The ecu on my car is on its way out, and surprisingly Ive found it hard to find a 5SPD 96 ecu used. I got one from a junkyard, and it turned out to be just that...junk . Im still searching for a used ecu, but now im considering a new one as well. I was quoted $600 for a new ecu from Nissan, and a tuned ecu from JWT costs $595 according to their site. So I was wondering if I should just get the JWT if I decide to go new. I know it won't show its potential until at least a 00vi is installed, which I plan on doing in the future. My engine performance mods are: Warpspeed y-pipe, resonated b-pipe, Stillen Catback Exhaust system, Random Technology cat, and Place Racing CAI. And what are the differences, if any, between the fed spec ecu and the cali spec ecu?

 

if u must go new, sounds like an easy decision to me.

 

i have a working 96 ecu 5spd... 100 bucks its urs...

 

Any codes due to internal malfunction?

 

how did you determine that your ECU is "on the way out" and that the junkyard one was bad?

codes are not due to internal malfunction, they're due to problems with the car's systems or sensors. i can't fathom why you'd buy an ECU brand new from nissan, huge waste of money. if you really got a bad ecu you got incredibly unlucky, they don't fail very often. 99.99% of the used ones out there are in good working order.

jwt ecu gives a nice little kick in the pants, if you want to go that route.

 

Ditto, Ive had many ecus in the past and never had a bad one. All purchased used from either members or from junkyards.
But its not surprising that are a bit diffucult to source for a good price being that there werent as many 5-speeds produced as there were autos.

 

took my car to Nissan to figure out why I was getting a code for the MAP/BORO solenoid valve since I replaced it, and they checked the car, and said there is a bad signal coming from the ecu itself, and after checking all of the wiring in the car, they narrowed the problem down to the ecu and found there was an internal malfunction, and they tried the ecu I got from the junkyard, and couldnt get it to read or hookup at all, thats how I know. The codes can be due to internal malfunction if the part i.e. MAP/BORO solenoid is getting a bad ground signal or no signal from the ecu, which in turn would cause the MAP/BORO not to function and throw a code. I'd buy a new ecu b/c finding a 96 ecu that is a 5SPD is not as easy as it sounds. Many of them out there r auto ecus.

 

I reckon try a different mechanic before you try a new ECU - they blame your current ECU and can't make the 'new' one work

 

I wouldn't trust what that dealership said honestly, sounds like a ton of hooey intended to make you spend $600 with them.

You can buy 96 5 speed ECUs all day long on the .org for $100. Go search and I bet you find probably 8 of them for sale in the last month. People part out cars all the time on here. By the way you can also put an auto ECU in your car. It will cause you to have a check engine light, which if that is an issue for you then you'd probably not want that, but it will work just fine.

 

Yea, ive been looking but i dont want a cel