TD5 ECU Replacement.

Morning all,
My Defender 15p TD5 now nearly 21 years old and I'm thinking about getting a tuned spare ECU to fit and keeping the original as a spare.
Worth the effort to keep a known good spare? Also this outfit is near me, Rowdon Motors at Three Legged Cross any have any experience of them?
Thanks,
Mike.

I've had several ECU failures over the years. More so than flat tyres. So I take a spare one with me just in case. It's also handy as a diagnostic device because it is possible for an ECU to look OK on the Nanocom yet be useless for starting the car. Like any piece of electronic equipment it's likely to fail as it gets older and they're not making them any more so having a spare makes more and more sense.

One of my spares came from those people at Three Legged Cross in the autumn of 2020. They put my injector codes in for me so it was more or less plug and play, once I'd synced it to the immobiliser. It's just a standard one one, so I can't comment on their re-maps. But very quick and efficient - it came the very next day.

Thanks Brown, It was the fact that they are no longer making the ECU that is prompting me, plus I put disco final drive ratio in the tranfer box when I did the clutch a few years back so bit more go will be welcome when loaded.

In 12 years of daily driving Td5s and mapping them for the last 6 ive only ever had one fail.

Then again cant hurt to have a spare!

Remember youll need to code pair the 10as with your landy and a D2 ecu will run the engine but wont be perfect unless you change it to Defender software.

All can be downloaded for free from Empire Tunings website and uploaded via a Nanocom.

Also sells tested, working ECUs with warranty and does mapping if needed.

Well I'd heard of ecu's failing but I'd never considered buying a spare! That's slightly worrying that they no longer make them, that's the only downside with the lecky stuff. I think when mine fails I'll use it as an excuse to re-engine mine, something older and more stand alone mechanical.

@bankz5152 very interesting about empire tuning, I'll have a read up on them!

Yeah, ecus are being bought up rapidly now. Like I said they are robust units and shockingly hard to kill and can often be repaired.

Gottschalk said:

Well I'd heard of ecu's failing but I'd never considered buying a spare! That's slightly worrying that they no longer make them, that's the only downside with the lecky stuff. I think when mine fails I'll use it as an excuse to re-engine mine, something older and more stand alone mechanical.

@bankz5152 very interesting about empire tuning, I'll have a read up on them!

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Gareth is a lovely guy, very busy though! Worked with him quite a bit on a few projects!

bankz5152 said:

Yeah, ecus are being bought up rapidly now. Like I said they are robust units and shockingly hard to kill and can often be repaired.



Gareth is a lovely guy, very busy though! Worked with him quite a bit on a few projects!

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So you do have to do something externally to knacker them do you? They don't just die of old age or something?
I know it sounds daft but that could be quite concerning, I know mine had an ecu from a 2002 fender fitted at somepoint before it was mine because when I had it remapped the chap could just plug it in, and I think it was he that told me that, but I obviously didn't know why it had been replaced!

I think the solder ages and breaks down and the big ‘resistors’ inside fail too

Gottschalk said:

So you do have to do something externally to knacker them do you? They don't just die of old age or something?
I know it sounds daft but that could be quite concerning, I know mine had an ecu from a 2002 fender fitted at somepoint before it was mine because when I had it remapped the chap could just plug it in, and I think it was he that told me that, but I obviously didn't know why it had been replaced!

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They can fail naturally. Usually reads as topside switch failure, but can be repaired. They are old after all!

They can fail during a map/reprogramming process but it is very rare.

Thanks all, reckon I'll get it sorted in the new year, I'll report back how it plays out.
Mike.

Yes, they just go wrong spontaneously when they feel like it. It doesn't have to involve dropping them, getting them wet or letting oil get in. Sometimes they can be repaired but sometimes not. I had one go wrong, sent it to one of those firms that says they'll repair the ECU and it came back working, then a couple of years later it went wrong again and I sent it back under their 'lifetime warranty', they said it couldn't be mended this time and gave me a refund of £300, which was rather decent of them.

The time will come when people break into TD5s just to steal the ECU.

For those fitting a new ECU, with a Nanocom the setting you need is under 'engine', then 'utilities' then 'learn security code' or possibly 'learn DDS code'. It'll prompt you to turn the ignition on and off. I thought I'd put this observation in because I spent ages looking for things to adjust under the Nanocom menus for the 10AS unit itself without success, so it might save a bit of frustration.

Also worth remembering that the capacitors don't like being left un-powered for too long, It'd be worth connecting your 'spare' to the vehicle every three or four months with the ignition on for 20 minutes or so (ideally longer) to help prevent them failing.

Well, got it fitted and now have run 700 odd miles. Fitted a new MAP sensor and removed the OEM restriction in the air box as advised, thought this was a bit of a guess but I really can't argue with the results of these and the remap. The hills on the run back from North Devon to Southampton are now completed in 5th at 60+ prior we would be in 4th or 3rd on the steeper bits. All in all well pleased, also got low fuel warning at 380 miles instead of 350. More efficient and more power? I had read this from others that had a remap but didn't really believe it. Should have done this years ago as it makes distance driving effortless in comparison.
Mike.