5 Speed Swap & CA Spec ECUs

[Team_Jake]

I'm seriously considering a 5 speed swap in the near future. I want to start gathering some parts, but finding a California specific ECU is proving to be difficult.

The ECU in my 4Runner right now is part number is 89661-3D600, which is the CA spec ECU for a 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runner. The CA spec ECU for a 1999 M/T 4x4 4Runner is 89661-3D590, which has the same wiring terminals, but I cannot find any for sale right now.

I did find though a CA spec ECU for a 2000 M/T 4x4 4Runner for sale, part number 89666-35160, which also has the same wiring terminals. From my research, no other CA spec M/T 4x4 ECUs (4Runner or Tacoma) have the same wiring terminals, so it looks like these are the only two options unless I want to jump into a wiring nightmare. Can I use the 2000 ECU without any issues or should I wait until a 1999 pops up for sale?

My concern is there might be issues with passing smog or other functions if I use the 2000 instead of the 1999. Anyone have insight on this?

Thanks!

Note: If anyone has a working 1999 ECU 89661-3D590 they'd like to sell I'll pay top dollar for it

 

[phattyduck]

There may be one up on car-part.com right now...

-Charlie

 

[huski]

damn, i sold mine literally days ago. i can pm you his name in case it doesn't work out for him if you want.

 

[anniesball72]

I'm seriously considering a 5 speed swap in the near future. I want to start gathering some parts, but finding a California specific ECU is proving to be difficult.

The ECU in my 4Runner right now is part number is 89661-3D600, which is the CA spec ECU for a 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runner. The CA spec ECU for a 1999 M/T 4x4 4Runner is 89661-3D590, which has the same wiring terminals, but I cannot find any for sale right now.

I did find though a CA spec ECU for a 2000 M/T 4x4 4Runner for sale, part number 89666-35160, which also has the same wiring terminals. From my research, no other CA spec M/T 4x4 ECUs (4Runner or Tacoma) have the same wiring terminals, so it looks like these are the only two options unless I want to jump into a wiring nightmare. Can I use the 2000 ECU without any issues or should I wait until a 1999 pops up for sale?

My concern is there might be issues with passing smog or other functions if I use the 2000 instead of the 1999. Anyone have insight on this?

Thanks!

Note: If anyone has a working 1999 ECU 89661-3D590 they'd like to sell I'll pay top dollar for it

I had the same problem with my 2002. I am in CA and have passed smog twice now after the swap. My truck has a 2004 Tacoma M/T ECU. Smog technician doesn't even comment on the fact it's a manual and no 2002 manuals were sold. So I think you are in good shape.

I also had a difficult time finding the ECM for 4X4 with M/T in they years I needed.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'd try the 2000 Cali M/T ECU. There are 3 sub generations for our 3rd Gens, 96-98, 99-00, and 01-02. The 99 and 00 years are very, very similar and you'd be hard pressed to find any difference. Now if I tried to put a 2000 into my 98 it wouldn't even work, the plugs changed in design and literally won't plug in the back.

 

[Team_Jake]

There may be one up on car-part.com right now...

-Charlie

Just sent them an email inquiring about it. Thanks!

damn, i sold mine literally days ago. i can pm you his name in case it doesn't work out for him if you want.

Thanks, if the one with car-part.com falls through or if I don't find one soon then I'll follow up with you.

I had the same problem with my 2002. I am in CA and have passed smog twice now after the swap. My truck has a 2004 Tacoma M/T ECU. Smog technician doesn't even comment on the fact it's a manual and no 2002 manuals were sold. So I think you are in good shape.

I also had a difficult time finding the ECM for 4X4 with M/T in they years I needed.

Good to know that it's been done in CA!

I'm guess not worried about passing smog with the manual transmission, I'm worried that I might have smog related issues (or other issues) using the 2000 ECU instead of the 1999 ECU. (I guess I'm making a big assumption that the 1999 M/T 4x4 4Runners exhaust and emissions are identical with the 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runners, can anyone confirm this? I don't know if the 2000 M/T 4x4 4Runners and 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runners are identical in that regard.)

