Fried ECU?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Fried ECU?
I was driving down the highway yesterday in my 06 and my dash completely shut down. The only gauge that was reading was the volt meter for the battery. I pulled over, shut the car off, and when I went to restart it, it clicked once and never turned over. The dash also took about 10 seconds to actually turn on. I tried plugging my code reader into the OBD II, but it said it wouldn’t connect to the ECU and wouldn’t pull any codes. Before I shut the car off, it was running fine, didn’t sound weird or anything, but once I shut it off it wouldn’t even crank. I checked all the fuses, all the relays, they’re all good (and all brand new). The alternator, battery, fuse box, starter, and battery wiring harness have all been replaced in the last year and a half. Has anyone had a problem like this before? Any help would be much appreciated!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,492
Likes: 808
From: West coast CA
I was driving down the highway yesterday in my 06 and my dash completely shut down. The only gauge that was reading was the volt meter for the battery. I pulled over, shut the car off, and when I went to restart it, it clicked once and never turned over. The dash also took about 10 seconds to actually turn on. I tried plugging my code reader into the OBD II, but it said it wouldn’t connect to the ECU and wouldn’t pull any codes. Before I shut the car off, it was running fine, didn’t sound weird or anything, but once I shut it off it wouldn’t even crank. I checked all the fuses, all the relays, they’re all good (and all brand new). The alternator, battery, fuse box, starter, and battery wiring harness have all been replaced in the last year and a half. Has anyone had a problem like this before? Any help would be much appreciated!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
The car sat for a while before I got a hold of it, and something was pulling power if I let it sit for more than a few days. The battery was pretty old so I replaced it and found the cables were pretty nasty, so I replaced those too (battery cables going to the starter, fuse box. And the grounds). The I noticed that there were quite a few loose fuses in the fuse box after I couldn’t get my fog lights to stay on, so I figured while I was replacing everything I might as well do that too. That was all about 5 or 6 months ago and it never had a power draw problem again. The starter I replaced a year and a half ago because the car has long tubes and the starter took a beating from the heat, and would crank super super slow when the engine was hot. The alternator I did a month or so after the starter because I noticed lights started flickering and the battery wasn’t quite getting a full charge, so I replaced it too before it got worse.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 258
From: Tampa FL
From your story you must know your way around the electrical system. But you have not said what the battery voltage is now or if you have checked for loose connections.
Like Mr tube has asked , have you and if not you might start there. Also you might check the fusible links located at the starter solenoid while checking connections.
Like Mr tube has asked , have you and if not you might start there. Also you might check the fusible links located at the starter solenoid while checking connections.
Last edited by HK770; Jan 16, 2021 at 03:42 AM.
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,613
Likes: 4,061
From: Cape Coral, Florida
If you have a “ No Comm” with just the ECU you should check it’s powers and grounds first ...I’ll have to see if I can find the pin outs for an ‘06 but if someone has them maybe they can post them here !!...there are usually 2 power sources for the engine computer and if you do have a power issue that may lead you to it...the ECU is giving you a hint !!
Last edited by C5 Diag; Jan 16, 2021 at 09:04 AM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
From your story you must know your way around the electrical system. But you have not said what the battery voltage is now or if you have checked for loose connections.
Like Mr tube has asked , have you and if not you might start there. Also you might check the fusible links located at the starter solenoid while checking connections.
Like Mr tube has asked , have you and if not you might start there. Also you might check the fusible links located at the starter solenoid while checking connections.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
If you have a “ No Comm” with just the ECU you should check it’s powers and grounds first ...I’ll have to see if I can find the pin outs for an ‘06 but if someone has them maybe they can post them here !!...there are usually 2 power sources for the engine computer and if you do have a power issue that may lead you to it...the ECU is giving you a hint !!
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
I checked all of the connections under the floorboard, and they’re all right, I checked every fuse, and unplugged the two large connectors and plugged them back in, but it didn’t make a difference. I’m hoping that battery isn’t already bad, it’s only about 5 months old 😅
Pro
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 611
Likes: 79
From: Fallbrook SanDiego county
12.2V is seriously low
Last edited by grpweld; Jan 16, 2021 at 11:22 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 108
From: On the coast North of SF bay
If you have a battery load tester (Harbor Freight has a 100 amp one that is ok and cheap), test the battery with the positive cable removed. If nothing else, charge the battery for a day or so (positive cable removed) and test again with the positive cable removed.
Last edited by pcguy2u; Jan 16, 2021 at 12:33 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 45
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From: San Diego
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Central MO
Last edited by BadAV; Jan 18, 2021 at 07:33 AM.
