Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Replacing a Bricked damaged or faulty ECU with new or used ECU FRS BRZ GT 86

steve99 · 03-13-2016, 04:27 AM

Replacing a Bricked or damaged faulty ECU with new or used ECU (engine control Module) BRZ FRS GT 86

As usual this info is provided in good faith ,I accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this information or any loss or damage resulting from the use of this information

Thanks to @FRS Justin for his assistance

ECU - Engine control module (same as ECM engine control module)
ODB Port - near steering wheel also known as DLC port

What you will need

1. A replacement ECU new or used of same type as your current ECU

If you buy a used ECU (note Toyota/Subaru call them ECM engine control modules) make sure its from the same model/year and transmission type ie auto/manual. Unless you have a flash device so you can flash the ecu with the correct rom all ecu up to 2016 appear to be same hardware even auto or manual is same.

If you buying a used ECU be careful as it may have a "tune" written to it by a system such as Ecutek or BRZEdit which lock the ecu to that system and you will not be able to access the ecu to flash it with open-source tools such as OFT or Tactrix/Ecuflash. You will first need to unlock the ECU with whatever system locked it. Or return it for an ECU thats not locked, unfortunately it is not easy to determine if the ecu is locked or to what system it is locked to unless you have that particular system

Info on Tune systems popular with this vehicle.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106068

Its possible to reflash an ECU with the correct rom calibration after using this procedure but I am not 100% if it will work as their may be slight hardware differences between ECU from different models or regions or auto/manual. But we have done auto to manual from usa ecu to australian ecu. This should work for 2012 to 2016 ecu, im not 100% on the new MY2017 ecu but its likely the same and compatible. Note that the 2017 ecu ROM's/calid is not compatable with 2016 or earlier cars and earlier ecu rom's/calid is not compatable with 2017 cars, the hardware appears same but something has changes in security communications. This proceedure will still work but you wont get a 2017 car to start on earlier than 2017 rom, and you wont get an early car to work on 2017. ie you need to flash in the correct ecu calid rom.

2. Techstream and a suitable interface cable (optional)

This is not required if you don't want/need to change the VIN number in ECU. The car will start and run fine without matching the vIN in ecu to your car.

Link to Techstream software and info

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35530

you can use a Tactrix cable or an VAG Com or a VCI cable to connect to ECU and use Techstream.

3. A small piece of wire to loop pins 4 and 13 on the Cars OBD port (DLC port)
or if you want to be fancy buy a OBD plug and lop pins 4 and 13

Proceedure to swap in new or used ECU

Make sure cars battery is good and well charged if necessary charge battery well before this procedure then disconnect charger, or replace battery if its suspect.

I'm suspect of most modern switch mode or pulse charging battery chargers (auto shop purchased) being connected during procedures like this or flashing ECU. They tend to introduce electrical noise/spikes into system and may cause problems.

Dealers have specialised battery chargers with filtered/conditioned outputs.

1. Ignition off
2. Remove battery terminal
3. Replace ECU module with the new or used ECU unit from another car
see here for physical replacement procedure http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19590
4. Replace battery terminal
5. Turn ON ignition (full ON position not just accessory position)
6. Use Techstream to enter new vin number on connection screen (its under tab called UTILITY in the Engine ECU screen, setting vin is not necessary to get car to start and run)
7. Turn OFF ignition
8. Loop pins 4 and 13 on OBD port in car (this puts control units in comms mode)
9. Turn ignition to full ON position with working key or for keyless fob in car and two pushes of start button (in park or not pressing clutch) DO NOT TRY TO START car, DO NOT remove FOB from car during the 30 minute period.

To be really safe here make sure everything electrical is off in car radio, fans lights ect have the drivers window down and doors closed. Reach in through window to operate ignition at start and end of 30 minute period. Because when you open door window does the jump/up/down ie electrical load/spikes .

10. Wait at least 30 minutes (the CEL light should flash if loop is on pins 4-13)
11. turn OFF ignition (again reaching through window not opening door)
12. Remove loop on OBD port pins 4 to 13
13. Start car let it run for more than 5 seconds.
14. Enjoy your car.

