I'm currently prepping a B18C1 to go into my 2000 EX. I believe that the engine came from a 2000 or 2001 USDM gsr, but I'm not sure.

The guy who sold me the engine didn't have the ECU that came with it, but did find a P72 to sell me. He told me that it was an OBD2b ECU, but I don't know what year.

So, I'm trying to find out whether this ECU has an immobilizer before I do the swap, since this is my daily driver, and I'd prefer to not have it down for too long.

I thought I would try starting the current d16y8 in the car on the P72 ECU, just to see if it will start - I know it won't run well, but I figured it ought to at least start so I can find out if it's immobilized. I swapped the A15/A16 pinouts for the fuel pump relay, which should be the only thing I need to do to get it to start. When it turn the key, I hear the fuel pump prime, and it cranks, but no start.

So, how can I find out if this ECU is immobilized? Is there something I'm missing in trying to get it to start a y8, or will it just not work?

And here's my proudly gratuitous engine pic:

 

evening bump? someone has to have tried this...

 

call brian in electrical at hasport, he will know off the top of his head

 

open top of ECU, take pic, post it here.

the immob is a daughter board at the top left next to the plugs. (plugs are positioned to the left)

 

obd2b has one

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teamvirus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">obd2b has one </TD></TR></TABLE>
USDM, highly likely.
any other DM, hard to say.
pictures will tell...

 

I'll open it up and get pics tonight - it's all sitting in my bro-in-law's garage at the moment, and I'm going over there to put the clutch/flywheel/transmission together.

Damn if it is. I really wanted to get this in this weekend.

 

00-01's have them.

 

ok, I'm about 90% sure it has an immobilizer. There is a daughter board. I can get it to prime the fuel pump, but won't fire. next question is if anyone knows someone who can remove it. Phearable only works on OBD1 ecus, and kenji doesn't seem to have a site anymore. I'd like to stay OBD2 to keep it legal, and prefer a P72 so I can keep my IAB... so either I have to get this one fixed or find a 99 P72.

Any suggestions?

 

Here's a pic of the ECU:


I think the offending chip is in the top right corner. Either way, it won't start on my y8 - primes fuel pump, but won't fire.

So I'm talking to a guy about a 99 OBD2a P72 right now. My car is a 2000 OBD2b Civic. I don't need to mod anything for an OBD2a ECU, do I? Don't think so, but figured I'd ask.

 

I wish I knew what I was looking at. lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by teamvirus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">obd2b has one </TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Vindicator9000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I think the offending chip is in the top right corner. Either way, it won't start on my y8 - primes fuel pump, but won't fire.</TD></TR></TABLE>
you are 100% correct. It's laid out slightly different than I was expecting, but yes top right is the immob.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So I'm talking to a guy about a 99 OBD2a P72 right now. My car is a 2000 OBD2b Civic. I don't need to mod anything for an OBD2a ECU, do I? Don't think so, but figured I'd ask.</TD></TR></TABLE>
OBD2b-OBD2a jumper harness is all that's needed.

 

So what does the immobilizer actually do?

 

It disables the ground to the fuel injectors so that it will not start unless you have a fancy key with a chip in it. On a 00-01 integra, there's a ring in the steering column that detects the chip in the key and sends a signal to the ECU to disable the immobilizer and allow it to start. This doesn't exist in a Civic. It can be retrofitted, but it's a PITA because you have to sell your soul to the dealer to prove your stuff's not stolen and get it to work, so it's usually easier to replace with a non OBD-2b ECU, or remove the immobilizer, which is what I think I'm going to do.

Granted, I didn't really know all this when I bought the swap, or I would have started with a different ECU. As it is, I got (I think) a pretty good deal on the complete swap, so if this is the worst problem I run into, I'll be happy.

 

from the Helm
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the immobilizer system is designed to prevent the car from being started without the owner's ignition key. If an attempt is made to start the car without the correct key, the immobilizer system will disable the car's fuel supply.
The immobilizer system consists of the ignition key, immobilizer receiver unit, immobilizer indicator light, PGM-FI mani relay, fuel pump, and the PCM or ECM.
With the ignition switch in ON(II) or START (III), the immobilizer receiver unit and the PCM or ECM receive an "ignition on" signal through fuse 44 and the PGM-FI main relay. The PCM or ECM then sends power to the ignition key transponder through the immobilizer receiver unit. The transponder then sends a coded signal back to the PCM or ECM through the receiver unit. If the signal is correct, the PCM or ECM will energize the car's fuel supply system by grounding the PGM-FI main relay. The immobilizer indicator light flashes a code to indicate that the correct key has been inserted. If the ignition key signal is not correct, the PCM or ECM will not energize the car's fuel supply system by not grounding the PGM-FI main relay. The immobilizer indicator light then flashes a code to indicate that an incorrect key has been inserted.</TD></TR></TABLE>

all though this is not entirely correct from my experience. I've seen immobilizer'd cars with the fuel pump running and the car still does not start. They must disable the injectors also... This would help stop thieves from simply grounding the main relay line to start the car. (since this paragraph literally gives away how to bypass it)

 

I don't know how but ive seen people break the chip right off the board swap the main relay and the car started if the did anything separate than this i didn't see it but then again I didn't ask.

 

it's definitely injectors, as my fuel pump will prime, but the engine won't fire.

 

it is possible to remove the immob and bypass it so the car will run, but your CEL will always be on. (solid CEL for internal ECU failure)
it's not as easy as breaking it out of there, there are a few parts that need to be moved around. (before people start messaging me... I don't know what they are)