on the ECM to see if it was a bad contact problem, but it acts as this is not the problem. If I insert the original ECM runs very crappy, and the second ECM just failed last week will not run at all with Code 12.
The car is from a very good friend, we both retired(read fixed income) and we cannot afford to take this old car for repairs or expensive super-diagnostic.

Any thoughts, experiences or suggestions?
Thanks

 

Sorry for your experience. Haven't heard of ECM's failing much but it is entirely possible seeing their age. Something may be causing it to fail also. No experience here in electrical troubleshooter so hopefully someone with that experience will comment. Good luck.

 

I was looking at the troubleshooting guide for Code 12 and it also mentions a loss of signal from the STA circuit, which is the start circuit. You mentioned you had a starter problem?

You checked the G, G1, G- and NE wires and found resistance through the circuits and you are getting a signal to the ECM connector, I would agree it might be an ECM or connector issue.

This might be a long shot but there is a product called Stabilant 22, it is a contact enhancer. My background is Helicopter maintenance and this product worked really well for eliminating nuisance codes. Usually the signals to the computer are very low powered, in millivolts. If the signal is out of the programmed range, the ECM will think there is no signal. A small amount of resistance in the connectors could drop the signal and trip a code.

I was getting the dreaded code 52 about once every 2 or 3 months. Then more frequently, and finally 3 to 4 times a day along with code 14. I cleaned the ECM connector and all of the connectors to the engine I could get to and applied the Stabilant 22. I am now back to 2-3 months for the 52, but I am pretty sure it is the knock sensor pigtail.

It’s not cheap, for the small amount you get, but you can probably do 200 vehicles!

 

I do not think there as an STA problem, but maybe a contact. Will evaluate.
Thanks

 

Im having the same issue same code, my starter working but distributor not turning. code 12
Did you get it fixed?

 

I am still working on it, I Think I have a cable problem because two distributors do the same.
fFor your case if the distrib. is not turning you have a mechanical problem be it the gear on the distributor loose (not likely) or gear meshing with camshaft or broken camshaft. You need to re move all starting with the distributor and check the camshft gear with a light while cranking etc.

 

Yup was broken timing belt.