Resetting the ECUs- Don't forget!

Let this thread serve to remind all of that hot weather is here, and if you haven't reset your ECU lately, you might want to try this simple "tune up."

After wrestling with the occasional "click" of the starter solenoid, I spent most of the morning today cleaning all the grounds and contacts. Fortunatley, my car already had a nice ground cable running to the engine and the body, so that was a piece of cake.

Afterwards, I was still plagued by the starter not turning over interminently. Guessing it was my battery, I picked up a new one and slapped it in, then started the car and let it warm up for 10 minutes to complete the idle relearn process.

I hadn't disconnected my battery in 6 months, and after the fresh reset the car feels noticably better, both on idle and throttle response. I'm sure it was a combination of a bad battery cell putting a draw on the electrical system and the ECU reset, but just wanted to remind everyone the even something like a dieing battery and a simple ECU reset can make a noticable difference.

 

I agree that the ECU reset procedure should be done, no matter what, couple times a year ...

 

Thanks for the reminder! I think I need to add "ECU reset" to my quarterly "to do" list. With this reminder, it seems a good idea to do this with each season change. Or is this a wee bit TOO often? Would twice a year be sufficient, or no?

 

I may be in the minority here but I think the 'effects' of an ecu relearn are largely a placebo effect.

If any learned values are 'off' and need to be re-learned they will do so whether or not the battery has been disconnected.

I am always open to the possibility of being wrong. If so, what is happening on a battery disconnect that doesn't allready happen every time you start the car?

 

You are right. They are wrong.

 

Thanks! Just needed the proper info. Much appreciated...

 

Interesting. I've never looked at the schematics for the 2.7 but I assumed there was a small amount of NVRam that stored deltas between starts; I also attributed the continual low load on the battery to this.

Cool. Good to know.

I'm sure most of my issues were due to the bad battery, or some system not properly initializing when starting the car due to the voltage drop.

In any case, ran like a top again today.

 

You are right on the 2.7 but some what wrong on the 2.5. Here is the kick ... My ECU's are 2.5 and it takes at least 200 miles to re-learn with seasons changing and so temperature / humidity. I drive my car an average of 100 miles a month and so it would take half summer .... and for the time is done the season changes again. Instead takes 10 minutes to re-learn and be done with it. I got this info from an old italian friend of mine, now retired, that used to work at the factory in Maranello and knows ... if he is wrong, then I am wrong. Anyway, I don't honestly think resetting the ECU's could be bad for the car at all.

 

I have this issue too on occasion...turn the key, nada. Lights are on, battery is full charge, just a non-responsive starter. Then sometimes while the key is turned it kicks in and fires up. This used to be a cold weather problem but now creeping in to the warmer weather...seems like next step is take the solenoid out and clean / recondition that.

 

Have you done all the basics, like cleaning the battery terminals, and the grounds at the right side of the engine compartment and at the starter?

 

Battery is good, brand new and cleaned. I cleaned most connections during the engine out major I did 2 yrs ago, but I'll check those to the starter again before any major work.

 

It works even better when you wear an aluminum foil hat.

 

I am not going to answer this ....

 

I never type the following unless it is absolutely positively true ......

LOL

 

Dont ask me why but resetting the 2.7 Ecu's every so offen seems to clear an accumulation of electrical glitches that develope over time.

 

If you live in a US area that requires a smog check then I suspect resetting the ECU will clear the OBDII memory. If you then go for a smog test it will fail because certain checks require that the car be driven many miles following a specific, undocumented pattern. You must randomly drive that pattern before it will pass. Normal everyday driving will clear it in a few days, but if you only use the Ferrari for special occasions or long highway drives, it will never pass the smog test. I go to the trouble to use a battery conditioner to be sure my car NEVER loses electrical power.

 

tehehe...this is getting funny.

Imagine that...Ferrari builds an ECU that might qualify for the special olympics under a "learning disability" entry.

tehehe...

 

Is is daylight savings time already???

 

My car always worked better when I wear the pyramid shaped hat because it collects the cosmic energy better.
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As you know Brian we have chatted over the years on this site and I have on occasion ruined a monitor because I was drinkin' my favorite beverage (Squirt) at the same time you were showing someone the correct path to follow, well.....you owe me a monitor.

Oh.. do you recommend the restaurant grade heavier foil or is the home variety OK? "Cause my reset lights have come on in the 355 and I didn't want to hurt myself.

 

Some here may be in the twilight zone because the 2.7 WILL reset and in some cases can make a world of a difference.

 

Pass the foil.

Taz
Terry Phillips

 

My 348 also had the click but not start. After checking all connections, load testing battery, bench testing starter, etc it had the same problem. My thought was there could be a voltage drop due to resistance causing the solenoid not to engage. Unless you can check the problem with 2 people, 1 turning the key & the other with a voltmeter to check it’s difficult to isolate. What I wound up doing was making a standalone start button using an old horn button from my MOMO wheel. When the problem occurred I left the key in the ON position, connected 1 wire to the solenoid, the other to the starter, and then hit the button, THE CAR STARTED, therefore eliminating the starter,solenoid, & voltage to the starter.
I now knew that there was insufficient power to the solenoid causing the issue. I then removed the steering column cover & found loose connections from the ignition switch wiring & it appeared that someone else (previous owner/mechanic) had been working in there. It wasnt making good contact.Now it is fine & it hasn’t happened since.So look into it guys, its been several weeks & hundreds of starts.
The click problem is so annoying because you never know when it’s going to happen & it always happened at the worst possible time.Goodluck- John

 

had exactly the same on mine,repaired the connections and now starts every time.

are the 2.5 ecu's self learning too then and require resetting or is it just the 2.7's ?

 

Hello.

If I do a reset all electric gadgets should be off and no opening of doors or any other things.

-Can handbrake be applied during the process (light in the dash)?
-How long does the car need to forget the setting if you flip the kill switch?
-What to do when the fan starts? Wait until it turns off, drive off, turn the car off?


Thank you and best regards,
Miha