04 legacy ECU help

**Disrupter** · #1: 02-04-2013, 08:14 AM

Just picked up a 2004 Legacy L SE as a dd, and is my first Subaru and love it so far. Check engine light is on so I had it checked and I have been told the the ecu is going bad (Checked by several different sources). I called up the local Subaru dealer to get the part number and was told it is 22611. Now on my ebay/amazon search I got several hits with the 22611 + some other numbers, can anyone tell a newb what years ecu is interchangeable (99-2004)?

Thank you in advance!

**octain11** · #2: 02-04-2013, 08:15 AM

what is the CEL code that comes up?

**Disrupter** · #3: 02-04-2013, 08:16 AM

I honestly don't remember off the top of my head, but I will try and find where I wrote it when I get home.

**octain11** · #4: 02-04-2013, 08:20 AM

as far for ECU, i wouldn't trust the ones on Amazon or Ebay, see if you can find a junkyard around you and pick one up from your year, or try contacting one of the vendors or subie shops, they might have some laying around from swaps

**Disrupter** · #5: 02-04-2013, 08:23 AM

Sweet thanks!

**Disrupter** · #6: 02-04-2013, 08:48 AM

Anyone tell me the different between 22611 AH4A & AH4B

**johnegg** · #7: 02-04-2013, 10:36 AM

ECUs rarely go bad. depending on who told you it needed to be replaced i might suspect they were trying to sell you an expensive part / repair.

go to the local auto parts store and have the code read. they should all do it for free. once you / we have the code we can begin to help.

look for your part number on this site: http://opposedforces.com/part .
and / or look for a used part at www.car-part.com .

but i repeat, the ECU can fail, but it does not fail often.
check the code.

BTW: miles? trans? service history?

**firebox40dash5** · #8: 02-04-2013, 11:40 AM

I'm with ^^. ECUs rarely fail, and when they do, you rarely get 'a' code. There's not a code for "ECU failed". Usually you'll either get a ton of codes (because the ECU isn't sending the right signals to injectors, ignition, etc) or no codes (and quite possibly no OBD2 communication with the ECU) combined with the engine running like smashed crap.

I've had many a customer come in who was told they needed a computer by another shop.

**Disrupter** · #9: 02-04-2013, 12:34 PM

it has over/around 36k miles, was a flood damaged car, and has an automatic transmission. I will run the code again, I know autozone does it for free anyways. Thanks

**johnegg** · #**10:** 02-04-2013, 07:02 PM

yeah, flood car is pretty important info. you should probably lead with that.

if it got salt water in the ECU you need another one.

it is possible, but not likely, that fresh water may dry out and be good , but i doubt it.

how deep did the water get???????

how long ago?

how long under water ?

we had high water in VA this weekend and i saw this ad today.

http://blacksburg.craigslist.org/cto/3592716248.html

1998 Subaru - $700 (blacksburg)

1998 Subaru Outback
Car was flooded at RU.
Selling car as is.
392-7681 obo

Location: blacksburg

**Disrupter** · #**11:** 02-05-2013, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnegg

yeah, flood car is pretty important info. you should probably lead with that.

if it got salt water in the ECU you need another one.

it is possible, but not likely, that fresh water may dry out and be good , but i doubt it.

how deep did the water get???????

how long ago?

how long under water ?

we had high water in VA this weekend and i saw this ad today.

Yes my bad I should have mentioned that earlier, but it was fresh water damage and just enough to cover the carpets which were all replaced by the previous owner. How long I am not sure, but other than the check engine light and it taking some time to actually turn over, the car runs and drives great. Nothing like the ad you posted lol.

**firebox40dash5** · #**12:** 02-05-2013, 02:18 PM

Is the ECU under the passenger side floor, like my 04 WRX? If so, then I would guess it probably is shot. Amazing it would run at all.

Problem with flood cars isn't just electronics, water wreaks havoc on interior wiring. External wiring is usually pretty well sealed, but interior stuff not so much. Get a little water in there and leave it, and it'll corrode copper wire and brass terminals slowly away to nothing. More so with salt, but even fresh water will, and flood water isn't exactly pure, either. I can't tell you the number of things I fix that had unsealed crimp-on repairs or modifications... that's why I use uninsulated connectors and glue-filled heatshrink on EVERYTHING.

There's a reason flooding will total pretty much any vehicle, unfortunately.

You can try a new ECU, but who knows if that'll fix all the problems, or if there's hidden wiring faults... and worse yet, what else is GOING bad, but hasn't gone yet.