Ok fellas, heres the deal. Doing a 5 spd swap into a 99 cali spec car. I've done swaps before, and I know that i can run the auto ECU just fine, with the exception of a higher idle and a CEL, but i got a 97 fed spec 5 spd laying around that i was thinking about putting in. What are the consequences? I'm guessing a bunch of emissions related codes. What else? I could live with a CEL on for a while, since we dont have emission in florida, but would like to get rid of the light sooner or later and have the idle where it's supposed to be. Should i try and source a 5 spd cali spec ECU? If i do, i'm guessing it would have to be a '99, because of the immobilizer, which leads me to believe if i put the '97 ECU in, I wouldnt even be able to start the car because of that. Looks like my best bet would be just to keep the stock auto ECU and deal with the higher idle. What do you guys think? Any input is appreciated

 

97 doesnt have immobilizer so no worries there. People swap to older ecu to be rid of it. That's all I know on the subject. I think you will have to swap a few wires in the harness plug. Codes should not be a problem, the car will have the required sensors and then some but the ECU wont care and wont turn on the light. I could be wrong.

 

CALI equipped cars have stricter emissions such as precats and an extra o2 and swirl valves all of which prevent the car from polluting the air before up to operating temp... so a fed spec ecu may work but youre going to throw codes for the extra o2 that wont be reconized as for the swirl valves also, easy way around that ....replace lim with fed one and ypipe and front manifold from a fed car...the rest....i woulnt worry abou right now

 

97 Fed spec ECUs "which he wants to use" dont look for a 4th O2, or swirl valve. Therefore, the ecu will not throw a code for it. The only problem I see is a non functioning swirl valve.

Now, if someone installed a 99 cali ECU in a 97 FED car, you WOULD have codes.

 

thanks for all the replies guys. whats a swirl valve and what does it do?

 

I believe on a 99 the Crank REF signal comes in on pin 46. You will need to change it to pin 44 to make the car run. Also, the O2 sensor signals are in different places. The 97 will be looking for the Fuel pump control module as well, which does not exist on a 99. I would find a Cali spec 99 manual ecu if I was you. If you want to go down the difficult road, check out the file I have attached.

A32 ECU connector cross reference.pdf

 

took all my cali spec nonsense out you dont need it :-)

 

would you care to elaborate on that? as far as what you took out and what you swapped in. thanks

 

just for the record. 98 fed spec manual ecu wont start your 5 spd swapped 99 cali spec max. why? i dont know

 

i have a 97 maxima se fed 5spd, and i have to use a 96 nissan maxima se fed 5spd ecu in order to have jwt re program it for me, whats different?????

 

i guess cali ecu is pinned different from the fed one, but like i said the car wouldnt even start. popeed the cali one back in and all is good

 

Probably because of the difference in the pin out on the ECU connector for the Crank REF sensor.

 

ajm8127 has your answer.



Hey Tony.

 

Hi Dameian, hows everything going?

 

but the diagram you linked says its the same for crank REF sensor on all years, o2's on the other hand are all different, but that wouldnt prevent the car from starting, would it? btw thank you for being helpful

 

All is well. I will be contacting you soon.

I did not read the the link posted but I do know the pin out for crank is different on the 99 REF AND POS I believe

 

I dont mind repinning the harness, but i wanna be a 100% sure it'll work. On the diagram you attached the cranck sensors are on the same pins on all years, thats what got me confused. Is the pin 46 to 44 info from your own experience? Again, thanks for all the help guys

 

Im bumping this cause im in need of an answer to this as well i got a 99 with 97 fed spec engine and need info on the ecu pinout

 

Wow no one has an answer to this??