 

[APhelps]

A simple google search revealed this :

89661-3D590 – ECM (Engine Control Module) for a Toyota 4Runner (1999) – AutoECMs, no idea if they are in stock.


Now I know to start pulling these suckers at a junkyard if I ever find one!

 

[Team_Jake]

A simple google search revealed this :

89661-3D590 – ECM (Engine Control Module) for a Toyota 4Runner (1999) – AutoECMs, no idea if they are in stock.


Now I know to start pulling these suckers at a junkyard if I ever find one!

I did come across that one, I don't want to pay that much if I can avoid it.

I've been scouring SoCal junkyard websites looking for 1999 M/T 4X4 4Runners...and I've never found even one...and the ECU is probably the first thing to get picked. If you can get one more power to you! I swear these things are total unicorns!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Just sent them an email inquiring about it. Thanks!



Thanks, if the one with car-part.com falls through or if I don't find one soon then I'll follow up with you.



Good to know that it's been done in CA!

I'm guess not worried about passing smog with the manual transmission, I'm worried that I might have smog related issues (or other issues) using the 2000 ECU instead of the 1999 ECU. (I guess I'm making a big assumption that the 1999 M/T 4x4 4Runners exhaust and emissions are identical with the 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runners, can anyone confirm this? I don't know if the 2000 M/T 4x4 4Runners and 1999 A/T 4x4 4Runners are identical in that regard.)

From what I can see from my time researching ECU's for when I wired up my piggyback, all 99-02's have the "Type D" ECU wiring as shown in the photo below. No difference in M/Ts or A/Ts as long as they both have the 5VZ-FE engine (obviously the ECU from a 3RZ-FE won't work). However, use this diagram to compare to the photo of the ECU and the ECU wiring you currently have. Thankfully Toyota was smart and if they changed the wiring, they also changed the plug design so you can't accidentally plug in the wrong one in the wrong ECU.

 

[TheDurk]

From what I can see from my time researching ECU's for when I wired up my piggyback, all 99-02's have the "Type D" ECU wiring as shown in the photo below. No difference in M/Ts or A/Ts as long as they both have the 5VZ-FE engine (obviously the ECU from a 3RZ-FE won't work). However, use this diagram to compare to the photo of the ECU and the ECU wiring you currently have. Thankfully Toyota was smart and if they changed the wiring, they also changed the plug design so you can't accidentally plug in the wrong one in the wrong ECU.

This is not strictly true. There are plenty of exceptions where one or two or three wires are reassigned without changing the plug.

 

[4Reak Show]

5 Speed Swap & CA Spec ECUs

If it helps, my ECU is from a 99 Tacoma. Has connectors of 34/22/16/28 pins. I can check part number at some point. My engine/trans swap is BAR'd/ref'd legal (Bureau of Auto Repair) and he never looked into CA vs other Certifcation that I know of.

What's odd about Tacomas is I'm fairly certain they run EGR's depending on year range but mine does NOT have EGR so it might not be CA spec. Or taco MT doesn't run EGR. all I know is my system runs great and maybe I have a unicorn.

Just don't forget about T100 and Taco ECU's too. They came as 4wd and 5vz as well. I'd almost guess a matching harness and ECU and do the manual swap and be done. I wouldn't even Ref it. Smog tech's aren't gonna look that deep I don't think. Grain of salt on that on of course.

 

[gamefreakgc]

This is not strictly true. There are plenty of exceptions where one or two or three wires are reassigned without changing the plug.

I think I didn't flesh out that statement very well. There's distinct differences in the wiring of say, a M/T 99 and a A/T 02 but nothing that should throw a check engine light or prevent operation. From my limited experience of ECU's it seems as though Toyota only added more features each year (more wiring) but didn't take anything away.

