5 Symptoms of a Bad ECU

The engine control unit (ECU), also referred to as the engine control module (ECM), is an electronic module that controls the function of the engine. This is done through a series of electronic components and sensors which compute data back to the engine.

Based on what this data indicates, the engine will perform a specific function. If your vehicle has a bad engine control unit, then it can cause all kinds of problems with how the engine functions. As a result, it will impair your ability to operate your vehicle safely and effectively on the road.

Top 5 Bad ECU Symptoms

Fortunately, there are certain symptoms that you can look out for early on to detect if your engine control unit is going bad.

Check Engine Light

The easiest symptom to recognize is when the “Check Engine” warning light illuminates on the dashboard. Of course, there are many possible reasons for why this warning light would illuminate.

But in cases where the engine control unit detects issues with its electronic components, circuits, and/or sensors, it will immediately cause the Check Engine warning light to illuminate.

Sometimes the engine control unit will do this by mistake too. To figure out if the engine control unit is truly having problems, you need to search for the specific trouble codes on your vehicle’s computer.

These codes will identify the root of the problem. Check with your manufacturer, owner’s manual, or various online resources to learn more about trouble codes.

Engine Misfires or Stalls

Another symptom that may follow a warning light illumination is an engine that misfires or maybe even stalls. There won’t really be any consistency with these issues either. The pattern of engine misfires and stalls will be random, making it hard to pinpoint the specific engine problem.

Often times, this is because the engine control module is failing and it’s feeding the engine some false information. If the problem gets worse, the performance of the engine will deteriorate while it’s running.

Bad Gas Mileage

Since a proper air-fuel ratio is needed for a vehicle to function optimally, a bad ECM won’t understand how much fuel should be sent to the combustion chamber. This means too much fuel is often sent to burn in the combustion process.

The result is that your vehicle will then be running rich and using more fuel than necessary. Not only will you have to budget more for the gasoline each month, but you also won’t be doing the atmosphere any favors. 

Poor Engine Performance

Alternatively, a faulty ECM may also cause not enough fuel to be delivered to the combustion chamber. This means that when you step on the gas, your car simply won’t accelerate like it used to.

It may even shake and vibrate some, especially when trying to go up hills, when there’s a lot of extra weight in the car, or when you’re towing something. You may also experience a rough idle due to not having enough fuel for the conditions.

 Car Won’t Start

The worst symptom is when your car does not start at all. It may be difficult to start at first but then, it will never start up again. This happens after the engine control unit has a complete failure and does not function at all.

Once that happens, the engine has no computer system to control and guide its own functionality. Although you may still be able to crank the engine, it will not start because the computer is not feeding it the important information it needs to perform its job.

Again, there could be other reasons for your engine not starting up too. The only true way to know if this symptom is related to a failing engine control unit is to have it inspected by a certified auto technician.