ECU questions

Roteus

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Hi experts,

My KIA forte 2009 was recently diagnosed w burnt ECU

Workshop A recommended 1k+ for a recon, reprogrammed ECU

Workshop B offered 450 for recon ECU (most likely after scrap and plug and play) cause my specific model had a 1-1 exchange policy

My question is will there be any complications for a plug and play ECU or will the ECU relearn and pick up my driving habits and reprogram itself?

Which option would be better?

Do advise me as I'm pretty new to all these

Thanks in advance!
 

zzt231

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Stock ecu how to reprogram . Bluff u 1.
It the same thing as the $450.

Stock ecu will learn your driving habit.

Sent from 我不是金钱的狗奴才 using GAGT
 

zzt231

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Ecu is plug n play.
U go scrap yard find yourself , cheaper.

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Firefly01

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What is recon ECU? How do you even recon an ECU?

Sent from an Android phone using GAGT
 

weeza77

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Once battery disconnected, ECU will reset. How does one fried an ECU? Did you jumpstart the car?
 

Roteus

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Thanks all

Beats me; but workshop pried open the ECU casing and there's slight burnt marks near the chip on the board. Granted it's a 11.5 year old car and I got it second hand for 1.5 years now so I have no idea about prev maintenance

Just trying to minimise my damage here so if there's any other recommendations or precautions do let me know as well!
 

kurtgoh

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Once battery disconnected, ECU will reset. How does one fried an ECU? Did you jumpstart the car?

must understand.

Kia forte 4 speed had this ECU problem.. after 2011, is strongly recommended.
6 speeds got zero such problem.



TS
the common practice is to change a brand new ECU
but in SG context, unless you still left with plentiful of COE balance.
 

myviowner

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What is recon ECU? How do you even recon an ECU?

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Reconditioned/ Used ECU- From scrapped car, workshop do some minor repairs or checking before sale.

2nd hand ECU- Freshly taken out from scrapped car.
 

kurtgoh

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Thanks all

Beats me; but workshop pried open the ECU casing and there's slight burnt marks near the chip on the board. Granted it's a 11.5 year old car and I got it second hand for 1.5 years now so I have no idea about prev maintenance

Just trying to minimise my damage here so if there's any other recommendations or precautions do let me know as well!

too bad, otherwise would recommend you go JB and get it repaired or a new one.
 

weeza77

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must understand.

Kia forte 4 speed had this ECU problem.. after 2011, is strongly recommended.
6 speeds got zero such problem.



TS
the common practice is to change a brand new ECU
but in SG context, unless you still left with plentiful of COE balance.

What are the symptoms for this ECU problem?
 

MeGaBiTeS

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What are the symptoms for this ECU problem?

1. The gearbox will be stucked at gear 3. For my case, there is shift shock when gearbox is changing gear from 3 to 4 as well.

2. There will be check engine light and code for solenoid valve damaged.
 

cscs3

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What is recon ECU? How do you even recon an ECU?

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From scrap car market. Some get repaired by components level, but you can hardly find any this type of skill in Singapore. Workshop in China does it.
 

cscs3

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Thanks all

Beats me; but workshop pried open the ECU casing and there's slight burnt marks near the chip on the board. Granted it's a 11.5 year old car and I got it second hand for 1.5 years now so I have no idea about prev maintenance

Just trying to minimise my damage here so if there's any other recommendations or precautions do let me know as well!

You have a picture at burned mark area. Get someone has soldering skill and have the component replaced.
 

Peach Tea

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1. The gearbox will be stucked at gear 3. For my case, there is shift shock when gearbox is changing gear from 3 to 4 as well.

2. There will be check engine light and code for solenoid valve damaged.

You buy car never test drive???
Apply lemon law and get them replace la.
 

Roteus

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Hi all,

To further update and for the benefit of those who would like to learn

Attached a picture of my burnt ECU

Symptoms
1) Jerking/surging during acceleration/braking/cruising at ANY RPM
2) Problems will only surface after 30 mins of drive
3) No check light/ unable to scan through OBDII scanner

Possible causes (explained by mechanic)
1) Kia ECU will 70% have issues after 10th year
2) Mine was probably due to failing capacitor

Eventually, I went for the $450 option, 6 months warranty. Plug and play, vehicle working as before, but can feel very slight jerk (0.5s delay) from 0-60. Maybe it's just me. Haven't drove that much yet, believe replacement ECU will have to pick up my driving habits

Thanks all for your input! If there's anything else you'd like to know about getting ECU replaced etc, can drop me a pm!

WhatsApp%20Image%202020-03-26%20at%202.58.50%20PM.jpeg
[/URL][/IMG]
 

seowbin

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looks like kia car not much security in place.

Most conti ECU need to do some sort of pairing with the speedometer / immobilizer system...

yours can just plug and play... or maybe it's the immobilizer system already disabled :s13:

you better try to start your car with the key (without the immobilizer part), if it works means .......... GG.
 

cscs3

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Hi all,

To further update and for the benefit of those who would like to learn

Attached a picture of my burnt ECU

Symptoms
1) Jerking/surging during acceleration/braking/cruising at ANY RPM
2) Problems will only surface after 30 mins of drive
3) No check light/ unable to scan through OBDII scanner

Possible causes (explained by mechanic)
1) Kia ECU will 70% have issues after 10th year
2) Mine was probably due to failing capacitor

Eventually, I went for the $450 option, 6 months warranty. Plug and play, vehicle working as before, but can feel very slight jerk (0.5s delay) from 0-60. Maybe it's just me. Haven't drove that much yet, believe replacement ECU will have to pick up my driving habits

Thanks all for your input! If there's anything else you'd like to know about getting ECU replaced etc, can drop me a pm!

WhatsApp%20Image%202020-03-26%20at%202.58.50%20PM.jpeg
[/URL][/IMG]

Did you take the bad ECU back? Looks like just a driver chip burn and not capacitor? A closer picture on the chip if the number still can be read will be good.
 
Last edited:

MeGaBiTeS

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You buy car never test drive???
Apply lemon law and get them replace la.

I test drove but couldn't detect this at that point of time. And as cscs3 mentioned above, the issue arise after 30 min of drive. Not sure if people generally test drive for 30 min?

But yup, ultimately the workshop replaced this for me FOC.
 
Last edited:

limpingsim98

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looks like kia car not much security in place.

Most conti ECU need to do some sort of pairing with the speedometer / immobilizer system...

yours can just plug and play... or maybe it's the immobilizer system already disabled :s13:

you better try to start your car with the key (without the immobilizer part), if it works means .......... GG.

I think Korean car immobilizer is a separate unit (some Japanese car do the same).
 
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