how to check if it's dead or not on the 5th gen preludes?

 

I had the stock ECU fry itself, and it was replaced under warranty on my 2000 Prelude.

What symptoms are you seing? Is this the original ECU that came with the car?

Andrew

 

yeah it's stock. just can't start the car after the immobilizer was removed. the dash lights are on though, does that mean it's not dead?

 

Err... Why would you remove the Immobilzer unit? I would assume that is why your car is not starting. I can't find the link to the arcticle about the Prelude's Immobilzer anymore. But IIRC, the ECU needs the immobilzer signal in order for it to allow the car to crank.

You can't just say, "My car won't start. Is the ECU dead?" A better description of your symptoms would get you a lot more input on this... i.e.: Is the car cranking? Is it cranking, but not firing? Is it trying to start, but stalling? etc.

Andrew

 

Yes, the ECM needs the Immob signal to fire up the fuel system and ignition setups. Otherwise, it either won't crank at all, or will crank but only run for 2 seconds. If you want to do away with the immob you'd have to get a new ECM and (not sure on this part) but i bet you'd have to rewire quite a few relays and such so they kick on W/O the immob's signal

 

Hey, I have a JDM 5th gen Type S ECU for sale that does not require the immobilizer. It also has slightly more aggressive timing and fuel curves. Email me at davidrierson@attbi.com if you are interested.

 

David, I was under the impression that the Japanese TypeS ECU does have the immobilizer functionality... When Nam D Vo did that ECU swap in like 1999, he had to go to a Honda dealer to get it reprogrammed just like a US ECU. He said it would not start otherwise...

Andrew

 

well, i'm still trying to figure out if mine is still ok. i'll hit you up when i find out it's really dead. how much are you asking anyway? and, i would like some information on it like is it vtec, manual trans, obd?, p??, etc. thanks.

also, if it's not vtec will it still work on my sh? what's type s? i'm kinda new at this so please excuse me.

 

Well I am pretty sure the Type S doesn't have an immobilizer (or at least this one didn't) since all I did was plug it in and it worked perfect.

 

Other than the stock SH ECU, the TypeS ECU is the only option you have if you want to retain functionality of the ATTS system. The TypeS will have the same redline as your stock ECU, but will have more agressive timing and fuel maps.

The TypeS Prelude is the 217hp Prelude version sold in Japan. It is the only other Prelude with the ATTS.

Andrew

 

this is one question i've been thinking about since this post... is there any extra wiring you have to do to actually get the P72 to work in a 97+ prelude (besides the OBD-II -> OBD-I cable) because of the Immobilizer? The OBD-II ecu has the function controls that turn the fuel pump on and off when the correct key is put in, but would these same routines need to be mimiked for the pump to come on with the OBD-II, or is it one of those the ECU only shuts it off if the wrong key is put in?

 

Check your PM RJR162.

Andrew

 

damn, i got the type S ecu but it's still not starting . this car will never start!

hey aklucsarits, think i can get the same information about whether or not you'd have to rewire anything if you go obd2-1 harness and p72/p13 ? thanks.