SAAB 9-3 Disassemble ECM 2003-2011 PCB Repair T8 ECU ECM Codes P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, P0245

This info is the same for all T8 ECMs.
Codes P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, P0245
with / intermittent hard starting, rough running, white smoke, or over-boosting issues.
We are gonna replace the most common cause of SAAB 9-3 T8 ECU failure: the TPIC46L02 that drives the injectors and the wastegate. There are potentially other bad chips but always start with that one if you are getting all the codes listed above.
If you have different codes than the ones I list above then it’s probably not the chip I am replacing here (see the comments).
ECU heat relocate with Tawaianese Dealer kit
www.saabplanet...
You should backup your ECU software using this method.
• COPYING a SAAB 93 TRIO...
With those backups, you can reprogram (also remaps) almost any 9-3 T8 ECU to be compatible with yours.
You can see the part number at 5:26

[@cargoudel]

Please check the description for mistakes and corrections.

[@michaeltomczyk3311]

do u have a business i need this done

[@cargoudel]

@@michaeltomczyk3311 I don't, sorry about that. But if you can find someone who does surface-mount electronics work, they have access to the right equipment and it's a pretty easy job for them.

[@michaeltomczyk3311]

Hi did the rebuild work and how long is it going?

[@cargoudel]

A year so far.

[@fredyflores5799]

Where did you order the part ?

[@rickbrandon1822]

You are right that fixed my saab. Had to get tv repair shop to solder it in 95 dollers well worth it.thank you

[@cargoudel]

Good idea.

[@mattpfarr5992]

I’m headed to a computer repair shop tomorrow, wish me luck🤞

[@TheForerunner117]

Thanks doe this video. I just bought a 07 9-3 and it has literally these codes. I’m glad to see someone out here who knows how to fix this instead of having to send it to Illinois for 600$. I might be coming back here asking for help soon lol…

[@TheForerunner117]

Where were you able to source that chip from?

[@cargoudel]

@@TheForerunner117 check out 5:26 in the video (mouser)

[@TheForerunner117]

@@cargoudel I did just buy this car and don’t know much about it yet but it has all the right codes and all I see online is if you have them it’s the ecu so I’m pretty hopeful this works for me. I haven’t seen any smoke or fumes or whatever but the owner did say every once in a while you have to floor it to make it start so is sounds like it’s on the right track. Is there any other ways to confirm the fix will work or is it just worth going for it and seeing what happens? I cleared the codes on the car they imediately returned on next startup so with 260k I’m sure it’s the problem.

[@TheForerunner117]

@@cargoudel I don’t have one of those fancy reflow deals but I do have a heat gun with adjustable temp and one of those tiny choke down attachments. You think that would work? I could use my laser thermo to keep an eye on temps

[@cargoudel]

@@TheForerunner117 it’s a bit risky. It’s important to flow (add solder) the pads first with a decent iron. I have done it before with a heat gun. You might wanna protect the other parts with aluminum foil. Use the low setting. Don’t use the heat gun with the new chip.

[@Aero93]

Got P0691 fan speed 1 not working, sympthom limited torque and no A/C working Power is fluctuating when hitting a throttle when driving ... Ecu failing?

[@cargoudel]

I would agree. There are some good videos on cloning your ECU to one from a junkyard.

[@famousamoss]

Great work! Thanks for sharing

[@juggernauts444]

What do you mean 12:55. “Maybe if the ECU is marginal. And has to warm up before start to fail” That is happening to my ECU. I will appreciate any help

[@cargoudel]

You should still replace that TPIC if you are getting 201-204 codes and the 245 wastegate code at the same time when the problem shows itself. I just mean it’ll be harder to test without fully reinstalling, but that open startup test is useful to at least show that you replaced the chip correctly. I have had ECUs that only quit after getting hot and it was also the TPIC.

[@Farmer2492]

Hi my T8 ECU has come up a Po606 code is there anything i can do to fix it as they want a $1000 for a refurbished one here in Australia or whats the best way to go about it

[@cargoudel]

If the car has been tuned it could be bad settings / bad map. If the car is 100% stock, it's probably the processor or may be corroded connectors. I would check out the website trionic tuners for help with ECUs, register for the site, and use the search.

[@FailureElite]

Wow great information thanks dude! Links super helpful as well.

[@cargoudel]

Glad it was helpful!

[@cginteractions9978]

Hi, I had a question about the ECM relocation kit you mentioned; apart from extending the ground wire for the ECM, was there any additional wiring you had to do for the relocation kit?

[@cargoudel]

You have to extend around 4 wires and a ground. Pretty easy if you comfortable with simple electrical / electronics work.

[@manermos1016]

Hola con este procedimiento resuelves el problema común de falla en los inyectores ? Saludos

[@cargoudel]

If you having the P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204, P0245 codes all at the same time (P0245 is important here!). Yes, this is probably the issue. Can't say 100% though. Test it before you close it up.

[@ebodlli93]

Hello, i got mine replaced cause of an intermittent P1682 code. After the replacement of ecu, the code is gone. I still have the old one and i wonder if i can fix it and use it as a backup. Can you help me out with this?

[@cargoudel]

Looking at some schematics on trionic tuner site, that code is for the main relay which is on the other TPIC but that one is near the top under the cross bar near where it hinges.

[@imanwan2861]

Do you offer the service to replace the chip on the side. I have extra bad ECU in hand from these code.

[@cargoudel]

I don't. But if you open it for them, many electronics or tv repair shops can do this work.

[@imanwan2861]

@@cargoudel thanks.

