ok just an odd thing that i figured id note here. ive heard that (for the most part) the ecu's for the cars arent interchanagable inbetween the years due to different pin outs. im not exactly sure if this is true or not, as i recently swapped out the original 96 ATX ecu in my car to a ECU from a 97 avenger mtx(donor for a mtx BANME!!) and i didnt have a single problem starting the car back up or anything of the sort that would signify a miswired ECU...if that is the case then shouldnt i be able to get the AFX (i think thats the one) ECU upgrade that was only available for the 97 2gnt's?
#103116, "RE: ECU Interchangability" In response to Reply # 0
Originally posted by DSMTalon i recently swapped out the original 96 ATX ecu in my car to a ECU from a 97 avenger mtx and i didnt have a single problem shouldnt i be able to get the AFX ECU upgrade that was only available for the 97 2gnt's?
Yes you can. The differences between 96/97 are minimal and at worst will throw a Smog related CEL. The problem is there's so many variants of our ECU that it's hard to say for sure it will work without throwing it in and testing it (risking damage to the ECU) as you have done.
They're all interchangeable if you're willing to change pins and connectors around. That's part of why Howell only bothered to do one year.
#103119, "RE: ECU Interchangability" In response to Reply # 4
ahh cool.. see i didnt know that they were interchangable. from what i read i heard that they werent interchangable without rewiring...but thats cool to know that they are. now just refresh my memory...isnt it not advisable to use the AFX computer while running and moderate amount of boost due to that it advances timing or something to that effect? thanks for the help guys.
#103132, "RE: ECU Interchangability" In response to Reply # 5 Feb-15-07 11:56 AM by thedawg
Originally posted by thedawg They're all interchangeable if you're willing to change pins and connectors around.
Originally posted by DSMTalon ahh cool.. see i didnt know that they were interchangable. from what i read i heard that they werent interchangable without rewiring...
They AREN'T interchangable. Read.
This is why we like to generalize and tell people they can't be changed because nobody wants to take the time to research and figure out HOW something works. They read half a post and assume they're golden. Then cry when their car burns down that we gave them bad advice.
Some will work without rewiring, some will kind of work, some won't work, and some won't even plug in to the connector.
Is it possible to swap ECUs with the wrong one? Yes. Is it a good idea? No, not unless you know exactly what you're doing.
Also I just noticed you swapped from an ATX ECU to an MTX. If you're still running an automatic transmission, you have now removed the redline protection from your engine. You "won't have a single problem" until you're racing someone, the tranny overheats, grenades, and slices your nuts off.
#103164, "RE: ECU Interchangability" In response to Reply # 6
nah i took the atx out over labor day weekend last year, and swapped out to a 96 mtx ecu then, but over the cousre of the time, i had a short circut in my car that cost me a battery and an ecu, so i had to put in the atx computer to keep my daily driver going. i just recently decided to trial and error that 97 mtx ecu into the car, and it worked beautifully. i just wanted to make a note of my success on here as there might be someone else someday who has the same question/problem. sorry if i came off as a BANME! or whatever( i dont claim to be much more than a BANME!) but i figured i can trial and error with my car for the sake of science. now how about that AFX computer? is it boost friendly or am i better off with a stock ecu( dont even go into the megasquirt...im not ready for it yet)
#103184, "RE: ECU Interchangability" In response to Reply # 9
You can still use the afx ecu to take advantage of the higher rev limit,etc.. but you just need something to pull timing to correct for the afx advancement.
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