Does this really work?

sfr rob · 13-04-2005, 10:42 PM

hey there fellas. i just found this because i have to change my battery in my car this weekend..
just wondering if this actually works?!!?

i mean... wouldnt it be easyer if ford just made a "reset" button somewhere on the actual unit rather then having to do this like a clown?!

To Reset AU ECU…
Disconnect the battery for approx 40minutes to 1 hour.

Once reconnected do the following:

AUTO Transmission:

- Reset Computer by disconnecting battery (Take off the positive terminal lead)
- When power is re-connected, start car and idle in this sequence…
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C off.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C off.
- Drive the car on the road, for at least 5 minutes under variable throttle positions.

MANUAL Transmission:

- Same as above, except put the transmission in gear for (drive).

Often, resetting the ECU can give the car a fresh start, improving performance, economy and smoothness. It is recommended that an ECU reset is done after any modification to allow the computer to relearn the car and the driver.

:king:

Casper · 13-04-2005, 10:57 PM

Yes, it really works. I do it every time I make a change and the car idles perfectly and doesnt hunt at all.

14-04-2005, 01:02 AM

After I get a minor/major service, my AU2 always runs like shit (feels sluggish), and eats petrol (as in 60L, ~300KM) for a good 2 weeks. Then she settled back in the grove of the normal 60L and ~470-490KM.

I always though this was due to the ECU being reset, but maybe I'm wrong? Seems as though resetting the ECU isn't as easy as I thought...

JC · 14-04-2005, 01:23 AM

Bangers - the reset procedure is simple. Not counting waiting time (40 minutes etc), it takes 8 mins to do, with a quick 5 minute blat afterwards. So 13 minutes could save you lots of fuel over 2 weeks!

12 · 14-04-2005, 01:40 AM

There's no need to disconnect the battery for 40min to 1 hour to clear KAM (Keep Alive Memory). Read below, taken from the Ford Manual.

Keep Alive Memory (KAM)
KAM is a section of the PCM memory which holds information on sensor voltage changes.
These change due to age, wear or problems with the sensors.
If the battery has been disconnected for a period of time or a sensor replaced;
The vehicle should be driven to allow the KAM to relearn the new data (See PCM Relearn).
To clear KAM, remove fuse #20 for at least 1 minute.

Also....

PCM Relearn Procedure
If the Battery is disconnected or a Component is replaced;
The Keep Alive Memory will lose its information and require PCM Relearn.

1. Run engine to normal operating temperature.
2. Allow engine to idle (Don't touch the throttle).
3. Run for 2 minutes in Drive with Air Conditioner ON.
4. Run for 2 minutes in Drive with Air Conditioner OFF.
5. Run for 2 minutes in Neutral with Air Conditioning ON.
6. Run for 2 minutes in Neutral with Air Conditioning OFF.
7. Road test for at least 5 minutes at various speeds.
(Ensure vehicle is operated in each gear position)

JC · 14-04-2005, 01:50 AM

I assume that is for an AU1, as fuse #20 is the clock in an AU2 - any idea what the right fuse would be for an AU2 - ie, what is fuse#20 in the AU1 (ECU??). Just off the top of my head, fuse #12 is the wipers. Don't know the others though.

sfr rob · 14-04-2005, 08:28 AM

Hmm very interesting... now why are the certain people here that believe that the computer is not a "learning" CPU?

my battery is on its last legs, so this weekend i will plonk a new one in and try the memory reset deal.

I was thiking, what would happen if after you reset and went for a drive, you drove like a knob for 5 minutes... what would the computer then "learn"? hehehe
:dr_Evil:

thanks guys
rob

Sox · 14-04-2005, 08:34 AM

It doesn't matter how you drive after the ECU is reset, as it's learning ALL the time.
It will continually adapt to whatever the conditions.

I used to reset the ECU after mods, however I don't bother now as it will learn either way.

Rick.

BF MKII UTE · 14-04-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfr rob

To Reset AU ECU…
Disconnect the battery for approx 40minutes to 1 hour.

Once reconnected do the following:

AUTO Transmission:

- Reset Computer by disconnecting battery (Take off the positive terminal lead)
- When power is re-connected, start car and idle in this sequence…
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C off.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C off.
- Drive the car on the road, for at least 5 minutes under variable throttle positions.

:king:

Guys does this matter whether the engine is cold or at operating temperture ?

Alan.

EA2BA · 14-04-2005, 11:14 AM

Another trick is put the igntion to the position where the cig lighter works, plug a lead into the cig lighter and attach it to a 2nd battery, then remove and replace main battery careful with positive lead its still positive, and then no loss of memory including the radio code.

Do it all the time, and used to do it at the servo I worked at, people never can find the radio code they are told to never lose

BF MKII UTE · 15-04-2005, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfr rob

Often, resetting the ECU can give the car a fresh start, improving performance, economy and smoothness. It is recommended that an ECU reset is done after any modification to allow the computer to relearn the car and the driver.
[/I]

:king:

Well i've had a slight miss with my AU1 for a while now, seemed to appear after exhaust and intake done. Finally had time to book her in for an EFI tune at Ultra Tune this Saturday as they run them on the Dyno.
But after reading this yesterday i thought what the hell have i got to lose, so followed the procedure last night then took for a little drive and IMO it bloody works.
Miss has gone and she idles as smooth as.

Alan.

:

GK · 15-04-2005, 05:30 PM

Hi fellas,

My AU1 is on gas. I've noticed that the car takes off great with no hiccup on gas, but has a slight hesitation on petrol. How will going through this procedure affect my vehicle?

Reckon I should give it a go or be happy with the current situation on gas? You know what they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

sfr rob · 17-04-2005, 08:29 PM

hey there guys!
Ok i did this on friday morning, it works!

my car runs soo much smoother in idle & on the freeway.

My car used to only rev up to around 4500 rpms in first on a "kickdown".
During my little 5 minture cruise on the freeway and back streets, it reved up past 5,500RPM+ .

I have also noticed that on my trip away this weekend..... it doesnt have much bottom end power, from stand still as it did before.
Usually when i give it to her, its pretty much instant power, but since the reset seems to gradually increase, then at 4 grand it really kicks in and revs hard! so there are no spinning whells off the line anymore!?!! :(

dont know why but what can ya do ?!

elusiverunner · 16-07-2006, 06:16 AM

Hello people.

Could you please tell me if this would be the same procedure for reseting the ECU in a BA Fairmont with the 220 24 value 5.4 litre V8.

Quote:

To clear KAM, remove fuse #20 for at least 1 minute.

What fuse would this be in the BA Fairmont?

Racecraft · 16-07-2006, 06:28 AM

in the last 7 years I have never done it once.. As Sox says.... it learns anyway...

Stevexr6 · 16-07-2006, 06:51 AM

I changed the exhaust on my xr6 a while back and straight away noticed it idling really high.will do a computer reset today and post the result.

Bucknaked · 16-07-2006, 08:50 AM

I've never followed any of the proceedures suggested. I had a flat battery 12 months ago and NRMA put a new battery in and we ran the car for a few minutes and that was it.

Should do the proceedure now? I noticed the car does like to drink. Wondering maybe if that will help.

jonbays · 16-07-2006, 09:29 AM

People make too much out of this reset business.

Its basicly all fine trimming of the settings only so if you can't swap the battery and drive away it means there is a sensor or component way out of the spec GOOD `range that needs to be fixed. Like sox and others say its learning all the time. It doesn't learn bad habits.

FASTXR · 24-07-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote:

To Reset AU ECU…
Disconnect the battery for approx 40minutes to 1 hour.

Once reconnected do the following:

AUTO Transmission:

- Reset Computer by disconnecting battery (Take off the positive terminal lead)
- When power is re-connected, start car and idle in this sequence…
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in drive and A/C off.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C on.
- 2 minutes idling with the transmission in neutral and A/C off.
- Drive the car on the road, for at least 5 minutes under variable throttle positions.

MANUAL Transmission:

- Same as above, except put the transmission in gear for (drive).

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, for a manual do I start the car, put the clutch in, put the car into 1st and then just sit there idling with the clutch still pushed in?

FS5 · 24-07-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FASTXR

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, for a manual do I start the car, put the clutch in, put the car into 1st and then just sit there idling with the clutch still pushed in?

when i reset mine (au 5spd) i turn the key on to where all your ingnition lights come on ,wait untill the little red hand light goes out push the accelerator flat to the floor then let it back up.start it up and let it idle for a minute or 2 then i turn the steering side to side then switch the ac on and turn the steering side to side again and away i go.

jonbays · 24-07-2006, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FS5

when i reset mine (au 5spd) i turn the key on to where all your ingnition lights come on ,wait untill the little red hand light goes out push the accelerator flat to the floor then let it back up.start it up and let it idle for a minute or 2 then i turn the steering side to side then switch the ac on and turn the steering side to side again and away i go.

This works in the auto to let it know where the TPS reading is for full throttle important for kickdown and so on. it will learn anyway but it faster to do it tis way.

Dark Horse · 24-07-2006, 08:32 PM

To be honest, I've just changed the battery in mine and did the reset procedure realising what a waste of time it really was.

Just get out and drive it I say.

cookie · 24-07-2006, 09:47 PM

my question is how do you idle the car in gear with a manual like when you have it in drive with an auto, its just going to stall and if you have the clutch in its just the same as having it in nutreal, im propably just being dumb

12 · 24-07-2006, 10:48 PM

For manual just idle in neutral with A/C on for 2 minutes, then in neutral with A/C off for 2 minutes. That's it. Easy.

Yes, the ECU will learn over time.. but resetting the ECU as above speeds things up a little. And it's mainly for idle quality anyway.

**Stav** · 25-07-2006, 12:30 AM

Dont reset it at all. The ecu compensates for wear and tear over time .If you reset it you risk losing any decent settings. Without the edit ,the dev 4 didnt like idling when I reset my ecu..

BTW where is Soxx?