how to remove ECU?

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rallysam
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how to remove ECU?

Post by rallysam »

Stupid question, but what's the easiest way to remove the ECU without having to take apart the whole dash?

I took off the drivers side, knee-height trim panel (the one with the "TRAY") and found the ECU (the silver box with all the yellow connectors on it... located roughly 6 feet away from where the Haynes manual said it was).

I unscrewed two obvious 10mm nuts. That allowed the ECU to wiggle a tad, but it didn't seem to come free. What next? Am I missing another nut? Do just have to shove the ECUharder? Or do I have to do more dash work? (god I hate taking apart the dash)
'00 Impr RS - sold
'91 Legacy Turbo 5MT - mothballed
13psi, TurboXS TBE, WRX IC, Hallman MBC, TurboXS FCD, KYB AGX, Phil's STI seat, SPT short shifter, David Carter hood, Zeitronix widebandO2, Kuhmo rally tires, STI IC spray, thanks:gearboxtech.com
legacy92ej22t
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Post by legacy92ej22t »

When I took mine out, I think I undid the fuse panel box and then I was able to pop it out.
-Matt

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ej22t
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Post by ej22t »

Its easy, there are 2 screws to holds the ECU, All you have to do is to remove the cover that under the steering wheel and you will see one of them at the top inside of the fuse holder. the other one will be right near the harness.

Good luck.

Ben
92 Legacy turbo with EJ20G engine swap \(^0^)/
evolutionmovement
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Post by evolutionmovement »

You have to kind of shove it out in the opposite direction as the nuts since you have to clear the studs. I just removed the lower dash panel which is a couple screws.

Steve
Midnight in a Perfect World on Amazon or order anywhere. The first book in a quartet chronicling the rise of a man from angry criminal to philanthropist. Midnight... is a distopic noirish novel featuring 'Duchess', a modified 1990 Subaru Legacy wagon.
rallysam
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Post by rallysam »

Ok, that sounds like what I was doing. If there are only 2 nuts, then I guess I just wasn't shoving hard enough to get the studs clear. I guess I will stop babying it!!!
'00 Impr RS - sold
'91 Legacy Turbo 5MT - mothballed
13psi, TurboXS TBE, WRX IC, Hallman MBC, TurboXS FCD, KYB AGX, Phil's STI seat, SPT short shifter, David Carter hood, Zeitronix widebandO2, Kuhmo rally tires, STI IC spray, thanks:gearboxtech.com
THAWA
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Post by THAWA »

Seriously, man up.
Rio Red 90 Legacy LS AWD 174k
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Legacy777
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Post by Legacy777 »

If you haven't taken the connectors out of the ECU....do that....it makes it much easier.
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

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rallysam
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Post by rallysam »

Man, after more shoving, I don't know how you guys got that ECU out of there.

It's not an issue of being gentle, because I wasn't. The problem is that this white plastic thing completely prevents the ECU from moving!!!
(the guard in the center of the photo with a bolt in the middle of it)
Image

I don't see how it would be physically possible to get ECU studs out of their holes without removing that plastic thing somehow. Orrrrr...... using a dremel to cut off one of the ECU's studs:

Image

Problem solved, but man that sucked!
'00 Impr RS - sold
'91 Legacy Turbo 5MT - mothballed
13psi, TurboXS TBE, WRX IC, Hallman MBC, TurboXS FCD, KYB AGX, Phil's STI seat, SPT short shifter, David Carter hood, Zeitronix widebandO2, Kuhmo rally tires, STI IC spray, thanks:gearboxtech.com
Legacy777
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Post by Legacy777 »

huh....I don't recall mine having that plastic thing...
Josh

surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT

If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
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