Code 54 how to fix??

[amnash]

pulled my ecu for codes and it just flashes code 54 over and over again.
this means Auto signal to ECU.

im not sure what exactly its saying it wrong. is it wiring to the ecu?? the ecu itself?

how can i fix this.
im thinking worst case scenario here..but engine harness might be bad?

info:
the engine will hardly start. i have to start it WOT and its struggles like a mother ****
just put in a fresh MAF from ebay, was in shrink wrap and looks brand new.

[markc32]

i would check for bad ground connections first and start with the ecu harness....

[RSi]

Its an auto car? Not an Auto ECU in a Manual car is it?

[DarkCaporaL]

^ That's what it sounds like.

[amnash]

i dont know its the one that came with the car
if thats the case is there any way to make it work? how could i check.... actually now that i think of it, it says right on the side of the ecu rb20det 5 speed in permanent marker

[aN4rk1]

i dont know its the one that came with the car
if thats the case is there any way to make it work? how could i check.... actually now that i think of it, it says right on the side of the ecu rb20det 5 speed in permanent marker

Could be a mistake or a case swap or something. Do you have anyone else in the area that you can maybe borrow a ECU from and check if swapping it helps.

[caliber676]

Rarely an ECU actually fails. Unless you have the incorrect ecu i would start with power and ground like Markc32 said. Then work your way from there checking the circuitry of the systems you think are at fault. Ie awd, abs etc

[RSi]

if its written on the side its been swapped.... are you checking codes through consult? If so that should give an ecu id. What is it please?

[DreadedFist]

Mine had a code 54 as well when I had an auto ECU. My car was originally an auto, but converted in Japan. Instead of getting a 5 speed ecu, they just used the auto ECU that was Mines chipped. I've since gone back to a stock 5 speed ECU, but haven't bothered to check for codes lately. Code 54 is fine, I don't believe it means much if anything, my car ran fine with it. I did notice a slight increase in idle speed when coming to a stop though, even with no accessories on. New ecu got rid of that.

[RSi]

Yeah its just telling you that your auto trans may be missing...

[amnash]

if its written on the side its been swapped.... are you checking codes through consult? If so that should give an ecu id. What is it please?

im not using consult cable. just using the light and its flashes. ive already gone over all the grounds inside the engine bay. the one ground i didnt check was the main ground to the block(just the block section) and i painted the block..could that be it?

[RSi]

Well at the very least whats the code on the case? I have $10 on the fact that you have an auto ecu in a manual car

[aN4rk1]

well at the very least whats the code on the case? I have $10 on the fact that you have an auto ecu in a manual car

$20 here

[amnash]

ill check after work.

[amnash]

ecu: its late so ill research the numbers tomorrow


today i added two direct grounds from block and head to -terminal to see what happened. i reset the ecu before start up, turned it over and it ran like a charm for maybe 20 seconds. the idle was like 2000 but that's fine. i was just happy to see it with a steady idle and sounding smooth.
AFTER about 20seconds the car suddenly started bogging down and died. i checked ecu and it was code 54 again. im thinking with the reset ecu it was running fine then started to bog down once the ecu detected a fault?

heres a SUPER crapy video of its unhealthy idle..

http://s1044.photobucket.com/albums/b442/amnash2/?action=view&current=V110712001.mp4