ECU & Electronics
Car care tips & guides by our certified technicians
What Is ECU Coding? When Does Your Car Need It?
ECU coding tells a control module how your car is equipped — without changing its software. Here is what coding changes, when it is needed, and what decides whether it is possible on your car.
Radar Calibration After Accident Repair: Why It Matters
Front radar powers adaptive cruise and collision warning, and even minor bumper damage can knock it out of alignment. Here is when radar calibration is needed and what affects the result.
What Is an ECU in a Car? ECU vs ECM vs PCM Explained
ECU, ECM, PCM, TCM: the abbreviations get confusing. Here is what an ECU is, what the engine ECU actually controls, how the terms differ, and how to tell an ECU fault from something simpler.
What Is CAN Bus in a Car? How Car Modules Talk to Each Other
Your car's modules share information over a network, most commonly CAN bus. Here is how that network works, what a gateway does, and why one wiring fault can light up half the dashboard.
ADAS Camera Calibration After Windscreen Replacement
On cars with a windscreen-mounted camera, replacing the glass can change what the camera sees. Here is why calibration is usually required, why the windscreen type matters, and what to check afterwards.
What Is ADAS Calibration and When Does Your Car Need It?
Driver-assistance cameras and radar must be aimed precisely to work as designed. Here is what ADAS calibration is, which repairs usually trigger it, and the difference between static and dynamic calibration.
ECU Communication Error: Causes and Diagnosis
A scanner that can't reach the ECU, or 'lost communication' U-codes, doesn't automatically mean a failed module. Here are the common causes and how an ECU communication fault is properly diagnosed.
ECU Replacement: Does a New ECU Need Programming?
A replacement ECU rarely works straight out of the box. Here is what usually has to be done — programming, coding, immobilizer matching and adaptations — and why new, used and repaired units differ.
ECU Coding vs Programming vs Adaptation vs Calibration
Programming, coding, adaptation and calibration are four different jobs on a car's electronics, and one repair can need several of them. Here is how they differ, with real examples.
What Is ECU Programming? ECU Flashing Explained
ECU programming, also called flashing, loads software into a car's control module. Here is what that software contains, when a car needs programming, how it is done safely, and what it can and cannot fix.