Ice7386

hey i have a 99 maxima and i was trying to reset my ecu but when i poked the sticker i accidently pushed to hard and the whole screw driver went into the hole and it shut my check engine light off but now the car wont start. The engine cracks but wont start. Is there anyway to simply fix this or am i gonna have to get it towed to a mechanic?

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Pull the ECU, yank the cover off and see if you managed to destroy anything on the board.

Ice7386

how do i know if i messed up anything on the board and how do i pull out the entire ecu...i havent done this before thanks

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Well, you look at it for any missing components, a big scratch across some traces, etc.

Easiest way I've found is to pull out the radio/climate control, pull of the black plastic shroud directly in front of the ECU that directs air, then you can get to the 2 10mm head bolts that hold down the ECU bracket. From there, unplug the 2 or 3 harness connections that branch off into the dash, and work the ECU/bracket/harness out from underneath the dash.

Takes ~15 minutes on a 5MT, a bit longer on a 4AT because of the more limited space.

Ice7386

theres no scratches or missing components and my car started fine right before i tried to reset the ecu, i just poked my screw driver a little to far deep in there and i dont know what kind of damage that causes but i really dont know how to get it to work normally again

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

So you pulled it? What does the diagnostic screw look like? Is it completely destroyed, or was it just pushed backwards?

That's why you don't just stab a screwdriver through the plastic, you either cut it or peel the sticker back.

djipka

iTrader: (9)

when I replaced my ECU it took forever. I took it out from the side though. there are 4 small screws that hold it to the bracket. The one I installed came off of a junked car so I tore my way through to get it out. I did that the way pmohr has suggested and I bent the bracket doing it. so be careful either way you decide to go about doing it. The 4 small screws are quite e PITA to undo. I used 3 different screwdrivers to get to them and undo them.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

Yea, those 4 screws are a complete PITA to get to in the car, first time I pulled my ECU that's how I tried to do it. An hour later, I said screw it and pulled the bracket, harness, and ECU all together. 15 minutes later I was done.

Ice7386

no i still havent pulled it out but if i do can i re attach the screw and have it working normally again or am i going to have to replace the whole thing?

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

The 'screw' inside the ECU is actually a potentiometer. it's very likely you either shorted the traces on it with the screwdriver OR you broke the pot off the circuit board. It's probably repairable, BUT you'd have to be able to repair electronics to do it.

For the time and efforts, your best bet is to buy another ECU from a junkyard or whatever and just toss the old one.

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

So how do you know you didn't scratch the board or damage anything?

In any case, that's exactly why you should pull it, to determine what's broken, if anything.

TLMNICK

iTrader: (1)

Chances are you poked something you shouldnt have with the screwdriver when you shoved it through the plastic cover.
It was only a little piece of tape...a light poke would've done well.

it being a 99 too, you'll have a transponder key, which means that your ECU swap wont be simple (if it comes to that)

Ice7386

ok but is it normal for my car not to start and when i pull it out is it repairable?

pmohr

iTrader: (26)

If you damaged the board, yes.

Jesus. That's why you're pulling it out, to DETERMINE that.

Ice7386

ok its actually snowing pretty bad in jersey so im probably going to pull it out when the weather clears and ill post the condition of the ecu when i get it out