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ECU recalibration

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by bjustin, Mar 31, 2010.

  1. bjustin

    bjustin New Member

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    hello!

    I'm getting a used steering rack put in today in my 2002 Prius and am wondering if the ECU will need to be recalibrated? The shop I'm taking it to included it in their estimate, but I called the dealer and he said it's not necessary -- that it's pretty much a "plug in and go" repair.

    Also, I think i'll have Les Schwab do the alignment afterwards. They're cheaper than the shop...do you think it's okay to wait a few days before doing the alignment?

    Thanks to all who have given helpful advice to me in the past.

    Brad
     
    #1 bjustin, Mar 31, 2010
  2. bwilson4web

    bwilson4web BMW i3 and Model 3

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    Hi Brad,

    The manual discusses making sure the steering wheel "zero" setting so when you're going down the road, it points the true direction. But I don't think this is a big deal. The installer should handle that without a problem.

    Now you may want, depending upon your tire wear, to look at getting all four wheels aligned. This is tricky because front camber may require a camber bolt, $5 part, and the 'floating' rear axle requires shims. But these are entirely optional and are really things done to make sure you get all of the tire life possible ... some very minor (almost undetectable) help in stability.

    In my case, I bought a life-time alignment from Firestone when I bought the first set of replacement tires. This gives me a 'free' alignment check when I rotate the tires in the Spring and Fall. It is much easier to fix an alignment problem before the tire wear shows up.

    You're well on the way with the steering replacement and anything afterwards can be handled on a case-by-case basis.

    GOOD LUCK!
    Bob Wilson
     
    #2 bwilson4web, Mar 31, 2010
  3. bjustin

    bjustin New Member

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    Thanks Bob,

    I appreciate all the tips. The shop is keeping the car overnight. It turns out there's some rust on my Prius (darn those salty midwestern roads where my car once lived) and they have to soak some areas overnight in rust remover. It's a good shop: Better Business Bureau accredited. keepin' the fingers crossed...
     
    #3 bjustin, Apr 1, 2010
  4. jk450

    jk450 New Member

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    That's not what the manual is referring to.

    The physical linkage determines the relationship between steering wheel angle and front wheel angle.
     
    #4 jk450, Apr 1, 2010
  5. jk450

    jk450 New Member

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    No. But the rack torque sensors will have to be calibrated.

    It's not "plug and go". For accurate torque assist, the rack will have to have a zero point initialization, then a zero point calibration. You may well have codes and a warning light until these procedures are completed.

    Some shops will have a scanner that can do this, some shops won't.
     
    #5 jk450, Apr 1, 2010
  6. bjustin

    bjustin New Member

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    Thanks guys,

    I talked to the shop today and they got the part installed and said they got the torque issue resolved but that now there is a "zero point calibration code." He put it in laymens terms for nontechnical folks like me by saying "the steering gear needs to know where it is."

    I forwarded this link to the shop so they might get some ideas on how to proceed from here. We may end up taking it to the dealer but want to try some 'easy' things first.
     
    #6 bjustin, Apr 2, 2010
  7. jk450

    jk450 New Member

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    Then the issue is not resolved. The zero point calibration does this.

    The ECU needs to know what angle the steering gear is at.

    They need to have a scanner that can perform a zero point cailbration.
     
    #7 jk450, Apr 2, 2010
  8. bjustin

    bjustin New Member

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    The shop did all they could with the scanner they had but couldn't do the zero point calibration. We made an appt with the dealer next Monday to have them recalibrate it. ($100)

    This from the shop's paperwork:

    after the gear was replaced the technician noted the same C1513 for power steering torque converter and a C1515 code fault code. he was able to clear C1513 and noted C1515 calibration of torque sensor zero point not performed. Recommend customer go to Toyota and have calibration performed.
     
    #8 bjustin, Apr 2, 2010
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