The ECU on my 2001 Jeep Cherokee is acting up and I'm thinking about trying to refurb it a bit.

Take it apart, clean it up, remove the conformal coating, reflow the solder points, check for bulging capacitors, reapply conformal coating, reassemble.

Am I missing anything?

What temp should I use for my soldering iron?

4/17/2021 10:54:37 AM

I have never reflowed an ECU, but I have reflowed a PS3. Didn't use a a soldering iron, just a heat gun. I want to say it was like 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

I don't think this information is useful to you, though. Good luck!

4/17/2021 1:27:46 PM

It IS useful. I didn't have even a ballpark temp before.

And it introduced the idea that I could potentially use a hot air pencil instead of a soldering iron.

So, thanks!

4/17/2021 2:04:44 PM

wash it with peroxide and baking soda

4/17/2021 3:18:06 PM

Have a pic of the board? Surface mount or through hole or some combination?

It's likely lead free solder so I'd set my iron to around 750-800 F.

If you're going through the trouble, replace all the electrolytic caps.

Also, I'd flux and add solder to the joints rather than attempt a simple reflow.

4/19/2021 4:01:03 PM

I tried to get a replacement from a junkyard but struck out this weekend.

I'm gonna try something else I saw based on the code I'm getting right now but I'll need a little more time.

It MIGHT not be the computer. More time with the mulitmeter.

4/19/2021 4:58:20 PM

have you looked on eBay for refurbished units, or services that will refurb them? I have purchased a couple of refurbished electronics modules that way (climate control and ABS/traction control/stability control modules for Corvette).

They were VERY reasonably priced.

4/22/2021 11:31:34 PM

I HAVE found a few services that will refurb for me. I might go that route. It's like $120.

I haven't had any time to work on the Heep lately because I'm underwater at work and I keep borrowing my wife's car when I need to drive somewhere.

4/26/2021 5:15:04 PM

http://www.car-part.com bruh



[Edited on April 27, 2021 at 9:42 PM. Reason : ]

4/27/2021 9:41:59 PM

Bought a new computer and swapped it.

That seems to have solved P1698. It's not showing that code.

But, a new challenger approaches. P1694

5/11/2021 6:01:32 PM

Alright I replaced the ECU with a new one. That runs fine. The errors persist.

Took it to an electronics specialty shop. They tell me its my gauge cluster that is not working. They replace it (and charge a pretty penny). Nothing is fixed. Gauges still drop out, CEL codes are still there.

So either their replacement gauge cluster is also faulty or their diagnosis was wrong.

I'm taking it back to them on Monday morning. Should I expect them to fix the problem at no cost or should I anticipate having to pay them another $1000?

6/5/2021 1:07:51 PM

see post #5
https://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=63167&highlight=p1694

crank position sensor

6/14/2021 2:38:48 PM