How to tell if ECU is in limp-mode?

[Mos]

Andrew,
If the paperclip is wiggling there's a good chance you're not in the pin itself but in the plastic recess next to the pin. The pin space is about 80% of the size of the plastic recess, so it's easy to miss the pin itself.
A paperclip in one of those pins should feel reasonably firm. I'd suggest keep poking around until it feels firmer but I guess it's hard to judge... try it and see how you go.
You could always clean the grease out
BTW, it's probably not most accurate to call it limp mode - a better term would be diagnostic mode.
Mos.

[Andrew162]

Thanks for that Mos. Clean the grease out?? Haha.

Ok then, diagnostic mode. The paperclip (a large type) is what I started using, followed by a hair-clip of some sort. Both are metallic and should be able to bridge terminals no probs. I've had the paper clip stuck in the terminal recesses in a number of different ways, all of which felt 'firm' (ie. no wobble), but still no blinking ECU light.

*continues to scratch head*........