The new/used ecu can be coded into the security system without the vin number being entered with techstream, but your flashing device and or licencing may not work unless the vin is set in ecu. Or their may be other unknow consequences of not setting VIN number. But i have changed vin in ecu and cars still start and run fine

This procedure can be found in the Toyota/Subaru Service manual around page 4985

Service Manual Download
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12135

Proceedure in Manual
https://techinfo.toyota.com/t3Portal...0Y027X_01_0005

OBD Port layout

03-13-2016, 04:27 AM	#1
steve99 Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: FT86 Location: Australia Posts: 7,996 Thanks: 1,035 Thanked 4,998 Times in 2,985 Posts Mentioned: 598 Post(s)	Replacing a Bricked damaged or faulty ECU with new or used ECU FRS BRZ GT 86 Replacing a Bricked or damaged faulty ECU with new or used ECU (engine control Module) BRZ FRS GT 86 As usual this info is provided in good faith ,I accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this information or any loss or damage resulting from the use of this information Thanks to @FRS Justin for his assistance ECU - Engine control module (same as ECM engine control module) ODB Port - near steering wheel also known as DLC port What you will need 1. A replacement ECU new or used of same type as your current ECU If you buy a used ECU (note Toyota/Subaru call them ECM engine control modules) make sure its from the same model/year and transmission type ie auto/manual. Unless you have a flash device so you can flash the ecu with the correct rom all ecu up to 2016 appear to be same hardware even auto or manual is same. If you buying a used ECU be careful as it may have a "tune" written to it by a system such as Ecutek or BRZEdit which lock the ecu to that system and you will not be able to access the ecu to flash it with open-source tools such as OFT or Tactrix/Ecuflash. You will first need to unlock the ECU with whatever system locked it. Or return it for an ECU thats not locked, unfortunately it is not easy to determine if the ecu is locked or to what system it is locked to unless you have that particular system Info on Tune systems popular with this vehicle. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106068 Its possible to reflash an ECU with the correct rom calibration after using this procedure but I am not 100% if it will work as their may be slight hardware differences between ECU from different models or regions or auto/manual. But we have done auto to manual from usa ecu to australian ecu. This should work for 2012 to 2016 ecu, im not 100% on the new MY2017 ecu but its likely the same and compatible. Note that the 2017 ecu ROM's/calid is not compatable with 2016 or earlier cars and earlier ecu rom's/calid is not compatable with 2017 cars, the hardware appears same but something has changes in security communications. This proceedure will still work but you wont get a 2017 car to start on earlier than 2017 rom, and you wont get an early car to work on 2017. ie you need to flash in the correct ecu calid rom. *2. Techstream and a suitable interface cable (optional)* This is not required if you don't want/need to change the VIN number in ECU. The car will start and run fine without matching the vIN in ecu to your car. Link to Techstream software and info *http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35530* you can use a Tactrix cable or an VAG Com or a VCI cable to connect to ECU and use Techstream. 3. A small piece of wire to loop pins 4 and 13 on the Cars OBD port (DLC port) or if you want to be fancy buy a OBD plug and lop pins 4 and 13 Proceedure to swap in new or used ECU Make sure cars battery is good and well charged if necessary charge battery well before this procedure then disconnect charger, or replace battery if its suspect. I'm suspect of most modern switch mode or pulse charging battery chargers (auto shop purchased) being connected during procedures like this or flashing ECU. They tend to introduce electrical noise/spikes into system and may cause problems. Dealers have specialised battery chargers with filtered/conditioned outputs. 1. Ignition off 2. Remove battery terminal 3. Replace ECU module with the new or used ECU unit from another car see here for physical replacement procedure http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19590 4. Replace battery terminal 5. Turn ON ignition (full ON position not just accessory position) 6. Use Techstream to enter new vin number on connection screen (its under tab called UTILITY in the Engine ECU screen, setting vin is not necessary to get car to start and run) 7. Turn OFF ignition 8. Loop pins 4 and 13 on OBD port in car (this puts control units in comms mode) 9. Turn ignition to full ON position with working key or for keyless fob in car and two pushes of start button (in park or not pressing clutch) DO NOT TRY TO START car, DO NOT remove FOB from car during the 30 minute period. To be really safe here make sure everything electrical is off in car radio, fans lights ect have the drivers window down and doors closed. Reach in through window to operate ignition at start and end of 30 minute period. Because when you open door window does the jump/up/down ie electrical load/spikes . 10. Wait at least 30 minutes (the CEL light should flash if loop is on pins 4-13) 11. turn OFF ignition (again reaching through window not opening door) 12. Remove loop on OBD port pins 4 to 13 13. Start car let it run for more than 5 seconds. 14. Enjoy your car. The new/used ecu can be coded into the security system without the vin number being entered with techstream, but your flashing device and or licencing may not work unless the vin is set in ecu. Or their may be other unknow consequences of not setting VIN number. But i have changed vin in ecu and cars still start and run fine This procedure can be found in the Toyota/Subaru Service manual around page 4985 Service Manual Download http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12135 Proceedure in Manual https://techinfo.toyota.com/t3Portal...0Y027X_01_0005 OBD Port layout Attached Images Last edited by steve99; 07-28-2018 at 12:50 PM.