Technical Froze My Ecu, Key Code Now Gone

[ScottyboyGsi]

GOOD NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i recently had a problem with a non runner punto i bought (2001, 1.2, 8v) the key code light was on which ment it was immobilised, i looked up everywhere how to get round this and what to do and rang loads of people etc, i thought i would have to buy a new key, ignition barrel, code box, ecu, sender etc, basically replace the lot, but i asked my uncle who is a mechanic his advice about this and he said jus try this, put your ecu in the fridge and freeze it because its been known when you freeze them they loose any stored info and might reset it, i honestly didnt think it was gonna work but jus thought id give it a try nothin to loose, so i put it in the frdge last night and left it over night, so i took it out this morn put it on the car and the key code light went straight out and it started first time, i couldnt beleive it. i bought the car for 200 it had been left stood for bout 6 months, i was startin to give up hope. RESULT

 

[m_aver_ick]

nice one m8:slayer:

 

[T14086]

a code light on can be for many different reasons,the key code itself isn't stored in the ecu but in the body computer all the ecu does is power up (upon ignition) and request to see the code for comparison.

It would be more likely you have moved a poor connection or simply reset the system rather....putting the ecu in the freezer wouldn't do anything.If you had a code reader you would probably find the code U1600 stored.

 

[The Sultan]

omg

who believes that would work

simply removing the battery over night would have done the same thing more than likely

the ecu is probably rated to operate much lower than your freezer anyway

there are some cold countries out there

 

[dave]

GOOD NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i recently had a problem with a non runner punto i bought (2001, 1.2, 8v) the key code light was on which ment it was immobilised, i looked up everywhere how to get round this and what to do and rang loads of people etc, i thought i would have to buy a new key, ignition barrel, code box, ecu, sender etc, basically replace the lot, but i asked my uncle who is a mechanic his advice about this and he said jus try this, put your ecu in the fridge and freeze it because its been known when you freeze them they loose any stored info and might reset it, i honestly didnt think it was gonna work but jus thought id give it a try nothin to loose, so i put it in the frdge last night and left it over night, so i took it out this morn put it on the car and the key code light went straight out and it started first time, i couldnt beleive it. i bought the car for 200 it had been left stood for bout 6 months, i was startin to give up hope. RESULT

do you live in the uk? as it been colder outside at night than your fridge, so if the cold fix it it would have fixed its self weeks ago

 

[The Sultan]

GOOD NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i recently had a problem with a non runner punto i bought (2001, 1.2, 8v) the key code light was on which ment it was immobilised, i looked up everywhere how to get round this and what to do and rang loads of people etc, i thought i would have to buy a new key, ignition barrel, code box, ecu, sender etc, basically replace the lot, but i asked my uncle who is a mechanic his advice about this and he said jus try this, put your ecu in the fridge and freeze it because its been known when you freeze them they loose any stored info and might reset it, i honestly didnt think it was gonna work but jus thought id give it a try nothin to loose, so i put it in the frdge last night and left it over night, so i took it out this morn put it on the car and the key code light went straight out and it started first time, i couldnt beleive it. i bought the car for 200 it had been left stood for bout 6 months, i was startin to give up hope. RESULT

please please please tell your fridge fetish friend he has no idea

 

[alexGS]

please please please tell your fridge fetish friend he has no idea

OK well hang on, are we talking about the fridge which is ~3 degrees C, or we talking about the freezer (~-18 degrees C) - since he said 'freeze', I'm guessing he meant the freezer.

Anyway, the next question I have from reading this thread is whether the 'ECU' (that went in the freezer) is actually the body computer?

Perhaps ScottyboyGSi can clarify and in the meantime, I don't think we should give up hope that it's possible!

I've heard of people fitting 'ECUs' that have been de-immobilised - is this actually the Body Computer being replaced? Is it possible that causing the Body Computer to lose its stored key code has a similar effect?

I've left my battery disconnected for several days and that has no noticeable effect, so perhaps (like the odometer distance) the key code is stored in non-volatile memory.

Thanks,
-Alex

 

[The Sultan]

OK well hang on, are we talking about the fridge which is ~3 degrees C, or we talking about the freezer (~-18 degrees C) - since he said 'freeze', I'm guessing he meant the freezer.

