OK, since the Kia forums are so horrific... I am hoping someone here will know this answer. Can I buy an ECU from same year Forte (2010) with the same engine/trans combo and just plug and play? The tune on the Forte is for premium. The car is retired now and since the new old truck purchase will become the wife's daily. 70 miles + per day and 93 octane gas at a premium of 60 cents per gallon is not a good thing.
So can it be done with picking up a used ECU and swapping them out?
All depends on the security stuff. No chipped key, probably. Chipped key likely needs dealer level intervention.
Car isn't an immobilizer equipped vehicle.
Probably worth trying. After market tune?
What's the cost of the ECU being swapped?
I can pick up a used ECU of the right vintage, engine and trans for $80. I'm going to contact the guys that did the tune and see what it would cost to go back to stock. This was a custom dyno tune for hte car wearing hte header, intake, cat and exhaust.
$80 isn't bad for a brain box.
Appleseed wrote: $80 isn't bad for a brain box.
But if it doesn't work, then I'm out the $80 and still have to get this one reflashed.
The best bet is to get the 10 digit part number off of your current ecm and call a salvage yard for the same part number. If you can find the same part number it will be a plug and play install. The VIN number is written to the ecm so a used on will have a different VIN written but that won't affect it's function at all. Im a Kia tech and here at my work we usually get used ecm for about 50 bucks.
The salvage yards by me charge $20-$25 for an ECM.
Bob, according to the Kia parts list at https://kiapartsdepartment.com/parts/2010/Kia/Forte/SX/?siteid=216393&vehicleid=208909§ion=ELECTRICAL&group=POWERTRAIN%20CONTROL , the distinctions that govern the ECU part no. on a 2010 Forte 2.4 L are engine size (duh); transmission; California vs. federal; coupe vs. sedan; the rather odd stipulation that the vehicle doesn't have a hatchback (which I don't think any of them ever did, right?); and finally build date. (Something seems to have changed in late October 2009.) So it sounds like it won't be completely find-plug-play, but at least there are search parameters.
My ECU part number is 39102-2G121. Anyone that can find one like that for $50 I'll pay you 10% plus shipping. 2010 Forte SX Sedan, 2.4L 6MT, Fed emission.
In reply to Stealthtercel:
The Forte 5 is a hatch.
You're right, it is. Point taken.
Bob, you're the guy looking at it, but is it possible you wrote the p/n down wrong? According to the list, the first six digits should be 391122.
You're right... fat fingered a 0 instead of a 1.
In reply to Stealthtercel:
I only know that because I want one.
Rusted_Busted_Spit wrote: In reply to Stealthtercel: I only know that because I want one.
Ah you want a unicorn!
Bob, I checked with our local places and they could only source one out of state for $175. Your $80 option or reflash back to stock is looking better. Sorry I couldn't help.
In reply to appliance_racer:
thanks!
car-part dot com has them for $56 in Missouri, $55 in Rhode Island, and $50.16 (!?) in New York. There's an unpriced one with the correct p/n in New Jersey; I called, and they want $85.
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