"Corrupted" ECU, reflash won't work...

[onelove4uk]

I'm in need of desperate help. My S-AWC service required light came on my 2008 Evo X GSR. I took it to Mitsubishi who read the code (I forgot what it is but it ends in E which indicates pump failure). They then told me that my ECU is "corrupted" due to the programming that was done on it (from my tuner who used Tactrix cable/ECU flash), and they are claiming that they won't replace my pump until I have the ECU replaced since they're not sure if the ECU is incorrectly indicating pump failure due to the "corruption." They told me that when they plug in their laptop and get the serial number from the ECU, it's different than what it should be. They'll give me back my warranty and replace the pump IF I replace the ECU and if the code still comes on....OR unless I can get the ECU back to stock.

Before my tuner created a new map, he read from the ECU and saved that ROM which was completely stock in my car. He sent it to me and I reflashed my ECU and took it back to Mitsu. They read it and said they're getting a different number this time but it's still not correct. The district manager told me he believes the ECU has a protective function where if you change it and then try to reflash it back to stock, it gets scrambled and shows up corrupt. He doesn't think there is any way to truly revert it back to stock and thus I need to replace my ECU for $1200.

So, what do you guys think of this? I'm thinking of maybe trying one last time to flash it back to stock using one of the ROMs posted in the sticky. I'm not sure which one to download though? There are multiple versions from oldest to newest, but what's the difference in the revisions? Which one should I use? And lastly, I would need the hex file and the XML file, right?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. My appointment is tomorrow morning and I'd like to try one last time before I fork over $1200.......

[JDMevilX]

i think the dealership is trying to get money off you since they know you have had your car flashed previously... I would ask the guy looking up the ECU number what number you need and flash your ECU to that number. Or try to get a printout of what the dealership is looking for from your ECU.

[wwEvoXgsr]

How much is a pump?

[richardh]

All that stuff about corruption is silly.

All that stuff about "protective functions" and being "scrambled" is silly.

And there is indeed a way to flash it back to stock.


This stuff is simply coming from someone who does not in fact have the level of knowledge (or vocabulary) to talk sensibly about ECU flashing. Like asking my parents to explain exactly how Windows backs up and restores registry, drivers and Services. Good luck with that, lol.


Here is a link to a bunch of Evo X ROMs:

http://norcalmotorsports.org/users/b...ch/ROMs/Evo10/

Why are there so many for 2008? Mitsubishi went through quite a number of ROMs in the early Evos, mostly as they fixed stuff. Like having it actually run properly at full throttle without drowning in fuel. I'm being serious here.

The 2008 ROMs for a 5MT X include...

52680015
52680017
52680018
52680020
52680022
52680024
52680027

It'll be one of these.


The dealer people don't speak "8-digit ROM ID". We do. The Japanese technicians who develop this ROM will know what we're talking about when we say "5268", but they'll likely see it differently as well. But the dealers? Nah.


The Mitsubishi central computer system will have the "expected" ROM checksum-thingy on file. If it differs from the supposed "original" ROM the tuner pulled off it, then you're down to guessing.

So... flash it with the "expected" ROM and the dealer will see a match.

I hope you get it sorted. Don't pay $1200. Well, if you do, get the old ECU, as it's 100% perfectly fine. Then sell it to reduce your outrageous bill some.

But seriously, press on and play the game. There is a good chance you'll get a win.

Rich

[onelove4uk]

Thanks everyone for the replies, especially Rich, that was very informative. I looked at the link you sent me, and it has the hex file available for download. Where can I get the matching XML file?

Regarding Mitsubishi having the expected ROM on file and me matching it to flash the correct map, that makes a lot of sense; unfortunately, I called Mitsubishi and they said they will only give me the first four digits. I figured it would be "5268"....but was surprised to hear her say: 9F8C

Any idea what that is?!

[Yxd68]

9F8C is the first four digits of the checksum value?

The md5sum and sha1sum values for those ROMs are listed below. None of them have that string in them.

You stated that you d/loaded the stock ROM and sent that to your tuner, who mod'd the ROM and then you uploaded that. Right> Using ECUFlash get th ROM ID value of the tuned ROM and install the stock ROM with that same number.

That's all you can do. The vehicle VIN is NOT part of the binary ROM that you change for tuning.

52680015
af50b96e5fac9c4934a9429973fa86ed *52680015_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
fb044610fa58b1bb13aac49d5e46087312e92276 52680015_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680017
7ac9b3a2f9efbc146e64034eb71e9fba *52680017_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
2871c66e40a572e7236e94b551b0647dc381a112 52680017_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680018
d44e1a11c59532e073e796ac0ac64785 *52680018_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
863c7851a659f3261ff4f1cd41164230afcb1619 52680018_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680020
8cf82a0cae1bcb748c390075ff737670 *52680020_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
1f4c76b278da05b30880828e6721c86ed089af3b 52680020_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680022
aa16553aa7248b6d8a1420d47c2d2645 *52680022_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
6716971fd9b0fad47015bdc6aa3a1732a0abb159 52680022_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680024
f86c919edd7b1bdd25e2ca5d4abe86ee *52680024_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
14a65934dc66c3a668044b0b5d19b23f40dc61fe 52680024_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

52680027
e0bd89305bd0968c419df64a963aeb57 *52680027_2008_USDM_5MT.hex
9a989d58539bfc9942e4c38c3e4a44a1cc9bf5b8 52680027_2008_USDM_5MT.hex

[onelove4uk]

Out of the 7 ROMs listed above, would it help if I told you that Mitsubishi replaced my ECU on August 9th, 2011? Is there a way I could find out when those ROMs were each released...perhaps I could match it that way by date?

[trick3d]

Originally Posted by onelove4uk

Out of the 7 ROMs listed above, would it help if I told you that Mitsubishi replaced my ECU on August 9th, 2011? Is there a way I could find out when those ROMs were each released...perhaps I could match it that way by date?

yes because up until now you told us you drove an 08 and did not tell us that you had the ECU changed in 2011. So two things are happening.
A. they are confused about what ROM you should be on since you had the ECu replaced. They are more confused and partly being dishonest and upselling you.

Also for the record..why did you go in there with a tune and expect them to replace your pump? That is dishonest to and affects those of us still stock.

[Yxd68]

Out of the 7 ROMs listed above, would it help if I told you that Mitsubishi replaced my ECU on August 9th, 2011? Is there a way I could find out when those ROMs were each released...perhaps I could match it that way by date?

Just to be clear, that there is no way for ME or anyone else to tell you what ROM ID was installed into whatever ECU Mitsu installed on Aug 09, 2011.

One might be able to determine that it must have been earlier than that date, but it could have been any release up to and before that date of installation. No way to tell.

YOU should have kept notes. Obviously Mitsu will onlyu install stock ROMs. You should have d/loaded it immediately and stored it somewhere, or at least noted the ROM ID in your cars maintenance logs.

Did the same dealer replace the ECU that is now doing the ROM ID check? Their service records - which you should certainly be able to get a copy of - should note which ROM ID was installed into the replacement ECU.

I'd just find the tech that works on your car late on a Friday and bring along a case of cold beer. And chat a bit.

[InfantryMP]

Sounds like 1200 bucks need to be spent so you can everything taken care of.