The same engine in the same model can be controlled by different units — a different model year, market, or emissions standard means a different ECU. That's why brand and engine displacement alone aren't enough when choosing a file. The specific ECU designation and the numbers printed on it are what count.
There are three ways to determine it, from the most reliable to the most convenient.
The most reliable source. On the metal ECU housing you'll find a label that usually shows the full set:
The control unit is most often found in the engine bay — by the firewall, in the air filter housing, or directly on the engine. In some cars it sits under the windscreen cowl or inside the cabin behind the glovebox.
Numbers can be long and it's easy to confuse a zero with the letter O or a one with the letter I. A photo of the label solves the problem and lets us check everything at once.
If you don't want to look for the control unit physically, connect the interface to the OBD socket and read the engine control unit data. Tools usually display the part number, software number and its version.
In VAG group vehicles, VCDS or ODIS is useful — they show the part number and software version in one place. For other makes, similar data can be found in the engine module's identification data.
If the car has already had modified software, the software number read from the ECU may not match what was factory-installed. The control unit part number and family designation then remain a more reliable reference point.
The ECU part number is often listed in spare-parts catalogues. This is a good route when the unit is hard to access, but keep in mind that the catalogue shows the part originally fitted — if the ECU has been replaced at some point, the actual number may differ.
Once you know the family designation, you can check straight away what we have in the database for that ECU. Full list of ECU families leads to pages with the list of available files, numbers and software versions.
The most commonly encountered families are EDC17C46, EDC17CP14 i EDC16C31.
If you're still unsure — write to us and tell us what you were able to read. We'll select the right file.
Year by year, car repair is becoming technologically more demanding. If you run your own car workshop, you need the right equipment. Professional diagnostic tools will let you verify the condition of both new and somewhat older vehicles. Check which workshop and diagnostic equipment you should have in your business.
Read moreYear by year, car repair is becoming technologically more demanding. If you run your own car workshop, you need the right equipment. Professional diagnostic tools will let you verify the condition of both new and somewhat older vehicles. Check which workshop and diagnostic equipment you should have in your business.
Read moreThree ways to identify an ECU: label on the housing, reading via diagnostics, part number from the catalogue — with the common pitfalls.
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