Your Experience with ECU Repair
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: MA
OK, folks, I will chronicle my experience with SIA Electronics real-time:
April 25 - Paid $130 on eBay to repair the ECU; disregard the purchase date, as I held on to the ECU for a while due to logistics
May 4 - Finally got around to ship the unit from MA by USPS Priority Mail;
May 6 - Delivered to SIA's post office box (Saturday);
May 8 (9:30 a.m.): The ECU picked up by SIA from its PO Box.
May 9 (9:15 a.m.): Got a VM from Jennifer at SIA, stating that the tech "rebuilt the circuit," the repair is complete, and it will be shipped out today. Wow, that was uber fast. The ECU was sent by UPS 3-day as promised, got the tracking number, and it should get to me in MA on Friday.
May 12: The ECU is in. It is installed back in LS430.
May 15: Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
. . . . stay tuned, to be updated.
[Edited to add 5/8 and 5/9 updates]
April 25 - Paid $130 on eBay to repair the ECU; disregard the purchase date, as I held on to the ECU for a while due to logistics
May 4 - Finally got around to ship the unit from MA by USPS Priority Mail;
May 6 - Delivered to SIA's post office box (Saturday);
May 8 (9:30 a.m.): The ECU picked up by SIA from its PO Box.
May 9 (9:15 a.m.): Got a VM from Jennifer at SIA, stating that the tech "rebuilt the circuit," the repair is complete, and it will be shipped out today. Wow, that was uber fast. The ECU was sent by UPS 3-day as promised, got the tracking number, and it should get to me in MA on Friday.
May 12: The ECU is in. It is installed back in LS430.
May 15: Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
. . . . stay tuned, to be updated.
[Edited to add 5/8 and 5/9 updates]
Last edited by MickTheQ; May 15, 2023 at 11:41 AM. Reason: Edited to add updates through May 15
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: MA
Updates (continued from above):
Monday, 5/8 (9:30 a.m.): The ECU picked up by SIA from its PO Box.
Tuesday, 5/9 (9:15 a.m.): Got a VM from Jennifer at SIA, stating that the tech "rebuilt the circuit," the repair is complete, and it will be shipped out today. Wow, that was uber fast. To be continued.
Monday, 5/8 (9:30 a.m.): The ECU picked up by SIA from its PO Box.
Tuesday, 5/9 (9:15 a.m.): Got a VM from Jennifer at SIA, stating that the tech "rebuilt the circuit," the repair is complete, and it will be shipped out today. Wow, that was uber fast. To be continued.
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: MA
Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: MA
Update (May 12): The ECU is in. It is installed back in LS430.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
Last edited by MickTheQ; May 15, 2023 at 11:42 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 456
From: North Carolina
When disconnecting battery it resets the ECU everytime and then supposedly to remember driving habits which makes the car feel really sluggish over time because doesn't downshift as much over time. Resetting the ecu makes it feel much more peppy but also at the expense of gas mileage. Dealer told me this from the very beginning about the LS430. The harsh shifting is hopefully what has been resolved.
Pit Crew
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 106
Likes: 17
From: NY
Update (May 12): The ECU is in. It is installed back in LS430.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
Update (May 12): The ECU is in. It is installed back in LS430.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
Update (May 15): Over the last few days, I have been driving the car with an ECU repaired by SIA and the car is definitely shifting better. Acceleration is relatively instantaneous (there used to be a slight delay between stepping on the gas and acceleration), and the harsh shifting between 1-2 and 2-1 appears to be gone. I am going to drive the car around for a bit more (especially in bumper to bumper traffic where the harsh shifting was most noticeable) and then report back. Looks like SIA was a good choice for me -- $130, which is the lowest price I have seen by far for a service like this, one day turn around time with 3-day UPS return shipping included, and a lifetime warranty. Can't complain (so far). Glad I did it. Thanks to all that recommended SIA. I was on the fence.
One thing I have noticed, however, is that my MPG has gone down from around 19.3 MPG to 16.3 MPG after I had the ECU repaired. Did I idle too much, do I have lead foot? I will keep an eye on this.
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Thread Starter
Rookie
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: MA
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 763
Likes: 109
From: MI
I just had mine done by Joshua at Relentless in suburban Dallas. Very pleased. He does the work himself and communicates through the process. Quick turnaround, overnighted on Tuesday, returned overnight by end of week. Followed up to check after I received. I can’t comment on the others but would highly recommend Relentless in Texas.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 705
Likes: 233
From: UT
Thanks, @LS430Lexus !! I may want to pursue this and it is good to find alternates in other areas of the country since if you are single with one car like me, VERY inconvenient to take your car down for 2 weeks while you send away to SIA. Dallas is definitely closer. Also in another thread @Kodawari found a place in the Los Angeles area, so we've got LA, Texas, and Illinois covered so far.
2nd gear
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: WA
I am surprised no one has said anything about Quantum Auto Tuning.
Thanks, @LS430Lexus !! I may want to pursue this and it is good to find alternates in other areas of the country since if you are single with one car like me, VERY inconvenient to take your car down for 2 weeks while you send away to SIA. Dallas is definitely closer. Also in another thread @Kodawari found a place in the Los Angeles area, so we've got LA, Texas, and Illinois covered so far.
https://quantum-auto.com/ols/product...re-map-service (For 2001-2006 Lexus LS 430)
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 926
Likes: 236
From: South Carolina
I just had mine done by Joshua at Relentless in suburban Dallas. Very pleased. He does the work himself and communicates through the process. Quick turnaround, overnighted on Tuesday, returned overnight by end of week. Followed up to check after I received. I can’t comment on the others but would highly recommend Relentless in Texas.