Your Toyota’s electronic control unit (ECU) might benefit from a reset if you’ve been having technical or computer problems.
Disconnect the negative connection from the battery and wait 15 to 25 minutes to reset the ECU. The next step is to reconnect the cable and start the car.
Techniques for Resetting Toyota Corolla ECU
So, your Toyota car’s check engine light has been on for a few weeks now, and you have no idea why. If your car’s engine suddenly stops working, it might be for a number of reasons.
It’s possible that the ECU might overheat, which would be disastrous for your engine. There might be a burning odour emanating from the car’s engine.
If you can’t get your Toyota Corolla car to a repair shop soon, you may try resetting the ECU yourself to see if that fixes the issue. The ECU may be easily reset. All you really need is some kind of schematic or layout of your car’s internal workings.
If you don’t have one, you may get the engine diagram online by entering your Toyota’s make and model.
- To begin, please stop your vehicle and switch off the engine. You must turn off the engine before resetting the ECU.
- The next step is to open the hood and prop it open with the help of the side brace. A friend or neighbour may be able to help you out if the side braids on your hood have worn away.
- Find your car’s battery now. The location of the car’s battery is often out to the side.
- The next step, after discovering a battery, is to locate its negative terminal. To turn off the automobile, turn off the negative battery terminal.
- Hold tight for at least 15 minutes. Waiting for 25 minutes is recommended in several guides. It’s model- and manufacturer-specific. In most cases, a wait of 15 to 20 minutes is all that’s required for a Toyota automobile.
- Reattach the battery’s negative terminal when the waiting period is over. Activate the car’s starter. After resolving the issue, the warning light shouldn’t turn on again.
Let’s cross our fingers that the Check Engine light was only triggered by a faulty sensor. The sensor that was activating the LED was also reset when the ECU was rebooted.
You shouldn’t disregard the warning or try to reset the ECU if the check engine light turns on again. Visit a repair shop. If you take your car in to have it checked out, the technician can determine the source of the warning light.
Why Reset the Toyota Corolla ECU?
Even if you haven’t seen the check engine light come on, it may still be necessary to reset the ECU. Problems like these may suggest an ECU reset is in order:
- The Toyota car won’t start unless you turn the key in the ignition many times.
- Misfires or stalls out unexpectedly while accelerating.
- Your car’s transmission makes gear changes automatically.
- The car’s engine emits a pungent, smoky smell.
- The malfunction indicator light will not turn off.
When the ECU is reset, What Happens?
The ECU’s computer system has both short- and long-term memory. The ECU’s long-term and short-term memories are cleared whenever the battery is disconnected.
Sometimes clearing the unit’s memory helps because a faulty sensor is giving the ECU erroneous readings. The erroneous information may trigger the engine warning light.
What is Electronic Control Unit?
The Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is another name for the ECU. What is the name of the computer system that governs and controls all of the electric components in the Toyota Corolla car?
The engine control unit (ECU) is responsible for the operation of the vehicle’s air conditioner, fuel injectors, and spark plugs and is powered by the vehicle’s battery.
The ECU must control the flow of current from the battery and the output of the engine. Power monitoring, distribution, and rerouting are all simplified by the ECU’s control of many components. This is true of the sensors, the computer system, and the engine.
If a driver is making a call via the car’s system while also using the air conditioner, radio, and video screen headsets in the backseat, then the driver will need access to a reliable power source.
The ECU regulates power to all of these components. Not only does the air conditioner keep tabs on the interior temperature while the driver cranks the vents, but it also keeps tabs on the air temperature outside.
To make a phone call, the car’s system needs electricity to run the speakerphone, microphone, and internet receiver.
In addition to these functions, the ECU controls the engine’s temperature and keeps tabs on the tyres’ pressure. The ECU is able to do all of this because of the extensive system of sensors installed throughout the automobile.
How Long Until Electronic Control Unit (ECU) has to be Replaced?
A vehicle’s electronic control unit may stop functioning properly sometimes (though seldom). Manufacturers often advise against repairing in favour of replacing.
While purchasing a whole new electronic control unit may be costly, the effort involved in making the switch will only set you back a small fraction of that price.
Typically, the price of an electronic control unit ranges from $800 to $2,000. Luxury vehicles are the most common places to find the $1,400 electronic control modules.
The labour costs to replace an ECU will be around $250 (give or take $50).
Conclusion
In order to disconnect the ECU, you must locate the battery in your car and remove the negative terminal from the battery for 15–25 minutes. By resetting the ECU, the system’s temporary and permanent data are deleted.
When a reset of the ECU resolves a problem, it indicates that incorrect sensor data is to blame. The cost of a new ECU may range from $600 to $1,600, and the expense of having a technician install it is on the order of $250.
