Are all ECU's interchangeable ?

[lakemaligne]

I drive a 1996 2 Ltr 16v petrol 406 LX ,and I am about to have the ECU replaced with a reconditioned ECU. My question is, are all ECU's for a specific model such as mine generic,ie,will any one work ok, or do certain models/years have different chips fitted etc. I guess i am worried that this new ECU might not be a perfect match ,and cause the car to under perform or cause damage ,even though i have given the recon company the model and type,which is a Bosch MP 5.1.1/ 0-261-204-066 (944).

[Welly]

I thought the ECU was tied-in somehow with the ignition key transponder/receiver and the immobiliser but I guess the ECU specialist have this covered.

I hope it cures the running problems as it's a big bit to play around with. The functionality will be the same, why wouldn't it be? it is only newer cars which have the various sensors 'coded' to the ECU.

Have you carefully checked the ECU's multi-pin plug as it has been known for some of the pins to corrode and have bad connections/faults.

[FarmerPug]

it goes without saying the ecu for each engine will have some differences, you cant take an ecu off a hdi and expect a v6 to run, or at least run properly.

[lakemaligne]

Welly, yes as you probabaly know ,on the newer 406's which do not have the key pad fitted any more,the key transponder sends a wake up call to the ECU ,so I dont have to worry about that on my car as its one of the very first 406's .On my car the ECU retains the code for the key pad, which is why I have asked the chap at Motor-rite to have this function disabled on the recon - unit to avoid possible problems in the future. Although saying that ,the key pad engine immobiliser on my car has worked fine since new (touch wood),and i kinda liked having it as a dterent ,and doe'nt take long to key in the code.Yes i have checked all the pins and they are as good as new.

Farmer pug, My only concern was whether some of the later 406's had a modified re-mapped chip or not.