Computer fried... what does this sound like?

[Rob]

I've been looking at a used NB (yes, I'm coming back to the hobby), and when I arranged to look at it was told by the dealer (basically verbatim),

"It had been running great, then we couldn't get it to start the other morning. Turns out it was the computer. We've got the part -- it was $900 -- and it involves changing a few things, maybe even the ignition barrel, so give us a couple of days to make it right..."

OK, so that instantly puts me on alert, but what do you guys think. What does this sound like? And are the parts $900? A common thing for 14 year old NBs?

PS: By way of extra information, the dealership is a 30-plus year old family dealer that's been around forever.

[koop21]

In my experience an ECU is really the last thing to fail... Unless of course past owners have been messing with it.
Did you actually try to start the car and view the problem first hand or take his word for it?

I would probably avoid the car all together, unless its dirt cheap and your willing to suss out every component that could be causing the issue.

[hks_kansei]

First up, yes, a new ECU can quite easily be $900

As for the why, I'd put my bet on water damage, either leaky windscreen, leaky roof, flood damage.

[Rob]

In my experience an ECU is really the last thing to fail... Unless of course past owners have been messing with it.
Did you actually try to start the car and view the problem first hand or take his word for it?

Nah, I didn't get to start it because we were talking on the phone about me coming down to see the car, and this is what I was told.

The car's not heavily tarted up like a boy racer type mobile (that I'd suspect someone messing with the ECU), but of course looks aren't always the whole story.

[Rob]

First up, yes, a new ECU can quite easily be $900

As for the why, I'd put my bet on water damage, either leaky windscreen, leaky roof, flood damage.

Cool, that's really good to know. Well, maybe not "good" to know... but you know what I mean

I wonder if I keep the car in good nick (ie: it'll always be garaged, it won't be dríven through floods, etc), having it replaced before I buy the car would be the end of the problem?

Because it's not a bad deal that I would get on it, and it's not going to be a daily driver that I have to rely on 24x7, either...

[koop21]

You should probably give the car a good look over.
This is just my opinion but seeing as you didn't bother showing up to see the rest of the car despite being told it doesn't start suggests your not willing to invest time & money to get the car sorted.
Would it not be easier to look at another car??

[Rob]

This is just my opinion but seeing as you didn't bother showing up to see the rest of the car despite being told it doesn't start suggests your not willing to invest time & money to get the car sorted.

Why would I travel 40km to see a car that doesn't start? Then go 40km home. Then go back 40km when it does start? You're not to know that's the distance involved, so that's cool, but you still kind of jumped to a pretty big conclusion there, mate. And, on top of that, I invested plenty of time and money into my NA, although I guess you're not to know that, either...

Basically, it makes far more sense (to me at least!) to see the car when it's in saleable condition, and give it a once over -- once -- at that time.

[Gladiator]

The bit that bothers me why the need to change the ignition barrel?

[NitroDann]

The key and the ecu go together, electronically, as part of anti theft.

it all sounds ok and plausible to me, Id just check under the carpet for signs of water in the passenger footwell, if it all checks out then go about business as usual.

Dann

[Rob]

it all sounds ok and plausible to me, Id just check under the carpet for signs of water in the passenger footwell, if it all checks out then go about business as usual.

Thanks Dann. Which drains do you think would most contribute to that area?

I've heard of rain rail issues that can have the carpet behind the seats wet, all the way down to the footwell.

Although I'm guessing the more likely culprits are the ones that run down the side of the car.

Also, when we talk leaky windscreens letting water into the footwell are we thinking the seal between the roof and the windscreen that would be fixed with a new roof... or some other area of the windscreen?

[NitroDann]

Directly above the ecu is the air intake port for the AC.

if you hose the engine bay its very easy to get the ecu wet, it probably happened during cleaning the car at the salesyard.

Dann

[hks_kansei]

Also, when we talk leaky windscreens letting water into the footwell are we thinking the seal between the roof and the windscreen that would be fixed with a new roof... or some other area of the windscreen?

Usually if a badly fitted screen is causing water inside the car its where the glass meets the metal.
Usually it's just that the installer hasn't put enough silicone around the screen and missed a spot.



I still personally think you should leave the car, unless it's discounted quite a bit.
MX5's aren't a rare car, which means as a buyer you can afford to be picky about them.

also remember, if they change the ECU and ignition you'll want them to also change the door locks, and the glovebox lock, and maybe the centre console lock (unless you don't mind having separate keys for everything)



I'd personally go for one that's got a pretty sound history, for me, a known issue, or a sign of a potential issue, means I'll want a decent discount.

I bought my MX5 a few years ago with a full service history and not a single issue, I happily paid the owner what he was asking for, less a few hundred to cover the scratched windscreen.
The recent daily that my partner and I bought had a few things needing replacement/repair and we managed to knock the price down by about 40% (again, to cover our costs in getting it ready for a RWC... which is ongoing)

[Gladiator]

The key and the ecu go together, electronically, as part of anti theft.


Dann

Oh ok. Not having anti theft, I wasn't aware of that.

[koop21]

This is just my opinion but seeing as you didn't bother showing up to see the rest of the car despite being told it doesn't start suggests your not willing to invest time & money to get the car sorted.

Why would I travel 40km to see a car that doesn't start? Then go 40km home. Then go back 40km when it does start? You're not to know that's the distance involved, so that's cool, but you still kind of jumped to a pretty big conclusion there, mate. And, on top of that, I invested plenty of time and money into my NA, although I guess you're not to know that, either...

Basically, it makes far more sense (to me at least!) to see the car when it's in saleable condition, and give it a once over -- once -- at that time.

In your OP you did not provide any details of the sort, just a quick description of the problem so anything can be assumed at this point.

I do however agree that you should "see the car when it's in a saleable condition".
So its obvious what comes next. Is used dealership going to fix the car before your willing to view the car? If not i suggest move on.

Also, did not mean to offend you at all. Its just a realistic view point I'm coming from.