Have I fried my ECU?

**Wanabe_Garage** · 22-01-2006, 01:52 AM

Hi

My car is failing to start now and I dont know why... Is it possible to fry the ECU is groundings arn't secure? or too much voltage going into the computer? I open the ECU and it looks fine (to me) How can I tell?

Any help would be great

ty

**roadsailing** · 22-01-2006, 01:58 AM

work out why your car wont start before you blame the ECU.

an engine needs 3 things to run

fuel

compression

spark

which is it missing?

**oldcorollas** · 22-01-2006, 02:00 AM

what else have you ruled out as a possible cause for not starting?

checked fuses?

checked it is getting spark

checked fuel pump works.

checked engine is getting fuel to injectors etc..

ECU would be last thing to check perhaps?

any specific reason you meantion earths? was there a problem with them?

**Cressida91GLX** · 22-01-2006, 02:02 AM

There is a small thing by the wierd name of electrical fuse. Check that, It should kick in befire more current tries to flow through ECU. And there will definately be more safety features for ECU and unless you delibrately try to fry it, it should be fine.

Why do you think it is the ECU, which is not working??

**mojo_type** · 22-01-2006, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by shinybluesteel

work out why your car wont start before you blame the ECU.

an engine needs 3 things to run

fuel

compression

spark

which is it missing?

and air

the big 4 not 3 ;P

**Norbie** · 22-01-2006, 06:27 PM

ECU failures are actually very uncommon. Solid-state electronics are extremely reliable these days.

As above there are dozens of things that can prevent your car from starting apart from the ECU.

**roadsailing** · 22-01-2006, 06:35 PM

i was going to say air too, but if he didnt have air he would have bigger problems than an engine not starting.

should have said air/fuel in roughly the right proportions

**phrostbyte** · 22-01-2006, 06:42 PM

There's a few times my car all of a sudden didn't want to start. First time was because I'd blown a fuse. Second time was because the lead between the coil and dizzy was loose as hell. Third time was because my passenger had kicked the ECU power wire as he jumped in the car.

Many possible causes, but if the car was running before this, as people have said, the ECU is the last possible cause. Even if the ECU itself isn't grounded, it is still grounded to the engine (Back of the head or intake manifold). I would suspect spark...

Kev.