can you replace an ecu from car to car

The boost pressure sensors are often cheap and can be easily replaced on most car models. The Nox sensor is mounted on the exhaust pipe and on the control unit under a plastic cover. Depending on your engine, you will often have one or more knock sensors. The MAP sensor contains a pressure-sensitive electrical circuit that can monitor the movement of an internal rubber … If you have a turbo engine, it will most likely be mounted on the intake manifold. The crankshaft sensor sends signals to the engine management system about the position of the crankshaft. The cost is often quite low, and replacement is most likely quite simple. The camshaft sensor measures the position of the camshafts. In this article, you will learn about all kinds of common car sensors that you can find in your car engine. The Nox sensor measures the Nox volume in the exhaust gases. Location The airbag ECU is generally located near the gear stick of a car, usually in front or behind it. There are many symptoms that can be associated with a faulty ECU. More information and pictures of all car sensors can be found further down in this article. The knock sensors are often cheap, but it can be a bit difficult to get hold of and replace them on some engines. If you find your car, truck, or van has suddenly developed a voracious appetite for coolant, and you cannot figure out where it's all going, you may well be looking at a blown heater core. Many other symptoms can be associated with a faulty ECU. The manifold absolute pressure sensor measures the pressure inside the intake manifold. Ideally, a "header-back" exhaust system will be installed, in which the exhaust goes pretty much straight from the engine to the tailpipe, efficiently and quickly. I created this blog because I was tired of finding false information on the web while looking for repair information. On some car models the sensor is integrated into the throttle body, and you will need to replace the entire throttle body if it is defective. To confuse things a bit more, the term electronic control unit (ECU) is often used as a generic term for any built-in system that controls multiple electrical features in a car. You will often find this sensor if your car is equipped with a turbocharger or supercharger. ECU repairs can be very expensive. While there are many excellent repair shops and service centers that have the required equipment to diagnose a faulty ECU, if you want to be absolutely certain that your car is correctly diagnosed, consider taking your vehicle to a dealership that sells your particular vehicle. Upgrade to a performance exhaust system with test piping. A faulty crankshaft sensor can cause your engine to come to a complete stop, giving you rough starting conditions. The intake air temperature sensor measures the air temperature that flows through the intake pipes into the cylinders of your car. And from there it can get confusing, because there's a whole rat's nest of electrical terminology to trace and pick through. Kits are available, should you choose to do it yourself, for several hundred dollars, though welding a new exhaust system onto the car requires that you … Fortunately, an ECU can be repaired or reprogrammed in many cases—thus preventing the need to actually replace an ECU. The manifold absolute pressure sensor is most likely mounted on the manifold or on a vacuum hose from the intake manifold. The knock sensor monitors impacts or detonations from the cylinder combustion chamber. Depending on the vehicle engine model you often have 1 to 4 exhaust gas temperature sensors. They do the work and then ship it back to you. The cost of the sensor itself is not that high, but it may take some time to replace it, which can be a bit expensive if you have a mechanic do it for you. This sensor is not installed in many car models. The sensors are mounted on the exhaust pipe and on the exhaust manifold, and sometimes also on the turbocharger. The fuel temperature sensor measures the temperature of your fuel. You will find the sensor at any point on the pressure lines or on the intake manifold. The most common reason is a problem with the ECU. More information and pictures of all car sensors can be found further down in this article. When your car runs rich, it is not alarming if you can accurately identify the cause. It is often integrated into your MAF sensor, but can also be mounted externally on your intake pipes, on the manifold or near the air filter box. If it detects a misfire, it adjusts the ignition or fuel to ensure that the engine does not detonate. It is most likely to be mounted on your fuel pressure rail, but sometimes it can also be mounted on the fuel pressure line or fuel filter. In many cases, the faulty ECU can be repaired or reprogrammed, and this type of repair will usually run between $300 to $750, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Testimonial … If you suspect that the electronic control unit in your vehicle is damaged, or is going bad, you should immediately take your vehicle to the nearest dealership, repair shop or service center. If your vehicle fails to start for no apparent reason, this is also a good indicator that there may be a problem with the ECU. The cost of a new MAF sensor can be quite high, but replacing the sensor is often very easy. The sensors are often quite expensive and can be difficult to reach and replace, they often rust and get stuck. by Magnus SellénUpdated: February 16, 2021. This will help the mechanic or technician best repair your vehicle. How