How long will the Ecu "remember" ?

[SCSi]

This is somewhat related to the 3rd gear issues everyone has been having. I am going to try to take my car to a dealership to get them to replicate the problem, but before I do, I want to make sure that there is no evidence of "abuse" or anything they would want to call it.

I've been searching for a while, but couldn't find a good answer for how long the Ecu remembers the history of the engine parameters. Someone said 50 miles, which seems like a realistic estimate, but I was wondering if anyone knew for certain.

My car only has 5600 miles on it, and has the 3rd gear problems, and I really want to get the car fixed, because I plan on driving it for the next ten years, or until it dies. My car is still 100% stock, i never race, and I take very good care of my vehicle because this is the first car I am paying for completely myself and I want it to last for a very long time. I enjoy vtec every now and again, but only when I am getting on the highway.

Basically, once I know how long the Ecu records driving history, I will simply not go above 3k for that long before taking it in, so there is no chance that they can claim i have abused the car.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated

[Leonard1818]

Doesn't it log the highest RPM reached forever?

So one day if you happen to mis-shift and take it to 8700 it will record that forever?

I don't know, just a thought...

[SCSi]

Thats a good point, I don't know the specifics of it. I know for a fact that I have never miss-shifted, or hit the rev limiter for that matter. I actually have never had an automatic car, and have been driving a manual since I was 15 (now 21).

It comes down to this. I have never abused the car, its basically brand new. 3000 of the 5600 miles were from a road trip I took with the car to get it out to california. I know that I probably won't have an issue when I take it into the dealership, but I don't want to take any chances.

I am a young guy, and anyone that doesn't know me would assume that I was beating on the car and that the problem is driver error. Plain and simple, it is not driver error. I've operated heavy machinery, large tractors, dump trucks, etc (was even going to get my CDL) and I understand why its important to take care of your car, especially when you are the person paying for it.

After reading so many problems people have had going into the dealership with the 3rd gear issue, i want to be 100% fully prepared for any situation that might occur.

[Leonard1818]

Totally understand but unfortunately for guys like us, it's tough to get taken seriously at a dealership. Be calm and assertive the whole time. It's hard to coach people on this kind of thing beforehand. All you can really do is go and do your best and hope for the best.

Good luck.

P.S. Have you tried swapping the tranny fluid w/AMSoil or GM Synchromesh?

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by Leonard1818

Doesn't it log the highest RPM reached forever?

So one day if you happen to mis-shift and take it to 8700 it will record that forever?

I don't know, just a thought...

Yes, it sure does. It never 'forgets.'

[radiocontrolhead]

You can try resetting your ECU. Unplug the battery?

[tite681]

Originally Posted by rmfa

Yes, it sure does. It never 'forgets.'

Damn, that's scary if it's true.

[SCSi]

Thats good to know about the ecu remembering the highest rpm reached. Unfortunately, the car had around 200 miles on it when it was purchased, so hopefully no one had abused the car before I took delivery.

Originally Posted by Leonard1818

Totally understand but unfortunately for guys like us, it's tough to get taken seriously at a dealership. Be calm and assertive the whole time. It's hard to coach people on this kind of thing beforehand. All you can really do is go and do your best and hope for the best.

Good luck.

P.S. Have you tried swapping the tranny fluid w/AMSoil or GM Synchromesh?

No, I haven't had the tranny fluid changed yet. I have been so wary of changing it after hearing most peoples problem come back.

Luckily I am about the calmest person on the planet when it comes to dealing with car dealers, and usually you get more accomplished when you are very nice and reasonable instead of getting angry.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'll just hope for the best when I go in.

[Civic06SiR]

I heard the ECU will remember the last 30 or so miles driven. I'm not 100% positive but I think I heard that from a Honda tech.

[radiocontrolhead]

Originally Posted by Civic06SiR

I heard the ECU will remember the last 30 or so miles driven. I'm not 100% positive but I think I heard that from a Honda tech.

I've heard this multiple times as well.

[vtecmike1]

Originally Posted by tite681

Damn, that's scary if it's true.

i sincerely doubt that it always recoreds the highest rpm even after its been reset.

[Leonard1818]

Originally Posted by SCSi

No, I haven't had the tranny fluid changed yet. I have been so wary of changing it after hearing most peoples problem come back.

You should try the flush! It wouldn't hurt... and may save you the PITA of dealing w/the dealerships!

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by vtecmike1

i sincerely doubt that it always recoreds the highest rpm even after its been reset.

Well, it does. Trust me.

[Asif22]

Yeah I think it does record the higest rpm because thats how they know if your motor went to like 12000 rpm's from a miss shift

[EastJunglez22]

so if it remembers the highest rpm hit..would this be erased with a hondata reflash? just a thought/?

[SCSi]

Originally Posted by EastJunglez22

so if it remembers the highest rpm hit..would this be erased with a hondata reflash? just a thought/?

It think it would only be erased if the ecu was completely factory reset. The ecu remembers your mileage when you get the hondata reflash (unless hondata manually does this), so I would imagine it would remember an overrev.

It probably is more of a trigger effect. I.E. If you overrev, it will keep a copy of this, the date, rpm, etc.

[radiocontrolhead]

I need proof and evidence. Some kind of credibility that all this is true.

[SCSi]

I completely agree. I am tempted to call up a honda tech from a payphone to check and see what the real answer is.

[rmfa]

Originally Posted by radiocontrolhead

I need proof and evidence. Some kind of credibility that all this is true.

My car was over revved in the first 6 months of ownership. Its been WELL over a year since and they pulled it from my ECU data. Do you need any other proof? Its written here on my service reciept...

btw: It didn't have a time or date stamp on it, they could ONLY tell it was overrevved. btw: My ecu had been reset a few times by pulling the positive battery cable..

[portabuddy]

WELL... looks like the question has been answered.

it dose remember and highs, like highest temp, rpm, speed... all highest values. and its something that cant be reset or erased. all you can do is buy a new ecu and have it flashed... like if yours went for a crap. the thing is that the eprom of the ecu stores all the data and to get rid of the data you need to re-write over the eprom and only honda has the full program.


and as for if it stores your trip for the last Xmiles... yah i can belive that, i work at volvo and they do that for the last 250, we can look at acceleration charts, the TPS like if it was at 50% or WOT... everything to the AFR...