 

[TheDurk]

I think I didn't flesh out that statement very well. There's distinct differences in the wiring of say, a M/T 99 and a A/T 02 but nothing that should throw a check engine light or prevent operation. From my limited experience of ECU's it seems as though Toyota only added more features each year (more wiring) but didn't take anything away.

That's better.:thumb3:

 

[phattyduck]

I think I didn't flesh out that statement very well. There's distinct differences in the wiring of say, a M/T 99 and a A/T 02 but nothing that should throw a check engine light or prevent operation. From my limited experience of ECU's it seems as though Toyota only added more features each year (more wiring) but didn't take anything away.

Just don't generalize that to other Toyotas... :whip:

-Charlie

 

[anniesball72]

From what I can see from my time researching ECU's for when I wired up my piggyback, all 99-02's have the "Type D" ECU wiring as shown in the photo below. No difference in M/Ts or A/Ts as long as they both have the 5VZ-FE engine (obviously the ECU from a 3RZ-FE won't work). However, use this diagram to compare to the photo of the ECU and the ECU wiring you currently have. Thankfully Toyota was smart and if they changed the wiring, they also changed the plug design so you can't accidentally plug in the wrong one in the wrong ECU.

Be careful! The 01-02 ECU has an additional connector in the center (E11) for the "drive by wire". This is only found in the 01-02 4Runner and 03-04 Tacomas.

You are going to have to stick with a 99-00 ECM.

 

[phattyduck]

Be careful! The 01-02 ECU has an additional connector in the center (E11) for the "drive by wire". This is only found in the 01-02 4Runner and 03-04 Tacomas.

You are going to have to stick with a 99-00 ECM.

That plug is also used for immobilizer on 99/00 Limiteds (though those weren't available with a manual!)

-Charlie

 

[WrenchTech]

That plug is also used for immobilizer on 99/00 Limiteds (though those weren't available with a manual!)

-Charlie

I just purchased a transmission swap package for my 1999 4runner. The parts came from a 2000 model and included the ECU. I was hoping the ECU would work, but I failed to realize that my runner is an early 99 model that has less in common with a 2000 than a later 99 model would. The ECU I received is definitely for a V6 4x4 manual, but it has that center plug E11 that says to me that it has the immobilizer. From what I have read that is a combination that is not supposed to exist. Of course I don’t know the production date of the donor vehicle. Perhaps it is a late 2000 that had drive by wire, but I think the seller would have noticed that. I should also mention that I am talking about federal models.

 

[Team_Jake]

it has that center plug E11 that says to me that it has the immobilizer.

All 1999-2000 4Runner 5VZ ECUs have that plug, regardless if your vehicle came with an immobilizer or not. There are no ECUs made specifically for vehicles with an immobilizer, the immobilizer is a completely separate entity in the vehicle and all the ECU does is store the coded values the immobilizer checks. So if your 4Runner does not have an immobilizer, this new ECU won't care and should run normally.

 

[phattyduck]

I just purchased a transmission swap package for my 1999 4runner. The parts came from a 2000 model and included the ECU. I was hoping the ECU would work, but I failed to realize that my runner is an early 99 model that has less in common with a 2000 than a later 99 model would. The ECU I received is definitely for a V6 4x4 manual, but it has that center plug E11 that says to me that it has the immobilizer. From what I have read that is a combination that is not supposed to exist. Of course I don’t know the production date of the donor vehicle. Perhaps it is a late 2000 that had drive by wire, but I think the seller would have noticed that. I should also mention that I am talking about federal models.

Look closely at those plugs. Nothing was ever plugged into the center (immobilizer) plug. The same connector was used on the ECU, it just doesn't use those connections so the harness has no matching plug.

-Charlie

 

[gamefreakgc]

Look closely at those plugs. Nothing was ever plugged into the center (immobilizer) plug. The same connector was used on the ECU, it just doesn't use those connections so the harness has no matching plug.

-Charlie

Good catch! There's definitely some dust in the center plug. I would have also fallen into the boat of it's the wrong ECU.