How to Reset Your S2000's ECU? (Photos)
Curious about what your ECU is and how to reset it? Here's everything you need to know.
1. What the Heck Is an ECU?
Your car's ECU, or engine control unit, is a device that controls a series of actuators on the engine to ensure optimum performance. It does this by reading signals sent to it by the actuators and interpreting that data. Then, it is able to adjust the actuators accordingly based on the data received. The ECU controls things like ignition timing, air/fuel mixture, idle speed, and more.
As you drive your car, the ECU "learns" about your engine by tracking tolerance changes of the various sensors and actuators on the engine. It then stores this information in battery backed up RAM. This ensures that the ECU doesn't have to start over every time you start your car. When you reset your ECU, you essentially reset all these learned values back to default settings and clear out any trouble codes you might have.
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2. How Do I Known If My ECU Needs to Be Reset?
Many people believe that they need to reset their ECU after making any sort of engine or performance modification, or think that resetting it will solve various engine problems. This is a big topic of debate, as resetting the ECU doesn't actually make it learn changes any faster. Since it's always tracking changes, the ECU will discover the changes you make and adjust accordingly. Regardless, many folks claim to have seen immediate results after resetting their ECU.
Resetting your ECU is useful if you need to clear a check engine light or error code after you've fixed the problem that caused it. Of course, you can also do this with an OBD tool. It also resets the spark advance trim value, which is useful if you use lower grade gas and want your timing to adjust to higher grade gas quickly, like when you take your daily driver to the track.
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3. How to Reset Your ECU - Step 1
Resetting the ECU on your S2000 couldn't be much easier. While many folks prefer to simply disconnect the negative battery terminal, it's easier to just pull a fuse. Locate the backup 7.5a fuse, which is the third one down from the second column in your fuse box, and pull it out.
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4. How to Reset Your ECU - Step 2
Next. wait 60 seconds before plugging the fuse back in. Be sure that you reinsert it in the same way that it came out so you don't damage anything.
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5. How to Reset Your ECU - Step 3
Finally, start the car and let it idle for a few minutes. This will allow the ECU to go through its idle learn process. Now you're all set!
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