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GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

Swapping ECU?

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Old Feb 20, 2019 | 11:41 AM
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Default Swapping ECU?

Hi, apparently my 2001 GS300 has a bad ECU according to the dealership. If I were to buy a used ECU of the same year would I have to get the ECU and keys reprogrammed for the car? or is it a simple swap over?
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Old Feb 20, 2019 | 10:14 PM
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You will need the matching transponder key that goes with that ECU. It's plug and play if you have the pair.
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Old Feb 21, 2019 | 03:46 AM
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If the ecu comes with a key it is simple. If no key you will have to have the ecu either flashed or a key added to the eeprom. You can also swap the immobilizer eeprom from one ecu to the other. Some locksmiths can do this. If you feel adventerous I have been giving preprogrammed eeproms away with virgin files written to them. It is pretty simple to swap out the chip
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Old Feb 21, 2019 | 05:46 AM
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I'd first start asking if the ECU is really bad. Unless there's an electrical short/over-voltage, an ECU going bad is a 1:1,000,000 occurrence.

Why does the dealership say the ECU is bad? What symptoms brought the car to the dealership, for them to diagnose that the ECU was the failed part, and needs to be replaced?
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Old Feb 21, 2019 | 08:47 AM
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Old Feb 21, 2019 | 08:51 AM
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I have tried getting the ECU sent to SIA Electronics but they were unable to repair it.
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Old Feb 24, 2019 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by sbagdon
I'd first start asking if the ECU is really bad. Unless there's an electrical short/over-voltage, an ECU going bad is a 1:1,000,000 occurrence.

Why does the dealership say the ECU is bad? What symptoms brought the car to the dealership, for them to diagnose that the ECU was the failed part, and needs to be replaced?
ECUs go bad all the time, just like on any computer device.
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Old Feb 24, 2019 | 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by EuroWill


ECUs go bad all the time, just like on any computer device.
Must have missed this epidemic of bad ECMs/ECUs... of all the cars we've owned, and all the cars we've heard of in our car community, there hasn't been a bad ECU in the group.

Yet, a good reason to grab ECU's, when they come up at the local pick-and-pull...
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Old Sep 27, 2020 | 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Mauser
If you feel adventerous I have been giving preprogrammed eeproms away with virgin files written to them. It is pretty simple to swap out the chip
@Mauser I know this is bumping an old post but I am interested if this is something you're still offering.
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Old Dec 10, 2021 | 05:36 AM
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I would like to try one of those flashed chips you have
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Old Jul 22, 2025 | 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Mauser
If the ecu comes with a key it is simple. If no key you will have to have the ecu either flashed or a key added to the eeprom. You can also swap the immobilizer eeprom from one ecu to the other. Some locksmiths can do this. If you feel adventerous I have been giving preprogrammed eeproms away with virgin files written to them. It is pretty simple to swap out the chip
​​​​​​@Mauser if you are still offering the eeproms and the files, could you please and kindly send me these files. Thank you
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