Engine control unit

Garny

My response is based on logic not experience.

Can you buy a 2nd hand ECU - why not? Maybe from a wrecker. After all, it is a part on a vevhicle that can be replaced if it fails.

Can you replace one with a second hand ECU - again why not? That's all they do at Toyota if the original one dies.

In saying the above, you may need specialist equipment to code it to your vehicle???

You may get more specific info if you search/ask the question on the LCOOL Forum. But I hope the above gives you dome hope.

Cheers

Anthony

Give AllFourx4 in Newcastle a ring. They will know and could have them in stock.
Cheers

As I have no experience wwith your model can't say for sure but It may not be as simply as replacing the ECU, in at least some of the newer generation cars their are multiple ECU's, these ECU's talk to each other and are coded so for instance someone can't come along and change the security ECU and steal the car, they have to also change the engine ECU, the security ECU, and the key reader ECU as the codes are different and they won't "talk" to each other.

Same for the ignition key, if it has a transponder chip in it then the ECU would need to be programmed to accept your current key.

Honestly when dealing with vehicle EFI systems unless your absolutely sure what your doing it is better to get the dealer (hopefully they know what their doing) or an other crowd that deals with EFI systems on a daily basis to do the work. After market EFI experts can be better as some can repair to component level whereas dealers will just swap out modules.

Most service mobs including many well respected organisations are very lacking in this area, I recently had a problem with a KIA sportage I have bringing up the engine check light. After a few months of driving the vehicle around with the light coming and going (didn't affect the car operation at all) I decided the EGO sensor was the most likely culprit but as I didn't have a code reader that could read the KIA I took it to a very well repsected 4x4 service oraganisation and asked them if they could tell me the problem. They found four error codes, one was crank angle sensor, another was some sort of communication fault, one was EGO sensor and there was another I can't remember. They would have to have started swapping out the sensors to correct the issue and that becomes very expensive very quickly. I changed the EGO sensor and that solved the problem.

Garny - Of course you can buy secondhand ECU's to fit a Landcruiser. They're available on eBay from the wreckers.

100 series ECU on eBay

However, we need to be informed as to what ECU you are talking about.
There are multiple ECU's in many vehicles, and a 2002 100 series has multiple ECU's.
If it's the main engine ECU you are talking about - yes, it can be replaced with a used unit - with conditions.

As HKB correctly points out, the ECU's all talk to each other. This system in cars, which has been in place since the late 1980's, is called the CAN Bus system.
To fit a used ECU, you need to know at what point design changes took place, so you can determine if the used ECU falls within the VIN range of your vehicle.

Design changes happen constantly and dozens of times a year - so you need to have the relevant info related to where the design changes happened, that make the unit you're contemplating purchasing, incompatible with your vehicle.
As a result, you need access to the relevant manufacturers information in this regard.

In addition, it's possible your Landcruiser has an Ignition Security ECU fitted (this is behind the dash) which will not recognise the replacement engine ECU, and the IS ECU needs to be re-flashed to accept the replacement engine ECU.

Furthermore - you really need to have an OBD code reader to start working on and replacing electronic replacements in todays electronic vehicles.
You can get just simple code readers that advise fault codes - but preferably a sophisticated reader is needed, that contains all the relevant manufacturers electronic programming setup, fault codes, fault-finding and also the ability to re-flash the ECU's.

If you commence replacement of electronic components such as ECU's without access to any of the above, you're working in the dark, with one hand tied behind your back.

Cheers, Ron.

Thanks for all the info very well informed group .
I will leave this one to the experts.
Garny