to Detect and Clean a Faulty Mass Airflow Sensor, How to Tell if You Have a Faulty Coil Pack, How to Tell If You Have a Faulty Throttle Position Sensor. With more than 40 years of experience in the automotive industry, Sung Beng Auto Group at EAST & WEST workshop provide a total complete one-stop professional automotive servicing & repairing workshop to all car owners , you can rest assured that your ride is in safe hands with the right prices. The throttle position sensor measures the angle of the throttle to see how hard you accelerate the car. This way, you'll be out of the way in case of a malfunction that causes the airbag to deploy. You often have a camshaft sensor on each camshaft. The crankshaft sensor plays an important role in getting the right signal when it is time to ignite the injectors and ignition coil. Normally you have two or more O2 sensors. You will often find the air mass sensor attached to your air filter box. An ECU can often be very expensive and requires advanced programming to be installed in your car. You often have a separate sensor for the cooling fan, and a separate sensor can be used for the instrument cluster and engine control module. If you check the car battery, starter and other common electrical components, and the vehicle still does not start, a faulty engine control unit should be the next logical thing to consider. The fuel temperature sensor is most likely mounted on your pressurized fuel line, but in some cases it can also be mounted on the return line. The boost pressure sensor measures the boost pressure in the pressure lines. As you have seen, there are many reasons why your vehicle can run rich. A Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor (MAP), To find more information about this sensor, check, Questions to ask before buying a used car, 10 Best Used Pickup Trucks to Buy Under $10,000, Measures the Air temperature flowing to the engine, Inside the MAF sensor or after the air filter box, Measures the Air Mass going into the engine, Hose between air filter box and throttle body, Measures the pressure in the intake manifold, Low fitted on the engine. The shape, price, and arrangement may vary depending on the car model, this is general information for common cars. COPYRIGHT 1999-2021 MH Sub I, LLC dba CarsDirect.com, How to Detect a Faulty Manifold Pressure Sensor, 2020 Toyota Highlander Recalled For Involuntary Stalling, The Top Brake Repair Shops for Pricing and Service, How to Detect and Repair a Faulty Hydraulic Lifter. These companies allow you to send your faulty ECU to their location for repair. The front sensor measures the oxygen and adjusts the fuel mixture. The camshafts rotate 1 revolution when the crankshaft rotates 2 revolutions. Detonations can cause severe damage to your engine and pistons, and to prevent this, the knock sensor is attached to your engine block. The O2 sensors are often quite expensive and replacement can be difficult as they tend to rust and are difficult to remove. If you have to replace the entire throttle body, the costs increase considerably. For example, poor performance or unexplained drops in fuel economy or efficiency are often related to onboard car computer problems, or faulty ECU issues. If you want more information about this sensor, check out this article: Coolant temperature sensor. The mass airflow sensor measures the air flowing into your engine. For many models of vehicles you can find online repair services for between $300 and $400 for a complete repair or reprogram of the ECU. The O2 sensors are located on the exhaust pipe. If you have a V-engine, you often have two O2 sensors per row (cylinders 1-3-5 and 2-4-6 etc.). When you turn the key (or press the start button) in your car, the engine’s computer — also called the engine control unit or ECU — sends a voltage reference to the MAP sensor. There are numerous reasons why a car's check engine light will remain on. The ECU, or engine control unit, is a major component of your car's onboard computer. However, the two units operate independently. The crankshaft sensor itself is often cheap, but can be difficult to reach and sometimes difficult to replace. A voltage sensor measures the voltage in the electrical system of your car. The disadvantage of using many different vehicle sensors is that they can fail within a certain period of time, which can sometimes lead to costly replacements. The Nox sensor can often not be replaced without replacing the control unit. If you type "electronic control module," or its better-known acronym, ECM, into the search field, you'll be gently guided over to the ECU (engine control unit) page. Typically you can find them at Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, and Skoda. When choosing a service center to check for a faulty ECU, make sure that you visit one that uses the latest computer diagnostic equipment for checking your car's onboard computer. However, there are service providers that auction their services on sites like eBay that can perform the work for as little as $50. The sensor can be quite expensive and is a bit messy to replace if you are not experienced. Almost all modern car engines use a variety of different vehicle sensors to collect the right information and calculate a perfect air-fuel mixture for the best fuel consumption in all situations. Sadly, if the leak is hard to find, the reason may be that the coolant has been leaking into your cabin when the … On some car models, they can be difficult to access if they are mounted on the intake manifold. The camshaft sensors are