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ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:30 pm
by Noggin the Nog
If I leave the batteries disconnected from the vehicle for quite a while (say 3 weeks) does that damage the ECU at all?
Just want to disconnect them because there is a small current drain somewhere that is flattening them and I can't be arsed to sort that out till it gets a bit warmer
Re: ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:35 pm
by missfixit70
Don't see why it should, ecu isn't hugely complicated on the bongo apparantly.
Re: ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 6:37 pm
by dandywarhol
Nope - check the interior strip light for draining current - not uncommon

Re: ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 2:30 am
by The Great Pretender
Noggin the Nog wrote:If I leave the batteries disconnected from the vehicle for quite a while (say 3 weeks) does that damage the ECU at all?
Just want to disconnect them because there is a small current drain somewhere that is flattening them and I can't be arsed to sort that out till it gets a bit warmer
Interesting question, my answer is, i'm not sure. Removing power from electronics (draining the memory) can reset default settings allowing them to work correctly. Just my observations 0 and 1 ain't my best points.
I'm with Dandy though, check the strip light first. 
Re: ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 12:43 pm
by Rhinoman
It won't damage the ECU but if its a petrol then it will delete all learned settings. if you need to get it MOT'd after its been laid up then you may need to drive it about for a couple of hours to get it to pass emissions testing.
The ECU, clock and radio will all drain a little current. I've used two cheap solar panels to keep my batteries charged when its laid up.
Re: ECU damage with disconnected battery
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 7:04 pm
by Doone
there is a small current drain somewhere that is flattening them
I have no idea if this will help, but thought I'd mention in anyway.
Link to 'Sony radio flattens battery'.