ECU Screw is missing!!! Help.

[paulNJ]

There is no silver screw in my ECU!! Here's the story, your help is appreciated.

My check engine light came on the other day. I wanted to try and run the codes (which I have never done before). I found this website with a how-to, but when I uncovered my ECU, there was no silver screw, just a dark hole. Where the heck did the screw go?

Only one dealer has ever worked on my car, and they say they never even touch the ECU because they use a computer diagnostic plug-in tool. I think he's BSing me, how can you turn off your SES light WITHOUT touching the ECU???


http://www.brianv.net/mods/ecu/

[VQmax95]

The dealership uses an OBDII Scan tool that plugs into the port in your car(95?-96 is on the passenger side kickpanel opposite the ECU and 97-99 are under the steering wheel) They can clear the codes for you, the screw is sort of like a Manual override.(I guess) To fix your problem...I don't really know if the dealership can fix it, but My best guess is that you'd have to get a new ECU. Again, i'm not 100% sure. If they do it for free, take it to the dealership.

[mymax95]

Originally Posted by paulNJ

My check engine light came on the other day. I wanted to try and run the codes (which I have never done before). I found this website with a how-to, but when I uncovered my ECU, there was no silver screw, just a dark hole. Where the heck did the screw go?

The screw is the top end of a potentiometer (like a volume knob for the less electrically inclined). On my '95, it is mounted to a U-shaped bracket that is held to the ECM frame by the small brass-colored screw about 1/2 inch to the right (you can see it on the brianv page). If that screw is missing, then the bracket and pot are loose inside the ECM.

Everything in the ECM is epoxy-coated so I doubt it would do any damage to have those parts loose, but if you pull the ECM and open the flat cover, you should be able to get the bracket mounted back where it belongs and then the reset procedure would work.

[paulNJ]

Thanks for the replies.