#ECU #ECM #Bad_ECU Top 10 symptoms of a bad engine electronic control unit or control module The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is also called the Engine Control Module (ECM). This module processes information sent to it from engine sensors so it can regulate your engine’s performance by making adjustments to the air/fuel mixture, fuel usage, and combustion sparks. 1. Check Engine Light alert Usually, the check engine light will come on at the first sign of trouble. The easiest symptom to recognize is when the “Check Engine” warning light illuminates on the dashboard. In cases where the engine control unit detects issues with its electronic components, circuits, and or sensors, it will immediately cause the Check Engine warning light to illuminate. To figure out if the engine control unit is truly having problems, you need to search for the specific trouble codes on your vehicle’s computer. Therefore, whenever the engine check light pops on the dashboard, diagnose the vehicle to see if you have a failed ECM. If so, it may be caused by a bad ECU relay or ground. There are several engine control module failure causes. Search the meaning of the fault codes on your browser and fix or replace the culprit. If there is something wrong with the engine control unit, the Onboard Diagnostics II (OBD2) will show some of the code, and you need to address them properly. 2. Engine Misfires or Stalls Another symptom that may follow a warning light illumination is an engine that misfires or maybe even stalls. The ECU controls the order in which the spark plugs fire, for example, and if that order is compromised by a faulty engine control unit, you’ll end up with misfiring plugs. You may find your engine idling roughly, sputtering as it tries to pick up speed, or even stalling while you’re stopped and idling or while you’re in motion. 3. Bad Gas Mileage or poor fuel economy The ECU gathers data from the vehicle’s sensors and electronic components, and using this data, the ECU controls fuel injectors and decide the amount of fuel to be injected. When the engine control module fails, it might not know the right amount of gas to send to the combustion chamber. It may send a higher amount of fuel to the engine. This means you’ll have a compromised fuel mileage. It also means constant visits to the gas stations. 4. Poor Engine Performance a faulty ECU may cause the wrong amount of fuel to be delivered to the combustion chamber. When this happens, you are going to notice some performance issues. It may even shake and vibrate some, especially when trying to go up hills, when there’s a lot of extra weight in the car, or when you’re towing something. You may also experience a rough idle due to not having enough fuel for the conditions. 5. Car Won’t Start The worst symptom of a bad ECU is when your car does not start at all. It may be difficult to start at first but then, it will never start up again. This happens after the engine control unit has a complete failure and does not function at all. 6. Loss of Acceleration Loss of acceleration is another sign of a bad ECU, It’s always easy to notice if you have less acceleration in the car. On some cars, the vehicle’s ECU is directly connected with the transmission control module, this is basically because the ECU helps the TCM make proper adjustments for your car’s acceleration. 8. ECU Getting Overheated Car ECU gets some normal heat from the processors, transistors, or chips. But, if the ECU frequently gets overheated, This is not good for its normal operation. overheating can damage the ECU. an overheated ECU can’t control the vehicle properly and hence may bring some issues in performance. 9. Engine Lags or Surges Because the ECU controls your engine’s timing and fuel usage, you might notice engine performance issues such as lagging or surging if the module is going bad. For example, if your engine isn’t getting enough fuel because the faulty ECU has thrown off the air/fuel mixture, your vehicle will lag or stutter when you step on the accelerator. Too much fuel can make your engine surge and increase increased fuel consumption. The ECU can throw off your engine’s timing, as well leading to incomplete combustion or engine knocking. 10. Rough or irregular shifting This usually happens when there is a loss of power. But in this case, it happens when the ECU sends false information to the transmission control module. It also means the Transmission Control Module is not getting appropriate information it needs to shift the gears smoothly. Because of this, the transmission will find it difficult to shift the gears smoothly and at appropriate times.

• published: 17 Nov 2022
• views: 399759