Dealer tried to install new ECM
 

So I have had problems with a stumble at cold idle with an occasional 2nd crank required for starting (rare). The car was in previously for a 15k service and I mentioned the tsb about the idle issues, they could not confirm as no CEL light has been thrown.

Fast forward a few weeks to in for door rattle with switch panel and I mention the continued stumble at cold start. The regional rep happened to be there and asked my tech; "have you replaced the ECM with the new one yet?" Claiming this would fix the problem. Evidently the previous tsb for a reflash failed and was pulled right away, a new ECM was required to handle the new flash. Now I have no idea what this new ECM does change specifically but I am wary as the after a day of trying the new ECM threw a code about "incompatible ECM" after several failed tries the old ECM was put back in.

Has anyone else experienced this issue with the newest ECM? Does anyone have this running in their car and if so what did it fix (if anything)? I am afraid the new ECM if made to work will be a weak tune and dumb the car down trying to protect against some of the engine failures we are hearing about or worse try and put code in to protect against tunes altogether.

I appreciate any feedback from those with direct experience with this new ECM.

Thanks

Yikes!

ECM = ECU?? I am confused. If its just a flash, no performance will be lost.

The M is probably for Module, which would be a lot more than just a flash.

I have not received a new ECU/ECM but they did state at my last service there was a TSB to update the ECM. When asked what it was for they said it was just emissions stuff. I mentioned the really low idle and they didn't know if that was related. After the update the first few starts were odd. Higher than normal idle and then super low dip and then it would bounce a few times and level out. After 50 miles everything seems back to normal. still idles low but has never died on me so i just keep driving it. :) Maybe the ECU was simply "re-learning" af rations etc??? who knows.

im curious if any of the people with these idle issues are actually beating on the car or if they are babying it everywhere... they sound similar to my old direct injected turbo cobalt issues and they were from clogged injector tips and coking on the intake valves causing weird issues... beating on the car usually cleaned everything up.

My wife had a Mini Cooper S model that I brought in for servicing because it was running rough. They had to pull the head and essentially clean the crap from the inside out. The service advisor asked me to please make sure to tell my wife to beat on the car more so it didn't happen again. He actually said "drive it harder".

I drive it pretty varied so I do believe it is engine management related or perhaps camshaft sensor issue per previous tsb but hopefully I will know more by Wed. I do not believe the direct injection problems on other cars directly correlate since this is port and direct injection but time will tell.

people buy these cars and then are afraid to drive them... and these are slow gutless cars... hell i used to take my 500hp sedan to the 6600 redline DAILY.... i dont get it...

Was that carbon buildup on the intake valves due to direct injection?

If so, GTI's have the same issue. You sometimes hear a recommendation in the VW community to do an "italian clean up", i.e., drive the piss out of the car every once in a while. The theory is to get the valves hot enough to burn off the carbon deposits. No idea if there's any truth to that, but I'm more than happy to bring the GTI to the track once a year, just for that reason :)

She'd gone from a Ram pickup with a hemi to the Mini. She couldn't get gas mileage out of her head.
Mind you this is a woman who was heard saying (while passing someone in the truck) "that's right. I've got a hemi and I'm not afraid to use it."
Why she turned into Fanny Frugal with the Mini is beyond me.

You mean Italian Tune-up :cheers:

I'm sure being so much lower to the ground has something to do with it..... lower and smaller car feels way faster than a taller much bigger one...

Whoops you're right, I stand corrected. :)