Check Engine Burned Into ECU?
 

Hi All,

I have a 2014 BRZ Limited, and my check engine light refuses to go off.

Here are the codes I am getting:
https://imgur.com/52GlNI0
https://imgur.com/K7Smaww
https://imgur.com/C72PpD7

The vehicle is under an extended engine and transmission warranty until January 2021, and when I took it in they replaced the P0453 Vent Tube (also known as the EVAP pressure sensor).

When this didn't fix the issue, the dealership told me that the check engine light is burned into the ECU/ECM and would take $3K to replace it with a new one.

Is this something anyone can shed some light on?
Thanks in advance!

That is laughable. Did they even bother resetting the colds after performing the repair?

Also, a used ECU can be had for around $100 or cheaper.

https://leecparts.com/products/2012-...2aeab98c&_ss=r

https://leecparts.com/products/2013-...2aeab98c&_ss=r

Dealership sounds like clowns, idiots or both.

have the local auto parts store 'read' the codes, then ask them to clear them. it shouldn't be a problem.

the only fault codes i'm aware of that hard-code into anything are airbag deployment, but that has a sort of obvious exploding bag to indicate that.

Is that what that was ? I thought it was just bad gas.

Bubba says to place a piece of black electrical tape over the CEL light till you have a chance to take it into a different dealer.

:iono:

That only applies if you've saved your taco bell reciept

This was super helpful, I appreciate the links to the authorized used parts site!

I believe the dealership tried clearing the codes, but that didn't work, which is why they are saying the check engine is burned into the ECU.

Seems like some of the other advice is recommending taking it into a different dealer, is that the best course of action? And then if they say the same thing, just replace the ECU myself?

I've had the codes cleared before, but it keeps coming back...

I would shoot an email to Subaru of America's customer service with what the dealer said. If they are that incompetent, then Subaru should know about it. Plus you will likely get an answer you can print off and take to the dealer so they can hang it on their fridge next to their crayon drawings.

PSA:

PERMANENT obd codes cannot be cleared with a scan tool, only the ECM itself can clear them, by running the monitor again and returning a value that passes. If they fixed the problem the code will go away after a few drive cycles.

BUT

A permanent code does not illuminated the MIL, it's just a breadcrumb left there so people doing emissions inspections can see an issue that someone unscrupulously tried to erase to pass inspection,. If the MIL will not go away, they have not fixed the issue(s) like your evap pressure sensor circuit high.

A "circuit high" fault means the voltage is above the maximum value that's possible on a circuit. For example, the voltage on the sensing circuit of a 5v sensor may be from 0.5 to 4.5 volts, if a sensor like that reads 5 volts, the ecu immediately knows something is up and will immediately illuminate the MIL on startup and store a Circuit High fault.

Fixing your circuit high fault will turn off the MIL, once the car can test itself, it'll erase the permanent code.

Hey dude,

this is pretty helpful, thanks for providing the clarification on PERMANENT codes. That's interesting that they don't light up the MIL.

Is there a way that I can fixing the circuit high fault? Should I mention this to the service center?

I am going to take the car into a different Subaru service center on Wednesday to see if they have a different finding than the first one. Hopefully I can bring this up when they diagnose it and have them fix that...not sure if it would be covered under the warranty.

i would suggest a ma 'n pa shop local to you. there's no specific reason that you need to be going to a dealer for this issue, and many times, the local shops are better and cheaper at diagnosing issues like this in 'older' cars anyways.

He has an extended warranty so there is a reason to go to Subaru in this case. They really need to fix the issue not him.