ECM/ECU replacement questions

I had a crank but no start problem on my n my 99 6 cyc 3.4. After giving up trying to fix it myself, I took it a mechanic. He said the ECU is dead and it would cost $2500 to replace. Seemed high to me so I towed it back to my house and took out the ECU. Water was getting to it. The circuit board is corroded and looks shorted out. I don't think mine can be repaired.

Can anyone recommend a place to purchase a reconditioned one? Also, I've seen some places that sell ECM/ECU state that they will program the VIN and mileage into the new one. Is that necessary? Would one off of ebay work? Does the VIN need to match to pass emissions testing or something like that? Any advice would be appreciated

 

LMAO $2500 for a 99 ECU? What a jackass.

 

I have one for sale from a 2001 3.4 auto 4x4 for $100. I'll check to see if it's compatible.

There's not really such thing as "reconditioned" ECM. They either work or they don't.

The mileage is stored in the gauge cluster, not the ECU. As far as the VIN, that shouldn't matter for most states, as long as you pass emissions and have the correct VIN on the body/frame, you should be fine.

 

I have done business with ECM Depot there down in Texas

I beg to differ they can be reconditioned depending just what the damage is

Now maybe the newer Trucks need the ECM programed but none of mine in your era needed it done.

Now prices might have changed but the last New ECM I priced at the Dealer was @ $900.00 it was a few years ago.

I picked up 2 ECM`s at Local yards for $100.00 each

You do need to buy a ECM with the same part # that yours is to make things easy

Be nice to know where you are??

 

Yes look at the part # on your ECU and google it. It's real simple, it'll bring up various Toyota sites and distributors that sell the part #. Find the one that's the cheapest.

 

I would never, ever buy a "reconditioned" ECU.

Besides cleaning junk off the terminal pins (which would mean you have bigger problems), internal ECM/IC problems are really hard to diagnose. Unless it's something totally obvious like an exploded capacitor (common DSM problem), that's really simple to replace. Even if you did have the required equipment, and the time it takes to diagnose an issue within the circuit board, in our world of Toyotas, it'd just never be worth the cost, especially with used replacements being so widely available and low-cost.

I agree with finding one with the same part number, though.

 

Thanks everyone!

anothernord: you wouldn't recommend getting a "reconditioned" ECU but what about just a used one?
The one I need is PN# 89661-04450

I agree it's not worth the time to do any electrical testing on the ECU. I'm an electrical engineer. I design circuit boards.
I always try to at least a quick visual scan to fix electronics before throwing them out. More common than exploded caps, I find surface mount fuses are blown. They look just like resistors and capacitors so they can be hard to spot. This unit had none of the easy fixes.

 

To each there own !!

I send circuit boards out all the time to be rebuilt a ECM is the very same thing.

When it comes with a Lifetime warranty for anything but water damage and costs @ $300.00 as compared to $3000.00 for new

If it is the difference between having a pile of scrap or something that works I will go something that I can still use

 

Right, that's what I'm recommending. A used replacement that was pulled from a running vehicle. eBay or these forums would be my go-tos to source one. Or a local junkyard.

 

I ordered one on ebay to get my truck up and running as soon as possible. I think I'm going to try to get the old one reconditioned. The company SIA Electronics seems to only charge you if they can fix it. You only risk the shipping cost. If they fix it, I'll sell it on ebay

 

Keep the old one after recon.as a spare you know fits your truck !

 

Popped the new ECM in last night and started up like a charm

 

Looking for ECM for 99 Tacoma 4x4 MT 89661-04450 is the ECM number

 

Where in the truck is the ECM? Is ECU and ECM the same thing?

 

Behind glove box and vent tube. You’ll see the plugs for it and 2 Philip screws hold it in

 

Believe it or not a Denso engineer on the lexus forums says the computers are bound to fail in a way or another. I read through a huge thread about them selling upgraded caps, resistors, and fuses that look like diodes and the vehicles were picking up power that did the refurbishment. It makes sense as ours take alot of vibrations and water from the wiper gutter, transformers for power companies go out all the time and they are very expensive, most wouldn't think that this is wear and tear.