ES300 engine control module reprogramming?
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2016
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From: Ga.
ES300 engine control module reprogramming?
My 1997 ES 300 has been diagnosed as having a bad ECM. I have located a rebuilt ECM but I am unsure of whether it needs to be programmed with my VIN or not. Some discussion indicates immobilizer may not work without reprogramming. Any thoughts?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,078
Likes: 4,338
From: Alberta
I think the immobilizer system started in 1998 for the ES but I could be wrong. Search Ebay for Lexus ECU reflash there are services that will reprogram the ECU that will be ready to accept new keys. But I'd contact them first if your car needs it done, also make sure to match the part number (or a change up number) of your ECU when replacing.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,729
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From: Toronto, Canada
Wow how coincidental.
I am working on a hack for reprogramming the immobilizer in case of an ECU swap or lost keys on these older Toyota cars.
The immobilizer data is located on IC900, a 93C56 EEPROM chip inside your ECU. You need to either copy this information to the new ECU, or "virginize" the EEPROM to put the car into auto-programming mode where you can program new master keys.
I've got a working proof of concept for my car and will post up a video and DIY in another week or two.
I am working on a hack for reprogramming the immobilizer in case of an ECU swap or lost keys on these older Toyota cars.
The immobilizer data is located on IC900, a 93C56 EEPROM chip inside your ECU. You need to either copy this information to the new ECU, or "virginize" the EEPROM to put the car into auto-programming mode where you can program new master keys.
I've got a working proof of concept for my car and will post up a video and DIY in another week or two.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26,078
Likes: 4,338
From: Alberta
Wow that will be awesome if you can pull it off. Could one simply swap the ROM from the old ECU to the replacement? Does the replacement ROM need some basic code before it is installed on the ECU? Or it goes in blank.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,729
Likes: 132
From: Toronto, Canada
The virgin dump contains mostly zeros, but from my experimentation there are a few values that you have to keep in there to allow the computer to program all 3 keys.
The programming part isn't that hard and is pretty much the same procedure as my odometer programming project from 2 years ago.
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