[@THe9-3MAnIaC]

I've got a 9-3 which starts and runs good, but it sounds like it's not firing on some of the cylinders sometimes. It happens when the engine is cold. When the engine is warmed up, that problem is gone. And it drops the rpm faster than normal aa well during a gearchange. And I got a fault code P0686 which has something to do with the ECU. It's quite difficult to explain, but what du you think could be the problem?

[@cargoudel]

I would search the trionic tuner forum.

[@angelsantana3969]

This guy must know what he's doing if he's messing with his PCM in the garden 🤣

[@cargoudel]

Hey man! That French glue doesn’t smell good inside my shop when heated up. 😂

[@arkadiuszwawrzyniak9445]

What if I don't have P0245 but have P0201, P0202, P0203, P0204 ?

[@cargoudel]

Could be if the problem is very intermittent.

[@АмирДжолдашев]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@feldmannimports]

Did you replace the injectors as well? Had my Ecu fixed and the repair place required I changed my injectors as well. Just curious what your thoughts are regarding this. Thanks for the video!

[@cargoudel]

I wouldn’t assume the injectors are bad.

[@johnteets9652]

Would u do 2 ecms ,I have 2 saabs both have this issue im sure ,I can send both to u I'd really appreciate it,sent 1 away to g7 computers and they never opened it up nor fixed problem I wasted 250 bucks for nothing please mess me lmk asap thanks

[@cargoudel]

Sorry. I don’t do outside work.

[@rommelfernandez1766]

Do I need to back up my ECU before the repair

[@cargoudel]

Not required but recommended in case you destroy the unit. The chip we replace has no memory.

[@paultrapido859]

Will the same chip work in the ECM for a 2010 2.0 9-3x?

[@cargoudel]

Yes.

[@34sonno]

My ecu is 55352688, this repair is also valid for mine ?? Thank you.

[@cargoudel]

Yes. Same unit type. I’m just covering one type of chip that can go bad and correlated with certain error codes.

[@raulpiceno9498]

Hello sir , is it p0245 p0201 po204 p0606 is this chip the problem ? thank u

[@cargoudel]

Hard to say 100%. P0606 may mean a CPU issue. I would search it on the trionic tuner forum website.

[@davezgy1]

Have you tried to open a B284 ECU?

[@cargoudel]

No, but check out the trionic tuner forum.

[@robinscottll820]

i’ve got a MyMetro SmartRide that gives me the codes in this order for my 2005 9-3 2.0t P0204 P0202 P0201 P0300 is it not be the chip you are fixing here? if not do you know what it could possibly be? Thank You

[@cargoudel]

Maybe not that chip in my video. No waste-gate, no code for cyl 3. Not sure. I would search around on www.trionictuning.com

[@robinscottll820]

@@cargoudel Thank you

[@zpyao5695]

great video. my 08-93 got u2105 and p0601, you know which one is failed？

[@cargoudel]

Search u2105 and p0601 on this forum www.trionictuning.com/forum/ There are many possible causes: bad Relay R11, bad ground on ring terminal on ECU, or it could need to be reflashed, or the ECU microcontroller may be bad.

[@zpyao5695]

@@cargoudel thank you

[@jERRYKIEFER]

Question, After you replaced the chip was it plug and play with all the memory secure?

[@cargoudel]

There is no memory in the chip I replace in the video, so yes. No need to program or reprogram anything after replacing the chip.

[@LegoBeto]

Can you provide a link to the page where i can buy the chip?

[@cargoudel]

Goto mouser.com or digikey.com and search TPIC46L02DB

[@jERRYKIEFER]

@@cargoudel Yep, chips are less than $3.50 a piece

[@josecuevas3440]

Hi,where do you get the chip to repair ecu.

[@cargoudel]

Goto 5:26

[@serogapp]

Hello! Thank you very much, I saved my ECU with your video. How does your ECU work now?

[@cargoudel]

It's working!

[@doctor_ecu_meccatronica]

Hello good morning sorry for my English I use translator .. I have not read all the comments maybe I have already asked this question .. kindly I would like to know if after replacing the chip you have to program the ECU or is it not necessary to start it? thank you

[@cargoudel]

The chip has no memory. But I would make a backup of your original ECU incase you destroy it while working in it. It’s easy, there is a link in the description.

[@doctor_ecu_meccatronica]

@@cargoudel ok Thank you !!!

[@rickbrandon1822]

Do you have to reprogram it after doing this.

[@cargoudel]

Not if it's the original ECU. The chip I show replacing doesn't have code or memory. It's just a MOSFET Gate driver. But I would make a backup in case you screw it up and want to buy a replacement and reprogram and remap. If you make a backup you can buy any almost ECU from any 9-3 from 03-11, but if you don't have the backups you have to get the exact same part number.

[@rickbrandon1822]

Great thank you.

[@JTuned23]

What 5 wires did you need to extend for the ecu relocate?

[@cargoudel]

When I bought the relocation kit, bracket, etc., linked in the description, it came with a video I used to do the work. But when you unwrap the harnesses, it's pretty apparent which wires are too short of reaching.

[@isicks2k128]

Is the ecu backup necesary?

[@cargoudel]

You should back it up before you try to open it up.

[@mrgreenpestcontrol1958]

Gray video man , can you tell me where is the ECU located in that car ? I'm looking for mine but I can not found it

[@cargoudel]

It's on the engine to the left of the turbo intake.

[@extremeskierx528]

Be sure to use silicone that doesn't cure out citric acid

[@cargoudel]

I agree with this.

[@1redmazda11]

Can I just pull my ecu and send it to you for repair? 😁

[@cargoudel]

I would open it up for them and take it to a local electronics repair shop and send them this video.

[@josephi_2aaa7]

Would you do mine?

[@cargoudel]

I would open it up for them and take it to a local electronics repair shop and send them this video.