Please bear with me and read on. Used 2005 6MT. Bought it a couple of months back and found out that someone messed with the ECU. Looking at the "damage", appears that a piggyback was attached at some stage and the person tried to squash everything in. Have this dying compulsion to make it look right so I'll need some parts for it. Still a newbie so I may get the part names wrong. Please ADVISE on the actual parts I need to restore it to factory "look".

From what I can tell, the ECU box lid is good. The single right-hand-side bolt will not screw in because the threaded collar is missing and that plastic tab that holds the threaded collar is broken so a new collar won't fit. The container/tray that holds the ECU is not there and according to the WS Manual, I believe there are some metal brackets (front/left/right) and these are not there. Instead a metal "stump" appears to be left behind. Wires have been spliced with connectors attached, presumably for a unichip or some other piggy back. There's also a socket/port underneath that has holes mainly and a few holes have wires connected (sorry, not sure if this is normal!!) I am thinking that these are the parts I need, please correct me if I'm wrong: (1) ECU box, that is, the entire lower box that contains the steering and PCM modules and I need this because the tab that the RHS threaded collar fits inside is broken; (2) ECU tray - the plastic jacket that the PCM module fits into; (3) front/left/right metal brackets; (4) "Rubber bung" where wiring harness passes through. Once I know the part names and what they actually look like (since I don't have them on mine), I can shop for some used replacement parts. If you guys have pics of your stock ECU and have pics of the parts I need, please post here so I know what to look for. Thanks in advance!

 

Oops, I forgot the pics. Total newbie mistake. Hang on, will figure how to upload them now.

 

Pic 1: ECU Box Cover

 

Pic 2: ECU Cover Opened

 

Pic 3: ECU Box Inside CloseUp

 

Pic 4: ECU Socket-like Port/Connector

 

Pic 5: CloseUp of Broken Bracket

 

whoa...

 

That sucks, and if the car is under warranty don't ever let the dealer see that.

 

No more warranty. Guys, I really need you to chime in so I can figure what parts I need. If you've got pics on your stock ecu, please upload or PM me as I have no idea what a normal stock ECU box looks like.

 

That looks normal. looks to be a MT without DSC? This is also known as connector X16 in the electrical section of the WS manual. It will have more or fewer wires depending on the car package and trim levels.

 

Does it have a jumper harness in there? The wire colors look strange? You might just be able to unplug all the mess

You in the UK? Looks like they roughed out the security connectors?

Worst case you could buy a used engine harness and it would fix all that

 

this is from a stock 04 mt base model

 

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is a 6spd manual but funny you mentioned no DSC because I'm very sure it's supposed to have DSC. Its a UK-spec RHD version (which is what we get here in Singapore) and I have the factory DSC button next to the dimmer switch. Something I might add is that 2 months ago, I had a bad coil that was throwing a code. Technician connected a scanner and mentioned that besides the misfire code, there was a DSC malfunction code logged in the memory. Could have been me pressing and holding the DSC button for over 8 seconds which led to it being logged as a DSC malfunction (as mentioned in the owner's manual). I pressed the DSC once and the DSC Off light came on. Then I pressed and held for 8 secs and the DSC Off Light came on together with the "Traction" light/icon. Had to turn the ignition off and restart to turn if off.

Anyway, is it possible that the previous owner disconnected the DSC from the X16 connector and all this while I have not had DSC?

 

Very close! How did you guess its a UK-spec car? My guess is that the original wires are there, but they have just been spliced to have the connectors put on for the piggyback. Damn, There're better ways to do that!

Yup, considering a used engine harness...

Er, what security connectors Sir?

 

Thanks for the pics. Apart from the broken brackets, cut rubber, and spliced wires, looks almost similar. Any unobstructed pics of that X16 connector? Do you think my DSC wires are missing as noted by 09factor?

 

Once you Hold the DSC button in for 8 sec's, the only way to re-enable the DSC system is to turn off the IGN and restart the car, as you found out.

You have DSC and it sound like it's working correctly. If it was not hooked up in any way shape or form, there would have been many more codes present and the DSC lights would be flashing.

Sorry to confuse you. The "DSC?" comment was really just guessing on my part. That particular White rectangular connector will have varyng amounts of wires base on what options the car has . So I'd say that they didn't touch the X16 block.

For example I have more wires in that block because I have an AT.

 

my first thought too- someone busted out those security bolts in the UK

 

The UK PCMS have an anti tampering device installed in an attempt to keep UK owners, because of pollution laws, from piggybacking or other wise change the pcm. or at least to make it very obvious that they have




the damage in the OP pics is clearly from removing said security device

 

If I was the OP.

I would look at selling the car and getting a different RX8.

No telling what else they did to the car, how they raced it or abused it.

 

I only have 5 wires in that connector.
colors
black white
red white white
brown white white blue

Hope this helps

 

So this is damage from a crash right? Even there is a salvage / body shop mark on your hood post.

 

to keep people from making the car more fuel effective:P

 

Thanks for clearing all that up. At least I know that the DSC is there and working.

 

Wow, you sure know your stuff! I've been looking at the workshop manual online and it shows the UK-spec PCM and the other type. I can't tell from those diagrams how they are different. The picture really does speak a thousand words. I've been barking up the wrong tree looking at salvage parts from the US. Now, given the existing bolt threads that are left behind in my "tampered" brackets, would I be able to just get an ECU tray with the metal brackets from a US-spec car, insert my PCM and then bolt the whole "new" PCM tray down? This is of course to save on the expense of reinstating the security device.

Everyone, assuming this is possible, I was thinking that these are the salvage parts that I need (feel free to correct my silly terminology and throw in your suggestions): (1) US-spec PCM tray with brackets (where my existing PCM will slip into); (2) Rubber seal (that square rubber thing where all the wires go through); (3) ECU Box (where the cover screws onto, because the side with the single threaded collar is broken and bolt cannot screw on); (4) Engine Harness (Optional but may consider if I can't live with those spliced wires with connectors attached).