ECU Reset? ECU Software Upgrades? Questions..

[Jamie]

OK - 2 questions

I have started to notice a bit of hesitation with my car (2002 51 reg 318ci valetronic)

I have done some reading and the main fixes were 1) an ECU Reset and 2) ECU Software Upgrade

How do i do an ECU reset? Just unhook the battery and leave overnight?

How do i go about finding out current software version i have? What are the later revisions and what fixes or improvements were done which I could benifit from?

Cheers

Jamie

Oh yea, i also read about how some guy cleaned his engine but got water/gunk in/around the 'coil packs' - after cleaning them (upon inspection 1 was flooded) the car didnt hesitate like it did before. Any pics of what a coil pack is and how i can clean them?

[CA Automotive UK]

the water in the coil packs thing caused me some grief on the M3 too ...after a too enthusiastic jet wash of engine bay .

remove what looks like the main rocker cover and you will see the coil packs , they sit over and plug into the spark plugs deeper down . Dry out thorouhrly , useair line if poss or computer air duster aerosol . Dont immediately unplug the coilpacks from their receptacles over the plugs or any sitting water will fall into the plug holes .....

Resetting the ECU can vary in procedure , but normally disconnect battery , touch the unconnected terminals together to discharge any latent charge held within the capacitors and leave for 48 hrs ( sometimes 24 hrs not enough )

Then reconnect and drive car hard for 20 mins ........

best of luck

[James157]

the water in the coil packs thing caused me some grief on the M3 too ...after a too enthusiastic jet wash of engine bay .

remove what looks like the main rocker cover and you will see the coil packs , they sit over and plug into the spark plugs deeper down . Dry out thorouhrly , useair line if poss or computer air duster aerosol . Dont immediately unplug the coilpacks from their receptacles over the plugs or any sitting water will fall into the plug holes .....

Resetting the ECU can vary in procedure , but normally disconnect battery , touch the unconnected terminals together to discharge any latent charge held within the capacitors and leave for 48 hrs ( sometimes 24 hrs not enough )

Then reconnect and drive car hard for 20 mins ........

best of luck
I know this is an old thread but what does resetting the ecu actually do???

[Anees]

I think the car adapts to the way you drive, so once you reset the ECU it resets the car back to the factory default map and it clears the fault codes in your ECU.....mind you I'm not expert so wait until someone more knowledgeable comes along....... :D

[Phil H]

i assume it clears faults and resets any sensors etc but i cant see it doing anything to the mapping isnt that like a flash to the memory? once its in its in...?

[adood84]

My car has been having somr hesitation lately , especialy at low speeds like 10 kmph or something just feels it has a slow responce to throttle input... anybody know what could cause this ? its getting an oil service in 2k KMs so might let them check it out then ass my car has done 78k Kms