Fried Ecu?

[kcndizzle]

I was working on my car the other day, and I didn't disconnect the battery... I'm tightening a bolt when I push a positive cable from my electric fan temp control into a ground and it sparks.. When I get into the car, none of the accessories are functioning, even seatbelts aren't sliding. The only way any of the accessories will work is if the engine is running. And when driving, the car will rev, but when I engage the clutch it won't rev past 2k...

So I troubleshoot and look for burnt fuses under the dash and under the hood and near the battery, and nothing.. So I open up the ecu to look for burnt links, or.. something, but there were no definitive signs of shorting... Any ideas?

P.S. I know I'm an idiot for not disconnecting the battery, please, don't flame too hard....

[mistaanime]

your maf might have went out..but coud be other things...

[rollhard]

your maf might have went out..but coud be other things...

If your MAF is out, youll get a check engine light. Could you be more specific as to what exactly the car is doing as soon as your turn the key on? instrument panel lights up, etc?

[jdm538]

wen my friends maf went out his cel didnt go on but he had same problems

[bboyt3nsk]

Usually if the ECU is friend and you take the cover off you can actually see where is fried with burn marks and disconnection.

[kcndizzle]

Well, when I turn the ignition, not actually starting but turning the ignition, the only thing that will happen is that the backlight for the clock will go on... And when running, it will rev, but when the clutch engages it won't rev past 2k, but I found a vacuum leak, so that's very possibly the answer for that, my main concern now is the lack of accessories in the cabin, and unless the engine is running, nothing will work... Also, its an enthalpy ecu with a Z32 maf, so I don't know if it would throw a CEL for that...

[rollhard]

Usually if the ECU is friend and you take the cover off you can actually see where is fried with burn marks and disconnection.

Usually if your ECU is your friend, then he wouldnt crap out on you like that without talking to you about it first....lol. sorry, couldnt resist.

Well, when I turn the ignition, not actually starting but turning the ignition, the only thing that will happen is that the backlight for the clock will go on... And when running, it will rev, but when the clutch engages it won't rev past 2k, but I found a vacuum leak, so that's very possibly the answer for that, my main concern now is the lack of accessories in the cabin, and unless the engine is running, nothing will work... Also, its an enthalpy ecu with a Z32 maf, so I don't know if it would throw a CEL for that...

Seriously, I dont think your ECU is fried. I think you might have cooked some wires instead.

[kcndizzle]

Yeah, I'm starting to think my ecu is cool, which is great, cuz I don't have another 500 to drop on it.. Cooked wires huh... those should be fun to track down....

[rollhard]

Yeah, I'm starting to think my ecu is cool, which is great, cuz I don't have another 500 to drop on it.. Cooked wires huh... those should be fun to track down....

Shorting something on your ECU from what you did (the ground to the power) is possible but unlikely. Your more likely to have cooked wires or fuses before the ECU gets damaged. Heck, thats the whole reason fuses exist....to protect the wires and ecu. Anyhow, yes, its a PITA to find cooked wires. Good luck bro!

[kcndizzle]

Thanks for all the advice rollhard, yeah, turns out the engine runs fine!!! Didn't think it would short the ecu... theory behind the all powerful fuse kinda lead me away, but I figured fried ecu was good to get people to look... ECU is gud, took it out for a spin and pulls like a bat outta hell! interior stuff is still screwed, but I can live without amenities temporarily, as long as I'm still boostin!