EPROM ECU: To run ECMLink, you must have an EPROM ECU and that ECU needs to be socketed so you can plug the ECMLink flash module into it in place of the factory EPROM chip. Check your ECU to see what you have. If you have an EPROM ECU, great! Then you just need to have it socketed and you'll be set. You can order socketing service directly off the Full V3 or V3Lite product pages (options are listed at the bottom).

non-EPROM ECU: If you do not have an EPROM ECU, we can probably convert your non-EPROM ECU to EPROM. We can convert all 1990-1994 1G DSM ECUs and we can convert 1995-1997 2G DSM ECUs. If you have a 1998-1999 ECU, we can not socket those. You will need to locate a 95-97 ECU to use in place of your 98-99 ECU. You can order the non-EPROM conversion option directly off the Full V3 or V3Lite product pages (options are listed at the bottom).

Also, we do sometimes have a few EPROM ECUs available here for sale with new ECMLink package purchases, so feel free to drop us a line if you want. You can get contact information off our contacts page. But, really, unless your ECU is blown or you have a 1998-1999 DSM (which we can not convert to EPROM), then it's a lot cheaper to just convert your existing ECU than it is to buy a replacement.

Another option if you really need a replacement ECU is to call a few salvage yards. We've found the car-part.com site to be particularly useful for this. You may need to call around a few places before you find one willing to check the ECU for you, but you can often run up on a pretty good deal ($125-$200).

Note: If you can't open the case, you can view the EPROM pins through holes in the bottom of the case.

To check for an EPROM inside your 2G ECU, pull the ECU out and check the sticker on top. The sticker should have a part number on it (e.g., MD309947) with some other numbers and a letter in the lower right hand corner. The image below shows this sticker.

If the letter in the lower right hand corner is an “E”, then the ECU most likely has an EPROM. To know for sure, you can follow the same steps as outlined below for the 1G ECU. Basically, just open the case and check for the presence of the factory EPROM chip.

A list of valid 2G turbo ECU part numbers follow. Note that only the first two marked in bold will likely contain an EPROM. But it's not guaranteed! Please reference this chart if you're not sure about the computer you're sending in. We have had a few cases where folks have shipped us a transmission control unit instead of the engine control unit.

To check for an EPROM inside a 1G ECU, you really need to open the case to make sure. Open up the case by removing the screws (2 on each “side”) holding the top in place. Then remove the top casing half to reveal the circuit board. Compare with the photos below to determine if this ECU has an EPROM or not.

1G NON-EPROM NOTE: Keep in mind that even if your ECU is a non-EPROM, it can still be used with ECMLink. We offer a non-EPROM to EPROM conversion service off our website. This can be ordered separately or with an ECMLink package. When ordered with the ECMLink package, we can offer this conversion at a reduce priced.

A list of valid 1G turbo ECU part numbers follow. Please reference this chart if you're not sure about the computer you're sending in. We have had a few cases where folks have shipped us a transmission control unit or a non-turbo model instead of a turbo model engine control unit. Also note that the GVR4 ECU (MD165810 or MD165811) is as close to guaranteed to be an EPROM model as you can get.

Also note that only the numbers listed in bold are possible EPROM candidates. We've never seen any of the others come as EPROM model ECUs.

Luckily, as far as we can tell, every EVO1-3 ECU was an EPROM model from the factory! So if you have one of these cars, you should be set already. The one caveat is that the EVO ECUs require a very simple modification to the ECU board to use our flash module.

Other ECUs of interest and may be interchangeable with EVO ECUs: