P0717 w/ CEL - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

pitch4pd · 06-12-2008, 08:34 AM

Hi everyone, I have been trying to figure out a CEL on my father in-laws 03-04 Pontiac Vibe. The code is P0717 and the place where he took it to said the ECU would need to be replaced. I have a backround with working on Ford's for a couple of years and I cant remember if it is possible to get a junk-yard ECU without having major issues. Has anyone tried using a used ECU, also what years and models ECU can I use?

Thank you,
Charles

Smar969905 · 06-12-2008, 06:37 PM

just a suggestion to start with. try to flash what you have existing. disconnect the battery from the car entirely so the car has no power. go turn the key on like you are going to start the car. obviously it won't start, but that is the quick way to clear the charge that has built up throughout the system. give the car a few minutes more anyway just to be sure before hooking up the battery again. hook up battery, and see what happens.

pitch4pd · 06-13-2008, 07:28 AM

The dealer did clear the ECM when it was being checked out originally for the CEL. It took a week for it to come back on. I also cleared out the computer myself by doing a similar method (unhook battery for a couple of hours). The light came back on in a matter of a week again.

Unfortunately if I dont have this figured out by the end of the day the stealership is going to win this round (I use to work @ a Ford dealership and stealership is an understatement). Hopefully, someone can give me some more insight on this?

ShawnM · 06-13-2008, 08:06 AM

Unless you have access to coding equipment I dont think it is possible to swap out junk yard ECM's on any newer car. Most factory antitheft systems run through the ECM as well and have to be programmed to the keys your using. If the car has under 80K miles then the ECM is still under factory warranty.

-P0717 is a trans speed sensor fault

pitch4pd · 06-13-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShawnM

Unless you have access to coding equipment I dont think it is possible to swap out junk yard ECM's on any newer car.

I figured, I just wanted to make sure that it was this case. The car has over 100K miles on it. The only idea I have is if the dealership could push a warranty job thru since the car is barely 6 years old well under the 8 year warranty. I know at the ford dealership I worked at if you were a good customer (bought the car there and had all the services done there) they would go to bat for you with ford and normally strike some kind of deal to get the price down on a pricey repair that is a common problem. Honastly, I would say 350 would be a fair price on something like this but 700 could buy a transmission rebuild, or R/R an engine (not including the engine). But a 2 hour job tops on something that should never fail is beyond me.

Charles