I currently have a 97 gxe AUTO that im converting to a 5speed so I will be getting a 5speed ECU possibly off a 95-96,

Now my question is, would it be compatable with my car? As in would the 95-96 ecu work with my 97 since possibly there has been some changes like sensors or other smog related components etc...? thanks

 

Not fully compatible, the ECU will improve the performance, but you will have CEL light on all the time. JWT told me to buy it at my own risk. (and you do have to purchase a separate 95-96 ECU and send it to them them to perform this)

 

I was not talking about any reprogrammed ecu, Im talking about a stock one from a 95-96 for my 97.

I need a manual transmission ECU when I convert to 5speed and I might be able to get one off a 96 so I want to know if the 96 ecu will work with my 97 car. thank you

 

i think that the harnesses are different. Howard has a write-up on how to rewire the ecu harness. search for it.

gl
siler

 

so other than the harness, the ecu will fully function with my car correct?

 

if you dont wire it correctly, your cel will flash a couple of times whenever you start the engine

 

Its not the wiring im worried about, its the compatability of the car/ecu like obd1 obd1 and other smog/sensor related stuff

 

95-96 and 97-98 have the same number of o2 sensors, theyre just in different places. 95-96 the o2 sensor is on the cat, 97-98 is just after the cat. I dont see too much in compatibility.

 

does that mean yes, it will work or no I cant use it? sorry but I got a little confused

 

Modified or not, a '95-'96 ECU in a '97-'99 car WILL turn the check engine light on. Otherwise the car will have performance improvements, but you will have to stare at that light all day. And I believe the harnesses are plug'n'play.
-Cyrus

 

I think what everyone is saying is that the answer is YES. The car will run fine with the downgraded ECU. But when it comes to diagnosing a problem with the car, it'll be much much more difficult to find because the check engine light will be on all . . .the . . . time

In my 98 FSM, it says that the ECU can store 2 codes. So if you have 2 problems, it'll remember them for you. If you have 3, it'll remember the 1st 2, and after you fix those 2 and reset the CEL, the CEL will turn back on reporting the 3rd.

Now, with your Frankenstein 95/96 ECU in a 97 car, the ECU may be spending all its time storing 2 codes which have to do with the frankenstein setup, and it may never store the codes for any other problems that may come up

DW

 

thanks everyone for clearing this confusion up.