James, I think your definition for the 144 code is misleading you.

I have some "Green Books", and quoting from the Rex/Regina (same for LH/EZK) fault tracing manual:

"In the partial load range, a load signal test is carried out twice per engine revolution. If the load signal is consistantly high or low, fault code 1-4-4 is set." (Signal is from The FI module.)

Fault Causes:

>Open-circuit or short-circuit to ground between (from) Fuel Injection CU #25) and (to) ICM #8.

>Defective FI Control Module. (italics mine — I always wanted to say that)

>Open-circuit in power supply to FI Control Module.

The last one seems related to a 1997 Service Bulletin on the 1-4-4 code, which says:

>Poor soldering on FI system relay output 87/1 can cause an intermittent open-circuit in the power supply to pin 9 in the LH 2.4 Ignition control module (clearly an error—power goes to FI module pin 9, not to ICM pin 9).

So my money's on the nefarious Fuel System relay, or its harness connector—terminal 87-1 (as I once saw blamed, but can't recall where). Calling Doctor Foster?
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current)
'80 GLE V8 (Now gone)
'83 Turbo 245
'73 142 (98K)
'71 144 (track modified--and still here)
New 144 from '67 to '78
Used '62 122 from '63 to '67