Thread: Differences between Manual and Auto Td5 ECU's

Thanks, that is really handy info for me as I am about to instala manual gearbox into my auto d2. I have an old non flashablele ecu from a manual but I was going to keep the newer nnn one.

Originally Posted by freedriver

Thanks, that is really handy info for me as I am about to instala manual gearbox into my auto d2. I have an old non flashablele ecu from a manual but I was going to keep the newer nnn one.

Not sure how you'd go with a MSB ECU. The same basic differences exist in terms of presence/absence of the canbus chip, but the MSB's have an additional handicap as the firmware is on a one time programmable memory chip.

In theory it could be done but you'd probably need to replace the memory chip and load firmware from an auto version along with soldering the canbus chip.

cheers
Paul

There is also one difference - the AUTO ECU has not instaled components (just some resistors) for clutch pedal sensing - so the cruise control is not working correctly.
And I must confirm - it is possible to use AUTO ECU in car with MANUAL gearbox. I did it, with one MSB type AUTO ECU with some power upgade chip inside. In cat with AUTO gearbox, it was not so big improvement, but in car with MANUAL gearbox, it is working nice.

Originally Posted by OffTrack

There is a hardware difference between the Manual and Auto ECUs.
Auto ECUs have a canbus interface chip which is not fitted to the manual ECUs. This is used to communicate data between the auto ecu and the engine ecu. Without the canbus interface the auto will go into limp mode.
Basically this means you can use an Auto ECU on a Manual but not vice versa.
cheers Paul

This is great news. I have just bought a D2 2000 manual TD5 as company for an AUTO the same year and model. I have a spare TRS upgrade MSB ECU for the auto.
If I understand this correctly, I can fit that spare auto ECU into my 'new' manual model.
Not sure what to do if the cruise doesn't work. Face that later...
Ciao
Gordon

Originally Posted by revwild

This is great news. I have just bought a D2 2000 manual TD5 as company for an AUTO the same year and model. I have a spare TRS upgrade MSB ECU for the auto.
If I understand this correctly, I can fit that spare auto ECU into my 'new' manual model.
Not sure what to do if the cruise doesn't work. Face that later...
Ciao
Gordon

The comment was made in regard to the NNN ECU's not MSB. It's not actually entirely correct even then - the manuals have extra components for the clutch switch. The circuit boards have the component footprints to support both types but only the parts to support one transmission type are fitted. The parts are generally things you can source without too much trouble so it's entirely possible to convert across - but it does require more skill//effort than the 4 year old post above indicates.

The same situation applies to the MSB but this is complicated by the need to replace the existing chip with one suitable for the transmission. The actual engine maps will not function correctly if used with the wrong transmission.

So with a bit of work you should be able to physically convert between auto and manual ECU's. But you can't run an auto map on a manual and vice versa without a load of

Edit: I thought someone had corrected my post with a comment about clutch switch at the time - see mad toms post in this thread.

Cheers
Paul