often cheap and easy to replace, but on some car models, they are installed inside the timing belt housing and can be difficult to replace. Keeping up with all these … It is often mounted high in the engine compartment on a coolant hose or screwed directly into the cylinder head. It often uses a hot wire that is cooled by the airflow, then converts the resistance into air mass flow and transmits the information to the engine control unit. If you have lost your car keys or are in need of a spare, we can help you. In some vehicles, you may have several coolant temperature sensors. By visiting an authorized dealership, you will always be assured that the equipment used to diagnose it provides the most accurate readings and results. If you experience jerking or stopping, you regularly maintain your transmission properly, and the vehicle has adequate levels of transmission fluid, then a faulty ECU should be suspect. The sensor itself is often quite cheap, but it can be unwieldy to replace it if you are not an experienced mechanic. It is often used instead of a MAF sensor in American cars. The coolant temperature sensor measures the temperature of the coolant. It's used to regulate many systems and subsystems in your car's engine, drive train and other major components. The sensor is used to measure the position of the camshaft so that the engine control unit knows in which position the engine is. If you notice that your check engine light is always on, take your in vehicle in for service and request that they check the engine control unit. But which sensors are installed in your vehicle and what function do they have? In the unfortunate event that you need to actually replace the ECU, you should add about $500 to $600 to the cost of the part for labor to install and program the new ECU. The shape, price, and arrangement may vary depending on the car model, this is general information … The throttle body is often difficult to access, and if it is possible to replace only the throttle position sensor, the price of the sensor itself is quite reasonable. The O2 sensors measure the oxygen in the exhaust gases coming from the engine. These days, there are many online companies that provide ECU repair services also. It is important to measure the fuel pressure, as an increase in pressure would result in a richer fuel mixture and a lower pressure would result in a leaner fuel mixture. You can easily reset the light by unplugging the negative terminal on the battery for ten seconds (which is what I would suggest), or driving for sixty miles so the car can cycle. The control unit and the sensor are often very expensive and the replacement can be a bit tricky because the sensor tends to rust and get stuck. Changing (or 'modding') the ECU software will change the times and rates in which fuel is injected. If you vehicle's check engine light remains on constantly, and never goes off, there's a good chance that your vehicle has a faulty engine control unit. You need to remove the transmission … The price of the MAP sensor is often low and replacement is often easy. I have been working with cars for 10 years, specialized in diagnostics and troubleshooting. These are some of the problems you can tackle after you make successful diagnostics. If your check engine light is already on, then this is a great test to try, but before you try it, head to your local auto store and get a free scan. You have one in front of the catalytic converter and one behind it. After replacement, turn the key to accessories, then replace the cable. (A lot of fuel may leak out). A damaged ECU can cause problems when shifting gears in an automatic transmission, or cause sudden jerking or stopping that's similar to transmission problems. If you have a manifold pressure sensor, you often do not need a boost pressure sensor. In many cases, the faulty ECU can be repaired or reprogrammed, and this type of repair will usually run between $300 to $750, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. This unit is often integrated in the control modules and may not be replaceable. Auto Key Replacements provide a comprehensive range of automotive locksmith services for many makes and models of cars in Australia.. Armed with a complete mobile workshop, we can assist you with your automotive key needs, beating the dealership price 95% of the time, and we come to you! For this reason, a camshaft position sensor is needed to improve fuel economy. Depending on whether the fuel temperature is high or low, it may differ in how much fuel is required for optimum combustion. Hi, I’m Magnus, the owner and the writer of Mechanic Base. To find more information about this sensor, check Intake air temperature sensor. A symptom of a faulty camshaft sensor is often rough starting conditions. The fuel pressure sensor measures the fuel pressure on your fuel pressure line. 4. If you have a defective voltage sensor, you may need to replace the entire control unit in your car. You can program one system without affecting the other. The fuel temperature sensor sends a signal to the engine control unit to increase or decrease the amount of fuel required depending on temperature. The rear sensor is only a diagnostic probe for the P0420 code. The part alone can cost between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. It can sense both under-pressure and overpressure. 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They do the work and then ship it back to you, specialized in diagnostics troubleshooting.

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