thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

It's tight to climb in, and I got the bolt out on the bracket that goes against the firewall behind the brake pedal, but is there another bolt I don't see?
Any tips on removing this correctly would be appreciated.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Yes, another above the ecu.
The best way is to unwad your panties, stop caring about your nail polish, and remove it like a man.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

You know what you need to do.

patsmx5

iTrader: (16)

There are 2 bolts, the lower one you removed, and another one at the top. Both 10mm. By bolt, I mean nuts that thread on to a stud, so you remove both nuts, slide the ecu towards the rear of the vehicle about 1/2 and inch, it falls off the studs, lower it out and you got it.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

Vlad, thanks for the quick response.

Lars, do I look like Faeflora? You've seen my car. My frame rail is mint.

Patrick, props for the visual aid and the detail!

Godless Commie

iTrader: (2)

On my NB, you have to remove the passenger side floormat first.
Then you roll the carpet back, and then there are three nuts on studs on the floor, one on a stud on the firewall, and one short bolt in the right corner...
And, that's just for the cover.
You have to remove the bracket bolts to get the ECU out. ABS controller resides right next to the ECU.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

on your NON-US nb

curly

iTrader: (25)

Crazy turkey dude.

His is above the steering column. He's mad jealous of your correctly positioned ECU though.

Under the kick panel, as god(1.6 Miatas) intended.

EricJ

Take out the drivers seat first, only four bolts.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

I just got it out. My advice? 1) take the cover off that's under the steering column first. 2) use a long extension with a swivel and a deep well 10mm socket for the top bolt.
3) Don't ever do this on a car that has door bars, unless you already have an appointment scheduled with your chiropractor.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

Rollbar recommended for proper calf support after seat removal. Also gives you something to grab onto when trying to get your head out from under the dash with gravity working against you.

Fortuitous timing as I shall be doing this tomorrow.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

I removed 4 NB ecu's yesterday. I use one of these for the top nut


it takes all of 45 seconds, and I'm really slow.
You just feel for it, no need to pull the panel and really no need to go under there with your whole body.
just picture the brackets and you get an idea of where the two nuts are

sharkythesharkdogg

I always pull the steering column panel because it's only two screws, and it helps me get line of sight when I'm lining up the plugs to hook it back up. /shrug

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

How the **** did you get that bigass wrench up in there. Vlad are you like 18" tall? Top bolt is a real bitch in my car. Haven't been able to get my flexhead gearwrench onto it yet.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

I didn't use a wrench I used a deep well socket with a swivel and a long extension...1/4" drive of course.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

I figured it out. I was looking at/for the wrong bolt in the wrong places.

NB ECU removal broken down into baby steps:
a) remove the obvious nut, the lower nut, behind the clutch pedal to the left.
b) remove the seat
c) the other nut you want is on another stud oriented the same as the first one - pointing towards the rear of the car. It is above the steering column, to the driver's side.
d) get upside down under the dash. Take a 10mm wrench and a long screwdriver.
In front of the ecu, towards your belt, there's a big chunk of harness wrapped in black tape. This is attached via a plastic clip onto the stud containing the nut you need to remove. Using your long screwdriver, pop the harness retainer off the stud.
e) Get the wrench onto the nut, avoid dropping the wrench onto your forehead, break the nut loose, avoid dropping the wrench on your forehead, then spin the nut off with your fingers.

Attached is the page from the FSM referencing the second nut. It conveniently does not reference the fact the harness is attached to that stud also, and that you can't get to the nut until you remove the harness clip.

thirdgen

iTrader: (26)

U serious?
How bout you just take the cover off under the dash that has 2 Phillips head screws in it and the top bolt is right there.
Sheeeeaaat mang, I left my seat in, I have door bars, and I'm 6' tall and I just leaned in there and got to it like nothing.

ericsbestshot

iTrader: (2)

Thank you for this thread. I've been looking for that top nut forever. Finally the stock ecu is gone.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

I had that plate off. I didn't see it as being directly accessible from the front. I have a lot of gauge wiring running through there, and the scanguage cable extra length is bundled up in that area, so maybe my view was obscured.

Knowledge is power. Hopefully others removing one for the first time will find this thread and avoid some of the massive frustration some of us have experienced.