Discussion
My 1996 318is coupe has been cutting the power on me occasionally while driving but comes back 2-3 seconds later. It failed it's emissions test at the MOT. Thought the 2 were related but took it to the garage and the diagnostics couldn't read the ECU. Looks like it needs a new cat for the emissions but what about the ECU? Is it worth buying a second hand one? I found a few on ebay around £25-40 but will they be any good? Will it cure the problem? And most importantly, which one do I need??? Any help would be much appreciated
I doubt you'll need a new cat unless a) it's rusted away, or b) the engine blew up at one stage and filled it with oil. Other than that, they won't fail in a way that would affect the emissions.
As it's a 96, i'd imagine the ECU is linked to an EWS immobiliser box, which in turn is linked to all the keys, so a new ECU would need to be synced with the car. It won't just plug in and work straight away.
At a guess, the new ECU will need to have 0261 203 667 printed on the top, but it's best to confirm that number with what you have already got.
Most likely there is another fault somewhere, cam or crank sensor, and a diagnostic machine that's lacking a bit.
As it's a 96, i'd imagine the ECU is linked to an EWS immobiliser box, which in turn is linked to all the keys, so a new ECU would need to be synced with the car. It won't just plug in and work straight away.
At a guess, the new ECU will need to have 0261 203 667 printed on the top, but it's best to confirm that number with what you have already got.
Most likely there is another fault somewhere, cam or crank sensor, and a diagnostic machine that's lacking a bit.
Think it needs a new cat because it failed the emissions test badly. The guy who had the car before me put a new cat on last year but put exhaust paste all around the header pipe. Think that's caused the cat to fail prematurely. As for the ecu, I took it to an independant BMW garage and their diagnostics machine couldn't read it. The service indicator/odometer sometimes only shows half the display and I know that's related to the ECU being on it's way out. Why can't there ever be a simple answer?
eliot said:
Stevie360 said:
My 1996 ....... took it to the garage and the diagnostics couldn't read the ECU.
Do you mean no codes were present or unable to connect to the ECU? the 1996 is pre obd2 and needs a compatible reader. (ediabas with ADS support)It can fry the communication line to the diagnostic when people try to reset the service with the paperclip trick..
If you do decide to replace the ECU, its simple. But you will need the ecu, EWS box and key chip all from the same vehicle. It will be plug and play with these componants.
If you do decide to replace the ECU, its simple. But you will need the ecu, EWS box and key chip all from the same vehicle. It will be plug and play with these componants.
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