Can Anyone Bench Flash or Assist with Dead ECU

aenima4six2 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:09 pm

This is quite odd, and I have no idea what to do now.

I did a regular flash with ECUFlash on my 07 STi, it finished successfully, but now the car wont start. The ROM had very minor changes, just boost and MAF.

I am positive the ecu is "bricked"

I tried pulling the battery for an hour and reflashing - no luck
Disconnecting the ECU for a few minuets - no Luck.

When the car is in test mode, it just sits their, no fans, no flashing CEL.

Any advise Please...

LGT-3-6 · **Joined:** Wed May 24, 2006 8:11 pm **Posts:** 187

/subscribe

How many reflashes do you think?

mickeyd2005 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:32 am **Posts:** 1778

Colby published the schematic to make a cable to bench flash your ecu. It's on openecu.org somewhere. The only person that I am aware of who has made one other than Colby is Freon.

http://www.tactrix.com/product_info.php ... 82fc3569e2

Hurricane123 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:33 pm

My next door neighbor successfully recovered from a bad flash (Tactrix cable fell apart) using the diagram in the posted link, so it can be done.

Jeff

LGT-3-6 · **Joined:** Wed May 24, 2006 8:11 pm **Posts:** 187

Doesn't seem like a partial update should make the ECU unbootable. *shrug* Proven otherwise?

Hurricane123 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:35 pm

LGT-3-6 wrote:

Doesn't seem like a partial update should make the ECU unbootable. *shrug* Proven otherwise?

It's been proven otherwise .... that's why ECUflash tells you not to turn your key off if there is a bad flash since you will "brick" your ECU.

Jeff

NSFW · **Joined:** Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:23 pm **Posts:** 397

LGT-3-6 wrote:

Doesn't seem like a partial update should make the ECU unbootable. *shrug* Proven otherwise?

I agree that it shouldn't.

But there's evidence that it does.

aenima4six2 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:18 am

Thanks for the help guys..

Also, the flash was 100% successful, it was something in the rom that must have done it. I was using ecuedit and ecuflash. I don't know what could have done it though.

Turbo_Mike · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:44 am

LGT-3-6 wrote:

/subscribe

How many reflashes do you think?

I have well over 300 flashes on mine. Its not that :-)

LGT-3-6 · **Joined:** Wed May 24, 2006 8:11 pm **Posts:** 187

I'm sure this is an old argument, but the datasheet says "minimum of 100 flashes". So it's just luck above 100. That's what the engineers say, no reason to doubt them.

Jon [in CT] · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2008 3:35 pm

Tactrix offers a service to restore your ECU.
http://www.tactrix.com/product_info.php?products_id=38

Freon · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:38 pm

I don't think it is luck. The reason to believe it is much higher is largely anecdotal, but there isn't much counter evidence, either.

I'm sure I'm well over 100 on one of my own ECUs now. I've got three ECUs now for my car. Maybe one of these days I'll bench flash it until desctruction just to see. For now, these things are too expensive.

LGT-3-6 · **Joined:** Wed May 24, 2006 8:11 pm **Posts:** 187

wouldn't mind as much if it didn't require getting the car towed to the dealership for configuring the immobilizer and vin. I already have one "dead" key because I forgot it when my ecu got replaced.

aenima4six2 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:09 pm

Well i sent the ECU off to Colby @ Tactrix for repair. Keep your fingers crossed he can save her.

I have quite a few reflashes on it, maybe near 100, but no way to know for sure.

fasterthanurwrx · **Joined:** Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:55 am **Posts:** 217

My ecu has been flashed well over 800 times.

No problems (knock on wood)

RomRaider

Can Anyone Bench Flash or Assist with Dead ECU

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