How to Test Your ECU Status?
By JEREMY PROOME on Jul 17, 2025Testing your ECU is one of the only ways to fully diagnose the problems that may be present with your vehicle. The Electronic Control Unit can be tested by connecting a diagnostic machine to the ECU, but it is always best to use professionals with experience in ECU testing to do so.
We’ve taken a closer-look at ECUs in a previous article, but regarding the reasons you would be testing an ECU, it’s often to find a fault in the vehicle to understand why it’s not starting or running optimally.
There are a few telltale symptoms suggesting there is an ECU problem, which can range from mechanical to electronic issues. A full diagnostic test using an OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) scanner.
The OBD scanner will not damage or change your ECU, but can simply be used to find the error code and malfunctioning parts of your car.
The scanner will be connected to the ECU, which is usually located under a plastic cover on the passenger side of the engine bay. Once that is done, a scan of the vehicle can be performed, which will give you a better indication of what repair, replacement, or work is required.
If you'd like to have a look at what your ECU repair could cost, find your particular model on The ECU Pro's ECU repair guide.
Mail in automotive electronic repair services
The ECU Pro offers an affordable mail-in repair service for automotive electronics. To have your unit repaired, simply remove the part and mail it to us. Our professional team will either test, repair, or clone your unit.
Our team has over 30 years experience in automotive electronic repairs. We specialize in German vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes and Mini. Our main focus is engine control unit repairs ( ECU, PCM or DME). Our state of the art facility has over 30 test vehicles to ensure that all parts are tested in actual vehicles before being returned to our clients.
Most of the services we provide is plug and play and doesn't require any additional coding.
