Double DIY: Replace your ECU/Remove your glovebox

[Chris Crash]

I needed to (hopefully) replace my ECU so I wanted to show people how to get to it. Also, people ask a lot how to remove the glovebox so it's a double DIY.

Tools:

• 10 mm socket
• Socket Wrench + extensions
• Phillips head screwdriver

Time Required:

• 20 minutes if you're competent

DISCLAIMER: The work you are about to complete is to be done at YOUR OWN RISK. You are dealing with dangerous and sensitive electrical equipment that can hurt you but also damage and destroy your car. Do not attempt this DIY if you do not feel you can handle it.

1. Disconnect the battery. There's a slim chance you'll need to do this, but it's still a chance. Just do it.
2. Grab onto this plastic trim piece running along the door and pull towards you. It will snap right out.
3. Remove the black plastic screw that would normally be right here.
4. Grab onto this plastic trim piece covering the junction block and pull towards the drivers side. It will snap right out.
5. Grab onto this plastic trim piece going along side the glovebox and pull towards you. It will snap right out.
6. Remove this 10 mm screw. It strips easily so I recommend not using a screwdriver on it.
7. Open the glovebox and remove the three screws along the top of the door pictured here.
8. There is another screw (not pictured) on the lower left corner of the glovebox to be removed. It's also a phillips head.
9. Pull the glovebox door down and out towards you in a quick motion and it will snap out.
10. Now you can see the ECU and all it's wiring. Disconnect the three big white connectors going to the ECU.
11. Remove this 10 mm nut on the top bracket of the ECU.
12. Remove this 10 mm nut on the bottom bracket of the ECU.
13. Rotate and twist the ECU until you get it out. Hint: it comes out the bottom.
14. Swap the brackets from the old ECU to the new ECU.
15. Re-install. It takes a lot of twisting to get it back in position. You'll need to be somewhat of a contortionist.
16. Re-installation is the reverse of disassembly.

Note: The ECU will have to re-learn the correct idle speed, so for the first few minutes the idle will be a lot higher than it should be. This is normal and fixes itself with normal driving.

[ty**20]

nice diy and write up. very good pictures. will be helpful for the community. sticky

[Yuko]

Thanks for the DIY. I never knew there the ECU was located, learn something new. I never had an ECU failed but what can cause it?

[Chris Crash]

I'm not sure what exactly causes it, but symptom for me was a CEL that would not go away. Ever. haha after replacing every other component twice...it was down to the ECU.

I'm not POSITIVE here about how they work, but at least for knock sensor's there's a switch in the ECU that does something when it's malfunctioning, so I'm guessing letting the problem stay for so long left the switch on (or off) constantly and it fried it? and therefore even after the problem was successfully fixed, the ECU didn't see the improvement.

[LynchburgCSI]

Andddd stuck.

[medic2u]

Where did you get your replacement ECM? Or does anyone have a recommendation of a reliable ECM dealer. I can not have car down while I wait for an ECM to be rebuilt. Thanks for the DIY.

[Chris Crash]

www.car-parts.com

[Chris Crash]

However if you're looking for a 5SFE M/T ECU, I have one for sale.

[DrDreams]

is the 5s for the I4? and will it need to be programmed for a 96 camry 2.2? Thank you

[Chris Crash]

The 5SFE is the 4-cylinder engine.

[DrDreams]

Originally Posted by Chris Crash

The 5SFE is the 4-cylinder engine.

Cool. Thanks for clearing that up. Do I need to program it? If I am pulling it off of another car

[Chris Crash]

As long as it's the same transmission, engine, and generation you'll be ok. So for a 96 you'll want to pull it off a 94-96 year car with your same engine and transmission. Also cruise control matters too.

[dave1811]

So, did it finally resolve your CEL problem??

[adalex]

gah I hate you chris >.< factory amp >.< I've been trying to find one at the junk yard with the harness to see if it would work with my factory stereo, since I have an extra plug that I don't use.

This is a pic of my radio from ebay but its the bottom left plug that I have open, maybe you can tell me if its the correct plug

[camry786]

What signs indicated bad ECM? My speedometer needle drops to zero and it seems like it drops a gear at times cause the rpms increase.