The engine control unit is the most important part of the car. The common symptoms of a malfunctioning ECU include permanently lit engine, check lights on the dashboard and irregular fuel consumption and it can even stop you from starting the car. If you replace this part, it can be quite expensive, so it’s better to purchase second hand rather than buying new from a dealer and fitting the part yourself.
There is a middle ground between buying a brand new ECU, repairing the faulty one and ECM replacement. You can also replace the damaged or broken component with a reprogrammed and re-flashed engine computer. This is what Car Computer Exchange has done over the years. Once we obtain a new, we then clear it of all existing data and keep it in stock as it awaits new programming.
After a customer places the order, we take that replacement ECU right off our shelves and program it with the latest OEM software directly from the manufacturer. We make sure that if you are ordering a replacement computer for a 1996 Dodge Durango, you are getting a car computer that is the same as the one you get if you went and bought a “new” 1996 Dodge Durango with a working ECM.
- Check the ECU
There are no differences in the ECUs used from the same manufacturer. So, it is important to check that you have the exact part number specific to your vehicle while ordering.
- Unplug the Battery
First, you need to unplug the battery from your car so there is absolutely no power running through your vehicles circuits. Let the car rest for around quarter of an hour disconnected from any power source.
- Install the New ECU
After the old ECU is removed, there may be a diagnostics mode that allows to track the fault in the part, and you might be able to perform some kind of reset that clears the problem. You can also install the new ECU by attaching the wiring harness and then screwing back into its housing.
- Reconnection
Now you can reconnect the battery and turn the switch on the engine. This is where the lights come on, but the engine does not fully engage. Let the car rest at least for five minutes, and give the computer and ECU time to configure correctly. Finally turn off the car and start it as you would normally. The car should start right away.
You can adjust and replace the ECU in a car. You may have difficulty with newer cars. Many of these have complex computer systems and you will have to take them into an authorized dealer to have reconfiguration work performed under the hood.
