Replacement K series ECU

Replacement K series ECU

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Discussion

Irrotational

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

194 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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Hi internet.

I have a 97 k series and am after a replacement ECU. A quick search of caterham parts showed they didn't have any k series stuff at all.

Any idea here I can buy such a thing? Is it even possible to get a straight replacement?

I vaguely remember years ago reading that they had a caterham specific map in them because of the cams...

I am old now and so my car is old and getting replacement parts looks harder and harder.

Any ideas, suggestions etc gratefully received.

DVandrews

1,323 posts

289 months

Friday 15th July 2022
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You may be lucky and find a replacement ECU but it will need coding to the immobiliser and key fob, alternatively an after market ECU could do the job.

Dave

Tupwood

182 posts

74 months

Saturday 16th July 2022
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A call to K-Maps might be a good place to start?

CharlesElliott

2,049 posts

288 months

Saturday 16th July 2022
quotequote all
Contact Chris at Redline, I'm sure he can help.

https://www.redlinecomponents.co.uk/

Murph7355

38,699 posts

262 months

Sunday 17th July 2022
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Get an Emerald ECU smile

gareth h

3,697 posts

236 months

Sunday 17th July 2022
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I had a box of old Caterham bits and pieces, I think there was an ecu from when I upgraded to a VVC in it, I’ll have a dig around see if I can find it.

DVandrews

1,323 posts

289 months

Sunday 17th July 2022
quotequote all
Tupwood said:
A call to K-Maps might be a good place to start?
Not sure Mark works with the EU2 ECU…

Oily

Tupwood

182 posts

74 months

Monday 18th July 2022
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DVandrews said:
Tupwood said:
A call to K-Maps might be a good place to start?
Not sure Mark works with the EU2 ECU…

Oily
Yes, you’re right, but he might know of one going spare, or an alternative option.

the av8er

145 posts

129 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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If this has the same set up as rover k engined lotus, you will require 2 boxes.
One is the ecu, the other is to control the immobilizer. This box has dormant elements such as central locking, window closure and intruder sensor control. This is actuated by a rover key fob. ( All these elements work in mgtf and other rover cars). In the Elise this unit is dormant and a cobra remote system is fitted.

This second unit is coded to the ecu this is known as MEMS matched. If the caterham has the same setup, you will either need both units ( used ) from the same doner, as these will be a matching pair. Or replace the ecu and have your other original box MEMS matched to the replacement ecu. You will need someone with a computer to do this.

I've had to do this when replacing a blown ecu in an Elise. I presume it's the same for caterham but have no first hand experience.
On the Elise this second box is behind the dash.

You can buy an ecu for your engine very cheap from any rover breaker.

gareth h

3,697 posts

236 months

Tuesday 19th July 2022
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gareth h said:
I had a box of old Caterham bits and pieces, I think there was an ecu from when I upgraded to a VVC in it, I’ll have a dig around see if I can find it.
Sorry, found the box but no ECU, must have got binned when we moved house

Irrotational

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

194 months

Monday 1st August 2022
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Ok - thanks everyone really appreciate the replies, especially from luminaries such as DVA, and also Gareth H for digging around in his garage.

I have dropped a note to redline components, hopefully I can magically get a like for like replacement or something...just trying to avoid the "fettling" of an aftermarket ECU and a tuning session to get the mapping sorted.

I never use/set the immobiliser as I'm paranoid about never de-activating it again...so not fussed about re-programming that.

gareth h said:
Sorry, found the box but no ECU, must have got binned when we moved house
Thanks again for looking!

Irrotational

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

194 months

Sunday 7th August 2022
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Well I got a very quick reply from Redline, at 5.45 in the morning!? but unfortunately they don't have one.

I'll try contacting kmaps

Irrotational

Original Poster:

1,577 posts

194 months

Sunday 23rd April 2023
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Wow - can't believe I was looking at this so long ago...anyway, after working through stuff during the winter, I bought and fitted an emerald ECU and the car ran and worked well*.

The Emerald folks were incredibly helpful as I had some teething troubles (all due to wiring/physical install NOT the ECU) and they were super helpful and clear with their replies and suggestions of things to try. It turned out the leads were on the wrong order on the distributor cap, which is important!

After firing the engine up after a long time I was super excited - only to discover oil leaking out from a mysterious cut in one of the beefy Apollo tank pipes. It looks suspiciously clean/sharp so I'm not sure if something happened during earlier work on the head gasket replacement...but anyway.

A few months after that, Caterham had the pipes/kits in stock again so I can in theory have everything done and the car back on the road. We'll see.