Can't communicate with ECU
 

So, as some of you know - I blew the motor in the car. While uninstalling the AP to sell to another user of this forum, it had gotten disconnected. (Dongle was VERY sensitive..). I plugged it back into to do a recovery, and when it connected, it went from 60% to 100% in a second, and then was finished. After that, I could not connect the AP to the car, get it to recognize the car, or anything. Also, the car would not start and had the flashing security light. I sent the AP off to the user who had paid for it as agreed.

About two weeks later I purchased a used ECU from another member of the forum, from a 2004 MT; installed that ecu and the car still wouldn't start, and had the same flashing security light.

Fast forward to two weeks ago, and I called Cobb and told them what the situation was with my original ECU. They had me send it in so they could recover it. Cobb could NOT recover the ECU, and said this is the ONLY ECU off an rx8, even when testing the AP and building it, they have not been able to recover. They called it quits.

That night I went home and installed the second-hand ECU, made sure the battery was fully charged and called a tow truck the next morning. Took it to a Mazda dealer and told them what had happened to the original ECU, that this one was bought second-hand but I need the key information reprogrammed so I could start the car.

Dealer said they could not communicate with the car. This was a Saturday and said their tech team will be in Monday (tomorrow) and that's when they will continue to work on the car. Honestly, I don't know what they will do now that they didn't already do yesterday - though my dealer seems to pay attention to things I suggest or tell them. I'll give Cobb a call tomorrow morning to see if they have any ideas on why they arn't able to communicate with this ECU. But why wouldn't they be able to talk to the car??

Any ideas?? I REALLY want my car back..it's been like 6 months.

Here she is waiting for a tow yesterday morning :(
https://www.rx8club.com/picture.php?...ictureid=25964

damn that sucks!
I know very little in the electronic field, so I break into a sweat just reading "ECU" lol
Just a guess, but could it be something to do with the actual OBD-II port? Would that store any kind of info from the unsuccessful uninstall??

It does have the symptoms of a bad OBD port - the pins can get pushed back into the female housing, I'd dismount it from the dash and check the back - see if any pins are 'proud' of the others.

I'll make sure to check this if they don't figure something out by the time I get off work tomorrow. If anyone can chime in, I think I remember some of the pins on the OBD side of the AP dongle being further out than the others? I always thought this was odd..Is this not how it should be?

I recall someone actually taking apart the dongle to fix the "stick-out" issue.

Here is a diy how to remove the OBD-II port https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-do-yourself-forum-73/diy-obd-ii-relocation-169305/

I don't even know how i'd figure out if the pins inside of the OBD port are messed up, but due to all the connection problems I was having with my AP I wouldn't be too surprised if it is something like this

Trying to find a part number for replacement now..

OBD/ECU module are expensive. I don't know exactly, but i know they are.

Dealer did a force learn on the ECU and got another key on her.

Too bad the top nipple on the radiator was damaged, and about 5 miles down the road was shooting coolant all over the road. Had to have it towed BACK to the dealer.

fml