Fried ECU?

wllgmr · May 20, 2008, 05:32:09 PM

My dealer says my ECU is fried. What is an ECU? What does it do? Can it be replaced with a power commander( I dont know what these do either) or do I need an O.E.M. part? The ECU is very expensive. I need some good advice. I want to get back on the road A.S.A.P.

printman · May 20, 2008, 06:14:32 PM

The ECU is the main computer needed to run the bike.

Unfortunately the PC is only a piggyback unit. IT would still need replacing.

Expensive but a full termi systm comes with a new ECU I believe.

Speeddog · May 20, 2008, 07:10:53 PM

What year and model of Monster is it?

There are other options for replacements besides the Ducati unit, for some years/models.

Howie · May 20, 2008, 08:23:42 PM

I would also get a second opinion. All to often "you need a new ECU" translates to "I don't know what is wrong with your vehicle so it must be the ECU"

somegirl · May 20, 2008, 09:26:37 PM

I did once have one fried in a car, but it got replaced under warranty.

johnster · May 21, 2008, 08:08:41 AM

I'd be interested to see what lead to this conclusion....What exactly is your bike doing?? An ECU just "dying" sounds like it could be part of a bigger (electrical distribution) problem, but hey...I'm not a expert by any means... $:-\$

duckwrench13 · May 21, 2008, 02:01:58 PM

If you've recently had a dead battery, and jump started from a running car, you will have fried the ECU. They are very sensitive, and the excessive charging amperage coming from a car's charging system will cook an ECU almost instantly.

Also, if you've had any kind of electrical issues, and have tried using a test lamp/probe to investigate, you may have shorted by incorrectly testing components.

I'm just tossing a few "maybes" out there. If you could provide a bit of history leading up to the ECU failure, then diagnosing additional issues might be found.

If you have a bug in the system somewhere, and it isn't corrected, then you risk blowing another ECU.

wllgmr · May 22, 2008, 03:14:13 PM

DANG! I did try to jump it from a running car. That was an expensive a$$ mistake, at least I learned a lesson. I geuss I will buy a termi set-up since it comes with an ECU. The price is'nt that much more than buying a stock ECU. Will I have to have it mapped or is it pre-programmed?

rockaduc · May 22, 2008, 03:23:56 PM

It is my understanding that it is "plug and play", although if your bike has a TPS, it will have to be reset by the dealer.

Speeddog · May 22, 2008, 03:26:41 PM

Quote from: rockaduc on May 22, 2008, 03:23:56 PM
It is my understanding that it is "plug and play", although if your bike has a TPS, it will have to be reset by the dealer.

Whether he'll need the TPS 'reset' depends which bike he's got.

He Man · May 22, 2008, 03:42:55 PM

depending on which bike you have, this might be a good oppritunity to get an alternate ECU such as FIM or Ultimap.

wllgmr · May 23, 2008, 01:58:20 PM

Its an 02 s4. What is a tps? Is it a report that I will need to put a cover sheet on

?

Speeddog · May 23, 2008, 03:04:06 PM

Quote from: willgomer on May 23, 2008, 01:58:20 PM
Its an 02 s4. What is a tps? Is it a report that I will need to put a cover sheet on ?

Your choices are:

OEM (stock) ECU.
DP ECU, may or may not be a good idea depending on what mods you have on the engine.
FIM/Ultimap U59 ECU. Fully adjustable, not a lot of places can tune them.

I've got one of the FIM U59's on my '02 S4, running a map straight from FIM.
Works great.

You will not need to do a TPS reset for any ECU.

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Fried ECU?