for a while now i have done a self diagnosis using the ecu when my check engine light comes on and also to reset it every once in a while but today, when i tried to reset it the screw that turns went out of place and i cant get it back in place and now the car is making a clicking noise(when the car is set at "on") and my rpm is so low that my car shuts off. Has this ever happen to anyone? do i need to replace the ecu? if i do, how much would that cost? is there another way to set your rpm level?
thanks....any help would be appreciated.

 

when you say its out of place do you mean it came completely out? the best way to adjust rpm level is on your accelerator cable...

 

no its out of place inside. its loose and it moves around. and when you say the accelerator cable... is that the one closer to the front of the car or the one behind it? do i just tighten it?

 

now if that isnt the worst piece of advice ever. fix your RPM by tightening the accel cable so much you are giving the car gas?


the best way is to find out why it is low in the first place. could be a number of things including you not turning the screw back into the proper position. not sure what you mean by "out of place". did you turn it too far past the stop point? if so, that is not good but I have worked on a car like that. even though the screw is very loose, you should still be able to feel where the stop point is. just turn slowly and gently. is your CEL on?

 

the CEL was on and that is why i went under to check it. i haven't turned it past the stop point. i did the regular check up.....turn all the way clockwise until it stops...wait 2 seconds, then turned it back counterclockwise until it stopped. by then the CEL should have been blinking but it disappeared. it hasn't turned on since, not even when i just have my car on "on" mode. Also when i say it's out of place, i mean the screw is not in place...you should be able to see the screw, but now there is just a hole. I can find the screw sometimes but does not stay in place and doesn't have any effect. I hope this explains my situation better? thanks for all your help in advance.

 

oh and there is rhythmic clicking sound by the engine when the car is turn on. that noise is still there when the car is started too. i have heard this sound before when i used to reset the ECU but since i can't reset it, i can't get rid of the sound. i mean any clicking sound is bad...any help?!?!? getting extremely frustrated now....been outside in the cold trying to get the screw back in place or somehow to get the sound off. Earlier when i started my car it shut off right away cuz the rpm went down so low. PLEASE HELP!!

 

buy a new ecu

 

Take the ECU out of the car, take the cover off, fix said lost screw. Wear a grounding strap.

If you really mess it up, www.car-part has them for ~$75+.

If you actually do need a new ECU, make sure and get the information from the top of your ECU (serial #, tranny type, fed/cali, etc) and cross reference using the Jim Wolf website.

 

can anyone provide me with detailed instruction of taking the ECU out?