Broken Mk1 Mx5 PCM signal - help required please!

[MX-5 Lazza]

OnlyMX5ives said:

I bought his coldside and 50% of the rest of the bits !

You should bring your car along to a Cobham meet - if that's not too far out of your way

OnlyMX5ives said:

I don't think they can recode the ECU or at least not for a reasonable fee as that is what I needed... of course if anyone knows differently post up.

So how are Mazda proposing to fit a replacement ecu?
I would have thought it should be possible. After all, if you have to buy new keys the dealer can program them/the ecu (I don't know which gets programmed) to work with the car.

[OnlyMX5ives]

Too far, I'm in Solihull... I said hello at Curb if you remember.

Timpsons can recode a key from another key - easy and cheap.

Its finding the code of the ECU that seems impossible (is possible with other ECU's just I guess Mazda aren't popular enough for people to bother cracking)

So I presume the Mazda dealer's new one comes with a key or at least the code number.

[ali_kat]

have been advised by several companies that it can be redone.

BUT

Am I better off getting her written off?

Because although the report from Mazda implies human error, it also implies that there could be other electrical damage undiscovered so far......

I paid £2.5k for her in July, 93k, 1.8i, black, leather interior, Momo steering wheel, paint work excellent for a car her age.

If I have her written off, the Glasses Guide says Dealer Retail price £ 3,030.00, Private Sale price: £ 2,930.00 - so guesses as to what I can reasonably expect on a postcard please.

If I have her written off, do I buy her back & sell her on for spares?

Or, If I have her written off, do I get her repaired with the value given?

[OnlyMX5ives]

What policy do you have that covers this ?

(never heard of one)

Get it written off and sell it to me I love a challenge !

[ali_kat]

OnlyMX5ives said:

What policy do you have that covers this ?

(never heard of one)

Get it written off and sell it to me I love a challenge !

Fully Comprehensive with the Dog that says yes a lot - and no, I hadn't heard of it either.

I still have your number from when I came to see your cars for sale in June When I know what they are doing, I'll give you a bell and let you know the value they have offered for it as a buy back....

[OnlyMX5ives]

Wow.

So it covers body and mechanical damage however caused ?

Surely they will get loads of claims from cambelt failures (on other makes)

I can't see how they can afford to cover mech. and be competative on accident cover.

Still good news for you... but will you lose your no claims ?

[ali_kat]

OnlyMX5ives said:

Wow.

So it covers body and mechanical damage however caused ?

Surely they will get loads of claims from cambelt failures (on other makes)

I can't see how they can afford to cover mech. and be competative on accident cover.

Still good news for you... but will you lose your no claims ?

Because it appears that this was caused by the garage, it appears to be claimable, because they can claim it back from the garage. I already know they don't cover cambelt failures as asked when I had one go a few years ago

Will lose my No Claims BUT, have to have a car.

[ali_kat]

Loss Adjustors have rung saying not an insurance claim

We spoke to the nodding dog 3 times on Sunday to confirm it was before we asked for them to take a look.....

LAs are talking to the nodding dog now....

[ali_kat]

Have talked the nodding dog into honouring their word on Sunday & Monday, and they will be ringing me with a write off value shortly.

Glasses Guide says Dealer Retail price £3,030.00, Private Sale price: £2,930.00 but I have found the exact model of car (Classic 1.8i) sold on Ebay for £3,290, AutoTrader & PH (same car) for £3,495.

Wish me luck!

ETA

Arrrgghhhh!

Fed up of this game now!!!

Rang the LAs to find out when I could pick the stuff up out of my car (stuff I keep in the boot, tax disk holder, tax disk, CD's etc) to be told that I can have it back with the car when they have fixed it......

Spoke to the Engineer, and he thinks he can source the correct ECU cheaply. Noddig dog have said they are happy for him to fit it, so he is going to 'play' as is such a nice car.

Don't know if I'm pleased or not. At least if he tries a new ECU and she still blows it up, we'll have tried........

Edited by ali_kat on Wednesday 1st October 16:08

[ali_kat]

Quick, but sad, update.

The Insurance Engineer working on my car has just rung.

They have fitted the 2nd hand ECU (which has been to their local Mazda dealer to be reprogrammed), but the car still will not start.

Mazda have now advised that the MK1 will not accept a 2nd hand ECU, it HAS to be a new one.

So, my car has just been written off

[MX-5 Lazza]

ali_kat said:

Quick, but sad, update.

The Insurance Engineer working on my car has just rung.

They have fitted the 2nd hand ECU (which has been to their local Mazda dealer to be reprogrammed), but the car still will not start.

Mazda have now advised that the MK1 will not accept a 2nd hand ECU, it HAS to be a new one.

So, my car has just been written off

I find that really hard to believe. I know the immobiliser is built in to the ecu but I can't believe that would cause this problem. Why did Mazda reprogram the 2nd hand ecu if they knew it couldn't be used? My bet is that they just want the cash so they'll reprogram an ecu if you ask them to but they really want you to buy a new one. My money would be on the real problem having a different, completely unrelated cause.

[ali_kat]

MX-5 Lazza said:

I find that really hard to believe. I know the immobiliser is built in to the ecu but I can't believe that would cause this problem. Why did Mazda reprogram the 2nd hand ecu if they knew it couldn't be used? My bet is that they just want the cash so they'll reprogram an ecu if you ask them to but they really want you to buy a new one. My money would be on the real problem having a different, completely unrelated cause.

So do I, but this guy says he has done everything possible, hes been talking to the Mazda specialists as well as the Dealers, I know he has been talking to MX5Parts.

Because both the Dealers that have been involved in this (Birmingham & L'Spa) beleived it could be done, It was only on contact with Mazda HO that they were told it could not be done

[Munter]

Wow. So the only option if the ECU dies on my car is scrap it. Or fit the aftermarket ECU and an Immob. Thats not exactly user friendly.

[ali_kat]

Seems that way

[900T-R]

Commiserations Ali you really, really don't have the best of luck with cars, do you?

Chin up - with all the unlikely car maladies you suffered, I bet that when the time comes to get into your own TVR it will be trouble free for years - one can only have so much bad luck.

[OnlyMX5ives]

I'm SURE thats BS....

Wouldn't be the first time Mazda UK gave out wrong info.

There are breakers that sell a complete lockset, ECU etc to get around this for around £450 ish.

[ali_kat]

There are, and I have contacted several over the last 24 hours in an attmept to locate this - without success

And to be honest, I don't have the cash, the time, the knowledge, know how, skills or energy anymore

I would LOVE to see her repaired, but I need a car for work - no car, no work, no money. I cannot wait around until an MX5 of the right age with a working ECU is scrapped and I'm on hand to grab it, on the chance that it 'may' work.

I have to get the cash from the Insurance and get another car. I'm bloody lucky that I'm getting cash from the Insurance in the first place after all

[DennisTheMenace]

Can they not send the ECU away for repair ? there are people out there that refurb them .

[ali_kat]

After

2 intense days of car hunting

10 car viewings

2 worthy of a test drive

I've bought the last one I saw.....



Needs some TLC on the alloys, but other than that is in fairly good nick, am going to ask the Insurance if I can buy my 'old' alloys & wheels back

Wish me luck!!!

[DennisTheMenace]

Good luck Ali !!!!