Reset BECM (OR ECU)

Good day. I've got an issue which has mostly became a pattern for most Range owners I see. My car (p38a of 2002 make) got into alarm mode, the EKA code won't work so I believe the car is in full locked state. To give it for resetting for BECM costs around 200 pounds. I live in Armenia so I have to send it overseas which is + extra cost.
To buy a new block will cost me again not low amount of money. I am here to ask the next:

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF UNLOCKING/RESETTING THE BECM MANUALLY ALL BY ME??

I am Software Engineer so tell me without worries.

Unless you have the super expensive faultmate, you can't reset it.
However, are you entering the eka with the key? If so, you need to check the door lock micriswitches first. If they are faulty you won't get the eka to enter.

@Rick-the-Pick is the only man I know who might know ... Or possibly @martyuk. Whether either would explain on an open forum to a new member how to circumvent all security measures for their own make of car is another matter. It is Rick's livelihood apart from anything else.

The information is stored on a chip on the smaller board inside the BECM. With an EPROM reader you can read and write from that chip. However, as far as I am aware you need something like the Faultmate Extreme software to read it. I think that software might be locked to a single VIN unless you pay mega-bucks but even the normal version is a lot of cash.

A new block won't achieve much. If BECM is locked you'd need a new one with accompanying keys and engine ECU at a minimum.

What's the message on the dash?

Grrrrrr said:

@Rick-the-Pick is the only man I know who might know ... Or possibly @martyuk. Whether either would explain on an open forum to a new member how to circumvent all security measures for their own make of car is another matter. It is Rick's livelihood apart from anything else.

The information is stored on a chip on the smaller board inside the BECM. With an EPROM reader you can read and write from that chip. However, as far as I am aware you need something like the Faultmate Extreme software to read it. I think that software might be locked to a single VIN unless you pay mega-bucks but even the normal version is a lot of cash.

A new block won't achieve much. If BECM is locked you'd need a new one with accompanying keys and engine ECU at a minimum.

What's the message on the dash?

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Only 2 boards in the BECM's I've looked at, both much the same size.

vladimirarevshatyan said:

Good day. I've got an issue which has mostly became a pattern for most Range owners I see. My car (p38a of 2002 make) got into alarm mode, the EKA code won't work so I believe the car is in full locked state. To give it for resetting for BECM costs around 200 pounds. I live in Armenia so I have to send it overseas which is + extra cost.
To buy a new block will cost me again not low amount of money. I am here to ask the next:

WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE OF UNLOCKING/RESETTING THE BECM MANUALLY ALL BY ME??

I am Software Engineer so tell me without worries.

Click to expand...

In the unlikely event that the BECM is in a locked out state, you need a Faultmate MSV 2 Extreme with the SM035 software module for direct access. (Blackbox Solutions)
More likely you have a problem with the drivers door lock micro switches or even low battery volts, the P38 does not function well if the battery is low.
A Nanocom diagnostic tool would let you enter the EKA code and is a good deal less expensive than the Faultmate.
Check that the carpets in the right hand front footwell are not wet underneath.
Lets us know what messages appear on the dashboard message centre.

Datatek said:

Only 2 boards in the BECM's I've looked at, both much the same size.

Click to expand...

Top one. Odd, I remember it being noticeably smaller. And a shed load of little bolts to get the cover off.

[EDIT: bottom one. Corrected by Marty below.]

Grrrrrr said:

Top one. Odd, I remember it being noticeably smaller. And a shed load of little bolts to get the cover off.

Click to expand...

If you want to be exact, the CPU board is about 30mm shorter than the power board.

Datatek said:

If you want to be exact, the CPU board is about 30mm shorter than the power board.

Click to expand...

Exactly about 30mm could be absolutely correct!

The logic board underneath is the one with all the brains on it.

Unfortunately.. even though I could explain how it works, how all the vehicle information is stored down to the individual bits (I spent a good few evenings working that out!) I'm not going to - because ultimately it's a fair bit of useless information without the correct hardware tools to be able to communicate directly to the main CPU chip (It's a Motorola M68HC11 chip). I am sure there are a load of EEPROM programmers out there that could read the chip, but without knowing where the lockout bits are set, then you wouldn't be able to reprogram it.

The easiest method of reading the chips, is to use a Faultmate MSV system and their software to do the communications and translate the EEPROM memory into usable information where you can reset lockouts and change settings etc and it will then write them back to the BECM. This isn't a cheap option - when I bought the equipment a few years ago it was over £1000 investment.

The easiest method of reversing the lockout (assuming as others have said that the door latch microswitches are all working OK, and the EKA isn't working to reset it by entering it with the key in the door) is to send it to someone who can hook it up and do the diagnostic work. I charge around £100 to do a lockout reset and bench test - plus the return shipping, but I am not sure on the logistics of getting it to/from where you are.

Unfortunately there is no 'Manual' way of resetting it with the BECM in the vehicle, and no magical bypasses of all of the security features. You can, once the lockouts are reset, use standard OBD diagnostics to turn some of the security features OFF, but these options cannot be changed whilst it's still in lockout... on the handheld on-vehicle system I use, it will tell you it's successfully changed/written the changes to the BECM, but if you go back into it, then the will be back to what they were before. Again, no quick byass I'm afraid.

A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR THIS ONE HAS !!!!!! LOOK AT HIS NAME … VLADIMIR --- AREV --- SHAT --- YAN ???????? ARMENIAN ???? MORE LIKE RUSSIAN TOILET CLEANER ?????? COME ON FOR **** SAKE . I CANT STOP LAUGHING ,,,,MARTY TELL HIM YO WILL SEND ALL YOUR KIT OVER TO HIM F.O.C. ,

mozz smith said:

A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR THIS ONE HAS !!!!!! LOOK AT HIS NAME … VLADIMIR --- AREV --- SHAT --- YAN ???????? ARMENIAN ???? MORE LIKE RUSSIAN TOILET CLEANER ?????? COME ON FOR **** SAKE . I CANT STOP LAUGHING ,,,,MARTY TELL HIM YO WILL SEND ALL YOUR KIT OVER TO HIM F.O.C. ,

Click to expand...

You could be right there! And it isn't even April.

mozz smith said:

A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOUR THIS ONE HAS !!!!!! LOOK AT HIS NAME … VLADIMIR --- AREV --- SHAT --- YAN ???????? ARMENIAN ???? MORE LIKE RUSSIAN TOILET CLEANER ?????? COME ON FOR **** SAKE . I CANT STOP LAUGHING ,,,,MARTY TELL HIM YO WILL SEND ALL YOUR KIT OVER TO HIM F.O.C. ,

Click to expand...

Mozz, Oh yea of little faith haha he could be my neighbour in Crimea. Except I haven't seen another P38 around...….Hang on a min... he might be trying to get in my car while I am away as my door micro switches need replacing........Oh Bugger.

yeah... let's wait for his response.