Anyway, the next question I have from reading this thread is whether the 'ECU' (that went in the freezer) is actually the body computer?

Perhaps ScottyboyGSi can clarify and in the meantime, I don't think we should give up hope that it's possible!

I've heard of people fitting 'ECUs' that have been de-immobilised - is this actually the Body Computer being replaced? Is it possible that causing the Body Computer to lose its stored key code has a similar effect?

I've left my battery disconnected for several days and that has no noticeable effect, so perhaps (like the odometer distance) the key code is stored in non-volatile memory.

Thanks,
-Alex

i don't think it really matters Alex

all the memory regarding key codes and ecu identifiers fault code memories on fiat cars from 94 to now is solid state non volatile

i'm told buy my brother a computer engineer that even the components in your pocket calculator are perfectly capable of keeping your sum memory fore example down to -50c

if you were to go significantly colder than that it would not lose the
memory just simply damage them beyond use

so for a car designed to run in temperatures below -20 that's no problem

anyway what does this guy think he has actually done with his ecu to make it start again removed his key codes completely that wouldn't make it start anyway

there is a few solid state memory with volatile memory in them

ones that are running the engine in real time keeping the internal clock ones that keep track of items you have turned on with normally off short buttons not switches like heated screen fogs

but non many these will simply forget when they are disconnected from power

also did you know your total miles are stored in the body computer aswell as your dash pod

 

[ScottyboyGsi]

ok guys no need to take the ****, yeah i meant feezer and im only tellin you what i did and it worked i aint gonna jus make it up, the key code light was on and i tried disconecting everything a reconecting it, including the battery, so i took the ecu out, which is on the throttle body, put it in the feezer over night which is apparently ment to make them loose info or codes or summit like that, (apparently you can do the same with car stereos) put it on the next day and its fine now. i was only trying to help people out.
P.S. its alot colder in the freezer than our weather is to mate,
Where do you live ? north or south pole ?
my freezers -20
next time i wont bother trying to help people out if they are gonna be like that

 

[T14086]

Were not slagging you mate just pointing out a few facts & like I stated the code is in the body computer not ECU.

Its just a coincidence that it happened this way,punto mk2's can be notorious for key code lights but its rarely down to ECU unless it has been spiked due to incorrect plugs fitted.Mostly I find its due to connector on body computer.

Dont take it personally we appreciate the input.

 

[ScottyboyGsi]

well thats what i did and its fine now, wheres the body computer then ?

 

[T14086]

behind fusebox

 

[NumanR]

So by your logic every car in winter in Norway would loose all its codes etc?

I was there in January and it was -15 to -20 deg C and alot of cars are left outside overnight.

 

[T14086]

Do they have fridges in Norway

 

[dave]

Do they have fridges in Norway

yeah to keep stuff warm

 

[reddy4bed]

the code is in the body computer not ECU.

QUOTE]
Does this mean that the ecu from a scrappy will work without altering, or is there additional coding between body computer and ecu?.

 

[ScottyboyGsi]

ok so i put a code reader on my car and the codes 1600 and 1602 come up any ideas what they are or how i can find out ?

 

[T14086]

Does this mean that the ecu from a scrappy will work without altering, or is there additional coding between body computer and ecu?.

when you switch on ignition the 'virgin' ECU is given the code from body computer (first time only) from then on that ECU is 'matched' to that car...I know you know this 'reddy'

ok so i put a code reader on my car and the codes 1600 and 1602 come up any ideas what they are or how i can find out ?

Like I said in earlier post ...

"It would be more likely you have moved a poor connection or simply reset the system rather....putting the ecu in the freezer wouldn't do anything.If you had a code reader you would probably find the code U1600 stored"

 

[The Sultan]

ok so i put a code reader on my car and the codes 1600 and 1602 come up any ideas what they are or how i can find out ?

those are fiat specific codes sorry take it to your dealer and have them read properly hope you haven't cleared them already

maybe if you put it in the freezer they will go away

sorry scottyboy it had to be done

please don't put your body computer in the freezer it's not water proof it will brake it for good

 

[ScottyboyGsi]

no im not saying that, but i dont expect the cars in low temp countries like that get these problems