Engine ECU 1.8 Manual

Baloney999 · Apr 22, 2017

I tried searching with no luck on this specific question, so hoping someone has the in-depth knowledge to help on this one. I am looking for an engine ECU for a 1999 1.8 petrol Manual transmission. I know that with later cars, you need to buy a whole kit of ECU's and lock-set to get around the problem of re-coding to the car but the earlier ECUs seem to be available without all that gubbins. Does this mean that I can buy an earlier ECU and put it straight in without any coding or do I still need to visit a stealer to get it to work?

monkfish24 · Apr 22, 2017

I did an engine change with mine, the car I bought had no engine and I bought an MOT failure and took the engine from that. I'm 99% sure I used the ECU from the older vehicle, but still with coils, and put it in the newer car. (2001 engine into 2003 car). It runs fine with no problems. I think the engine ECU is fine to change over, I think it's when you start changing locking ECUs around that you start getting issues.

GrumpyGel · Apr 22, 2017

I think that is a question that might not be able to be answered!

I think that in theory, all engine ECUs are coded to to the CCU/immobiliser on Freelander - but some have found that coding was not necessary. I do not think though that any definitive criteria has been found as to which years/countries do not have the 'CU' pairing.

Tony Reeves · Apr 22, 2017

Cars intended for the Japan market have no immobiliser so an ECU from such a FL will operate in any vehicle.

That condition started before 1998 and continues to this day. No idea why, but the Japanese apparently don't like immobilisers.

Nodge68 · Apr 22, 2017

Tony Reeves said:
Cars intended for the Japan market have no immobiliser so an ECU from such a FL will operate in any vehicle.

That condition started before 1998 and continues to this day. No idea why, but the Japanese apparently don't like immobilisers.

Presumably due to some local regulation in Japan.

On a UK specification Freelander. All engine and immobilizers are coded together. This means that you need to get all the ECUs and fobs as a set. If you want remote locking to work, the CCU from the same vehicle will also be needed.
A1 chassis onwards don't need the CCU as the immobilizer transponder is in the key, not the fob.

Baloney999 · Apr 27, 2017

Thanks for the help guys. I still think it might be suck it and see though; I might try the ECU only option as it is cheaper (secondhand from fleabay) and then take it from there.

GrumpyGel · Apr 27, 2017

Of course, if you get hold of a Japanese ECU - you'll also need to get hold of a Japanese CCU/imobiliser or else the starter will be immobilised! So you're in no better position. You could reroute the earth on the starter solenoid - I don't know what else might be immobilised by the CCU/imobiliser? dash display? electric windows?

Nodge68 · Apr 27, 2017

Baloney999 said:
Thanks for the help guys. I still think it might be suck it and see though; I might try the ECU only option as it is cheaper (secondhand from fleabay) and then take it from there.

It might be cheaper to buy just the engine ECU. But if it doesn't actually run the engine. The money spent will be wasted.
Your better off getting the whole lot, knowing it's going to work.

rob_bell · Apr 27, 2017

Baloney999 said:
I tried searching with no luck on this specific question, so hoping someone has the in-depth knowledge to help on this one. I am looking for an engine ECU for a 1999 1.8 petrol Manual transmission. I know that with later cars, you need to buy a whole kit of ECU's and lock-set to get around the problem of re-coding to the car but the earlier ECUs seem to be available without all that gubbins. Does this mean that I can buy an earlier ECU and put it straight in without any coding or do I still need to visit a stealer to get it to work?

A 1999 1.8 Freelander will be using a Land Rover specific version of MEMS1.9, which will be coded to a 7AS Lucas immobiliser. The two are coded together using a 4-digit pin code.

I know that for the MGF using MEMS1.9 and the Lucas 5AS, that it is possible to reset the 4-digit pin to sync any combination of engine ECU and alarm/immobiliser ECU using Philip's pscan. I am not sure that he has yet taken on the early Freelander system as he'll need access to a car and some time to reverse engineer.

Other tools may offer similar functionality???

Tony Reeves · Apr 27, 2017

rob_bell said:
A 1999 1.8 Freelander will be using a Land Rover specific version of MEMS1.9, which will be coded to a 7AS Lucas immobiliser. The two are coded together using a 4-digit pin code.

I know that for the MGF using MEMS1.9 and the Lucas 5AS, that it is possible to reset the 4-digit pin to sync any combination of engine ECU and alarm/immobiliser ECU using Philip's pscan. I am not sure that he has yet taken on the early Freelander system as he'll need access to a car and some time to reverse engineer.

Other tools may offer similar functionality???

A MEMS 1.9 that is not intended for a Freelander will not output the ABS speed sensor signal to manage traction control and hill descent.

rob_bell · Apr 28, 2017

Yup, like I said - a Land Rover specific version of MEMS1.9

GrumpyGel · Apr 28, 2017

Shame its not an L Series - you could replace the LR ECU with an Arduino....

http://dmn.kuulalaakeri.org/dmn-edc/

Nodge68 · Apr 28, 2017

GrumpyGel said:
Shame its not an L Series - you could replace the LR ECU with an Arduino....

http://dmn.kuulalaakeri.org/dmn-edc/

Running the K on an Arduino would be difficult. However there are loads of after market ECUs that would do all that is needed.

rob_bell · Apr 28, 2017

GrumpyGel said:
Shame its not an L Series - you could replace the LR ECU with an Arduino....

http://dmn.kuulalaakeri.org/dmn-edc/

This picture made me chuckle though:

Still wouldn't interface with the TC/ABS/HDC system though? Or would that be a minor adaption of the hardware and a software patch?

GrumpyGel · Apr 28, 2017

rob_bell said:
This picture made me chuckle though:

Still wouldn't interface with the TC/ABS/HDC system though? Or would that be a minor adaption of the hardware and a software patch?

I think if you had the knowledge to control the VP37 pump with an Arduino - you could provide the ABS ECU with what ever info it needed

Nodge68 · Apr 28, 2017

GrumpyGel said:
I think if you had the knowledge to control the VP37 pump with an Arduino - you could provide the ABS ECU with what ever info it needed

He said cruise control and traction control are planned. So TC would need to link into the ABS ECU. Once you know what's needed. Programming the Arduino should be just adding the necessary code to the program.

rob_bell · Apr 28, 2017

Yup - should be very possible.

Engine ECU 1.8 Manual

Baloney999

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monkfish24

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GrumpyGel

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Tony Reeves

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Nodge68

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Baloney999

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GrumpyGel

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Nodge68

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rob_bell

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Tony Reeves

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rob_bell

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GrumpyGel

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Nodge68

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rob_bell

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GrumpyGel

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rob_bell

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