I'm currently trying to source a working ECU for my '08 Evo GSR but there seems to be limited availability of used units across the entire continent right now. I was wondering if ECU's among the Lancer Evo X, Lancer Ralliart, and regular Lancer are compatible given that they are physically identical. Are the differences simply in the flash ROM, or are they even more fundamental than that?

For example, is the Lancer ECU with P/N 1860A753 compatible with being flashed with a ROM intended for 1860A979 ('08 Evo X GSR)?

I'm really hoping the answer is that they are compatible and I will be able to flash an Evo ROM to any physically identical ECU. This might make sense given that the production costs of these units would be greatly reduced if they were all physically identical.


Also, if any of you ECU gurus and self-tuners have a spare ECU available, here is my WTB thread: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/sa...x-gsr-ecu.html

Your assistance in any form is greatly appreciated!

 

You could try to with a bench, but by default ECUFlash will not overwrite the first section of the bootloader and you will not be able to. Tephra has a tool that would allow this section to be flashed *But*.... from what I understand the lancer ECU is different from the evo ECU. I'm sure comparing the FSM pinouts would show you some reasonable differences.

 

Although I've been able to source a GSR and MR ECU to purchase, I still have several ES/DE/GTS Lancer ECU's available locally for cheaper. So, I've taken to research this at a different angle.

Apparently some folks from Puerto Rico discovered a while back that the Evo X GSR ROM can be flashed to the regular Lancer ECU. I've since found several people with turbo'd Lancers that have done this with success (and ease). This leads me to believe the ECU's are physically the same, and I don't even know that you have to bench the ECU to get it to take an Evo X GSR ROM....

Can anybody confirm this?

Examples: https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/la...-cadm-5mt.html

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/la...2-4l-4b12.html

And several more mentions of this are out there on the forum...

 

Also, http://9glancers.com/index.php?topic=15012.0

Pretty convincing, I'm just concerned about the stock boost control working if I go with the Lancer ECU.

edit: Also, I just compared the ECU pinouts and they are identical except the Evo is missing pinouts for a 3rd O2 sensor (Cali spec Lancer I'm assuming) and the Lancer is missing pinout listings for wastegate solenoids, manifold IAT, and fuel pump relay. I'm guessing all of these pins are still internally wired.

 

Same parts for different cars is a cheaper way to manufacture.

The reason for different part numbers could be due to the software that is loaded.

 

I thought I had read that the processor and/or amount of memory was different between the regular Lancer and Evo ECUs. I wouldn't be surprised if you could get a 2010 ECU and flash it with a 2008 ROM (or vice versa).

See this thread and it's sub-posts for info on flashing a different ROM that is not in your same version-lineup:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/8116246-post9.html

 

Golden, are you saying you're inline with my thinking that these ECU's are identical, hardware-wise? I am only concerned because the Lancer guys haven't mentioned any wastegate solenoid-related codes when using the Evo X GSR ROM. They really should be getting those unless they've been explicitly disabled.

That same thread says EcuFlash allows you to write to the first 8K of the ROM memory if you use the alternate flashing mode. Oh, you do have to bench the ECU though, but I just got done rewiring the whole engine bay + underside after an engine fire lol.

 

Yup, last I had checked it required something special but I'm guessing that was just included in the newer Betas that are out.

-----------------
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/9644007-post5.html

From your link: -----

That says there is at least some difference in what the code references. There should be a WGA CEL, but maybe that connection has some amount of resistance in that ECU that doesn't allow it to trigger? Same ECU would make sense (to me) monetarily, but these things rarely make sense. I've gotta give up for the time being on finding the ECU differences I thought existed but I know there was a post about it somewhere. It does appear that many people successfully flash the X ROM to the lancer.

 

no problem for flash evo x rom into base lancer ecu i did it and thats work perfectly

 

So did you put an EVO ecu into your stock lancer?
Were there any problems like turbo to non turbo? I'm wanting to change mine out for one that is cruise control capable and buy the oem wires from an evo.
Is this even possible?