Went to the car wash, now car won't start!!!!!!

[The Tick]

My mechanic says the ecu got wet and I need to get another one. He is calling salvage yards to see if he could find a used one. I think they are like $1200 new. Is it ok for me to get one used if it is from the same car? Is it just a easy swap? Please Advise.
Thank you!!!

[pecivil]

hey tick!
thats ****ed up and the reason i only hand wash my car myself....

cause everybody that goes thru the machines get their ecu fried...

[Kevlar]

You'll have to realign the computers...

[satyen119]

what kind of idiotic design is that anyway? how can water get into the ecu's space so easily? i've heard about that happening to several people who go through car washes.

[The Tick]

What do you mean I have to realign the computers?

[HB 325]

i just had to replace my ecu about a week ago. the total cost was about $1100. you'll save some money buy getting one from a salvage yard, but make sure you put the chip that was in your car in the new ecu. Otherwise it will trip the check engine light.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by The Tick
What do you mean I have to realign the computers?

Actually you won't. Kev was refering to the EWS coding system, but your 325 is a '93 so it doesn't have EWS which was standard in all 3-series built after 1/95.

[ayton]

Originally posted by satyen119
what kind of idiotic design is that anyway? how can water get into the ecu's space so easily? i've heard about that happening to several people who go through car washes.

It has something to do with some drain plugs near the cowl that get plugged slowly by debris.......the DME compartment backs up with water There are a couple of things you can do to prevent it....wrap the wiring harness in electrical tape and put the dme in a platic bag........the covering that come on the stock one is pourous and lets water creep down the wires to the DME.Ask me how I know.
PS sorry to hear about your car you should be able to get a computer for about $500.......install it yourself it takes about 2 mins.

[crash]

Tick,

When he installs the new ECU, have him check the cowl drain. Mine was plugged up and my ECU got a "little" wet. Not enough to fry the board (had an inspection 2 done soon after car wash), but enough to scare me. Another indication of a backed up cowl drain is water in the passenger / drivers carpeting after hard rain or car wash.

By the way, do you still have the 3.91 LSD for sale?

[The Tick]

Thanks for all the help guys. That was some great advise. Is the chip easy to swap out? Is it easy to recognize too?

Crash, I still have the 3.91 lsd. I have'nt been trying to sell it lately, but I'll let it go for $500 plus shipping. I'm in SoCal.

[Kos-motate139]

There was an article in the Roundel a while back where Jenny Morgan talked about this vunerability on the e36s, in comparison to the e30s. She'd run across a number of cars that she took the ECU out, opened it, drained all the water out of it, and let it dry for a day. After reassembly they'd work just fine.

YMMV here obviously, but before chucking the old one, it's certainly worth a try.

[The Tick]

Kos,
WOW, I did'nt even think about doing that. I'll make sure to try that first! Thanks!!!!