Is there a procedure or sequence you need to do after swapping ECMs?

[tsonnenl]

I tried swapping ECM's with a friend of mine who has an identical 06 V8 4x4 to troubleshoot a CEL I have and neither car started after the swap. They would turn over and die immediately. I switched them back and they ran fine.

I found the factory repair manual online and it doesn't mention anything beyond the physical swap. Anyone know what I'm missing?

Thanks,
Todd

 

[tsonnenl]

I found a few posts talking about resetting the ECM with it still in the car, and apparently that just requires disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes. I didn't touch the batteries, but I have to assume the 20 minutes the ECMs were out of the car completely would have accomplished the same thing, right?

 

[Mpac1]

Just a thought...

Do you think the ECU is tied to the anti-theft system, where the ECU and signal from the key/switch don't match?

 

[galactic_04]

^^ What he said.

There's an immobilizer in the ECM that works with the ignition switch/key chip. that won't work without having the dealer program it to your car then program it back... or swapping the whole ignition switch. At least you know the immobilizer works! Once it's programmed for a car, it cannot be moved as far as I know. Either a new ECM that's never been programmed or a non-immobilized one are your choices.

I'm not sure they ever made a 4runner without an immobilizer. You could possibly find a non-immobilized FJ or tacoma V6 to test with, but some pins may be different on the ecu wiring... not sure.

 

[tsonnenl]

Ouch. So even the dealer can't reprogram a used ECM like from a salvage yard to make it work with my truck? A $1400 new one is painful, especially since they're not sure it is even the source of my issue.

I assume places like http://www.ecmoutlet.com/ that rebuild ECM's don't actually send your exact one back, so hopefully they have a solution.

 

[galactic_04]

You could try a car with the engien that came non-immobilized, chances are the FJ or Tacoma ecm would work. You could get a CEL from it, but honestly, as long as the ecm connects up it should work.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

^^ What he said.

There's an immobilizer in the ECM that works with the ignition switch/key chip. that won't work without having the dealer program it to your car then program it back... or swapping the whole ignition switch. At least you know the immobilizer works! Once it's programmed for a car, it cannot be moved as far as I know. Either a new ECM that's never been programmed or a non-immobilized one are your choices.

I'm not sure they ever made a 4runner without an immobilizer. You could possibly find a non-immobilized FJ or tacoma V6 to test with, but some pins may be different on the ecu wiring... not sure.

I believe by about '04~'05 Toyota realized their programming error and made the ECM's reprogrammable. Unfortunately you still need to "Sync" the ECM with the immobilizer with a factory scantool as the immobilizer talks to the ECM to verify your Key's transponder.

I will check the TIS network tomorrow at work when I get the chance to verify the proper production date, but I am sure it was roughly '04~'05.

 

[tsonnenl]

Thank you both for your help. Knowing whether or not a used ECM will work will be very helpful.

If so, I'll probably pick up a used one that I found for $85 and try that first, since I don't have access to too many other types of ECMs to experiment with.

 

[galactic_04]

I will say my experience is with the 2gr-fe ecu, but you may want to just double-check with a dealer in the area to see if they can program another ecu for you if you pull one from a junkyard. I doubt it, but there's a small chance the ecu is different like that.

 

[tsonnenl]

I believe by about '04~'05 Toyota realized their programming error and made the ECM's reprogrammable. Unfortunately you still need to "Sync" the ECM with the immobilizer with a factory scantool as the immobilizer talks to the ECM to verify your Key's transponder.

I will check the TIS network tomorrow at work when I get the chance to verify the proper production date, but I am sure it was roughly '04~'05.

BlackWorks, did you get a chance to check this out? Thanks again!

 

[Uneek]

Not sure about the earlier ECMs and if this is applicable for those.

With my '06 for the immobilizer, you will need the master key in order to reprogram it. Without the master key the immobilizer can't be programmed for new keys. The valet key doesn't work for programming.

 

[Acidmeld]

I dont beleive its the immobilizer thats causing youre problem. The immobilizer has a seperate ecu. If it was the problem the car wouldnt start at all. It would just crank with no fire at all. The problem you have is that the ecu is unmatched to your vehicles vin. The dealer can program the vin using the scantool.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I dont beleive its the immobilizer thats causing youre problem. The immobilizer has a seperate ecu. If it was the problem the car wouldnt start at all. It would just crank with no fire at all. The problem you have is that the ecu is unmatched to your vehicles vin. The dealer can program the vin using the scantool.

That's what I mean by having to program the immobilizer, the Immobilizer module communicates with the ECM to verify the proper code back and forth, which is why when you replace either they need to be "sync'd" with each other.

I unfortunately was so busy this week I did not check, thank you for reminding me I will do it today and get back to you. :ybrick:

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I double checked and your ECM is reprogrammable for the keys should you need to do that as long as you have the Master Key. The main issue you are most likely having is that the CAN network in you vehicle is seeing a ECM that does not match its learned VIN and so it will not work. You need a TIS Scantool to program the VIN into the ECM.

Small note, from '02-03 upwards, Toyota made all their ECMs reprogrammable on the keys as long as you have at least 1 Master Key.