Okay so I replaced the connector and it didn't change anything. I did notice that with the key on, my PCM gets very hot very fast. I'm assuming it shouldn't do that. Like within 5 minutes of the key being turned on, it's hot enough that I can barely leave my hand on it. Is that a symptom of anything y'all know of? Should it get hot like that?

 

Well, plugged in the known working PCM, gauges came on, and started up. Ran great. So turns out when those wires crossed it did indeed fry my PCM. Got my harness cleaned up and everything ran right so it's ready to plugin the new one and go when it gets here. Thanks again for all the advice, y'all!

 

Great!

Yeah, a hot PCM is a fried PCM. In normal use, they don't get hot.

I'm still wondering what caused that damage. Maybe a battery blew up some time in the past and the PO didn't clean up properly.....

 

Yeah I'm not sure what happened there. Nowhere else was even kind of messed up like that, but I've learned my lesson to keep my engine bay clean and to inspect my wires more carefully in the future in order to avoid letting things get this bad. Only thing I noticed suspect about that general area is that they replaced the distributor right before I bought it. I'm curious if some low level shop tech didn't screw it up and not say anything? Who knows. I'm just relieved I don't have to keep chasing a ghost through my system anymore. I was going mad!