Technical ECU swap? Is it possible?

[Fezza241]

If it comes down to it, I have found a full set of bits for my SPI cinq sport - copied from ebay listing:
"FIAT CINQUECENTO SPORTING ECU / CODE BOX / LOCK SET

CONSISTS OF ECU, IMMOBILISER CODE BOX, THREE MATCHING KEYS INCLUDING TWO BLUE AND RED MASTER, BOTH DOOR LOCKS, IGNITION BARREL & BOOT LOCK

CINQUECENTO SPORTING (1.1) 1993 - 1997/8"

Is it as easy as changing it all over, as someone told me that all the wiring for the transponder might not be there, as we bought the car with a non-chipped ecu/key, so I don't want to waste £50 if there's a chance some of the wiring is likely to be missing.

thanks for reading

 

[fingers99]

It's doable. You can check that the transponder is there on your car -- just take off the steering column shroud and you should see the wiring from the transponder -- it looks rather like early twin core 1960s bedside lamp cable) and be able to trace it down to the code box (on the cross bar which the pedals and etc, hang off -- approx 2"x 2" x 1".

Otherwise, that being there, the only othere issue I can see is if your car is a very late Cinq with the rugby ball steering wheel, when I don't think the ignition switch will fit.

Note that you can get remote locking alarm and immobiliser set ups on eBay for well under £50.

 

[Red Rocket CINQ]

Do what i had too. Because i kept trying to start my car some how the code got wiped of the ecu and i didnt have the red key to re programe it, so i took the ecu,code box and transponder wire with the ring on the end off a donor cinq which had the red key and fitted it all on mine, took the little chip out of the red key and stuck it to the ring on the transponder wire and placed it behind the dash. This way you can keep all your locks and ignition the same key, the only problem is anything that fits the ignition can start the car.

 

[kyller]

easiest way is to buy "clean" ECU
when u instal it immo module will code ECU for your transponder

 

[fingers99]

Note, though, that the transponder cable effort (the bit that runs down to the code box from the ignition switch) is dumb.

But I still recon that by far the easiest way is to fit an aftermarket alarm with immobiliser (presuming that the immobilser is all you "really" require).

 

[Leo Carter]

Hi all,

I have a cinquecento 899cc (1996) and in the past I got my mechanic to change the ECU/ immobiliser/ door locks/ ignition keys over due to an ECU problem.

A few years later the ECU is playing up again (I think some kind of misfiring is going on in the engine; fuel input is not being properly regulated).

Do you know if it is possible to just change the ECU or do I have to replace all the parts again? If it is possible to change the ECU alone, does it need to be a specific model number (to match the old one) or can it be slightly different?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Jd801]

Leo Carter
Thread hijack much?

 

[Eklipze3k]

@Leo Carter
Thread hijack much?

At least it's relevant.

 

[Jd801]

At least it's relevant.

True, but still . .

 

[fingers99]

Hi all,

I have a cinquecento 899cc (1996) and in the past I got my mechanic to change the ECU/ immobiliser/ door locks/ ignition keys over due to an ECU problem.

A few years later the ECU is playing up again (I think some kind of misfiring is going on in the engine; fuel input is not being properly regulated).

Do you know if it is possible to just change the ECU or do I have to replace all the parts again? If it is possible to change the ECU alone, does it need to be a specific model number (to match the old one) or can it be slightly different?

Many thanks in advance!

I doubt very much that the ECU is (or even was, all those years ago) the issue. The SPI ECUs are among the most reliable ECUs ever built.

If the EML light is on (icon like an injector/shower head/spark plug) you can read the codes with either FIAT Examiner (obsolete, FIAT only, but a few older dealers will still have it) or IAW Scan 2 a laptop and a few cables.

You can't just swap the ECU, and no sane mechanic would suggest you just proceed by swapping parts out (gets very expensive, very quickly).

 

[Eklipze3k]

I guess the real question is, what's the problem? Or, more accurately, what are the symptoms?

 

[fingers99]

:yeahthat:

 

[Evan Kearney]

In my cinq sporting (1108) we put a punto ecu in it, it was a blank ecu,in other words it was not coded, so if you got one of them you would not have to change all, and might increase HP aswell!!

 

[fingers99]

No it won't! I think the Punto ECU has a lower rev cut, too.

Still, this is an 899........

 

[Evan Kearney]

If anything it would have no power cut, and it wouldn't matter if it is a 899

 

[fingers99]

Folk have replaced 899 ones with 1108 ones. I think that the fuelling, at least, is different. Sometimes you can swap the chips round (ECU itself is the same).

Still, why you say "no power cut"?