You can order a ECU with the VIN # handy. My thoughts are a bad ECU would take some advanced troubleshooting and equipment to determine. I doubt the corner mechanic would be able to accurately discern. I realize you are in Ghana but you may want to get a second opinion on that. Did they check fuel pressure? Is it possible you have bad fuel? What engine codes led them to that diagnosis?

 

Wait a minute! Did you have the battery tested? A shorted cell in the battery can cause a lot of these kinds of problems. It can drag the voltage down even if the alternator is working. This results in not enough power to the ECU, electric power steering, and other systems. Try a new battery first--it's a lot cheaper than an ECU.

 

I recently bought a used 2009 RAV4 2WD, 19,000 km, made in Canada, now in Ghana.

Should be covered by warranty unless it's stolen or totaled.

Nevertheless, it's possible the battery was weak and reversed polarity was used when jump staring. That would give you throttle plate control problems. Do a search on that as some people posted similar stories.

 

I doubt there are many (if any) Toyota dealers in Ghana to warranty anything. I firmly agree with the battery as the likely culprit. There are many stories similar to yours on this forum and it was indeed the lousy battery Toyota uses.

 

As soon as I read "disconnected ECU overnight" I thought his experience must be with tricycles! One minute is the same as overnight but that doesn't get you to go away overnight. I see no indication of a logical approach, which as the other's said would start with a battery voltage and load test. Also if someone reverse jumped it all manner of woes could follow and you will need a legitimate Toyota expert to fix that.

 

Does my RAV4 need a new ECU - engine codes plus

All,

Thanks very much for the responses and advice. I'm leaning to putting a new battery in, but I was able to get a bit more information so thought I would share to see if it changes anything (and yes, the quality of the mechanics here leaves MUCH to be desired. and there is a Toyota Ghana but they won't work on any Toyotas not produced in either Japan or South Africa, go figure).

Ok, after the car wouldn't start and the jumping (done properly, not reverse polarity) didn't work, apparently the driver and first ('corner') mechanic put the battery from our generator into the car, which then started but with the problem that it wouldn't accelerate. Issues here???

Then, the codes from the 2nd mechanic ('real' one) who said I need a new ECU are: P2118 (he says this means the throttle range performance was out of range) and 5201 (Engine Control Unit internal error). Does this change / mean anything?

Finally, the fuel pressure was not tested and it could feasibly be bad; apparently fuel is stored in underground tanks here and they sometimes crack letting in groundwater plus who knows what. Is there a way I can check and what do I do if it is?

thanks again - appreciate any further thoughts before I try the battery.

 

Then, the codes from the 2nd mechanic ('real' one) who said I need a new ECU are: P2118 (he says this means the throttle range performance was out of range) and 5201 (Engine Control Unit internal error). Does this change / mean anything?

I'm not familiar with the 5201, but the Toyota repair manual says P2118 indicates "Throttle Actuator Control Motor Current Range / Performance", and the possible trouble areas are:

1. Open in ETCS power source circuit
2. Battery
3. Battery terminals
4. ETCS fuse
5. ECM

As you can see, ECM is at the bottom of the list. I would go with Battery.

 

Does my RAV4 need a new ECU - not stolen don't worry

Thanks for the additional advice, I'll try the battery.

Don't worry, the car is not stolen. I am an expat running an NGO here. I bought it from another expat who was leaving (he worked for a USAID project), and he bought it from the Canadian woman who purchased it new in Canada and imported it to Ghana. I have all the paperwork.

Just as a plug for Ghana: there is certainly graft here, but like anywhere, the honest people and transactions far outweigh the dishonest. It's just that the media likes to focus on the sensational and negative vs. the positive.

thanks again for the help, please don't be concerned about the origins of the vehicle, and if anyone thinks I should do anything other than change the battery, please let me know. Cheers.

 

If you ultimately have to replace the ECU, your keys will need to be reprogrammed before you can start the car. Be sure there is someone in your area that has the equipment to do that. Any 2009 destined for the US or Canada is equipped with the immobilizer. It is not simply a matter of replacing the ECU and driving off, assuming that is the problem.