I bought a used 2005 Mazda Tribute and now finding out that the original ECU was replaced with a Ford Escape one and it is causing me problems and the mechanic cannot find a 2005 Tribute one anywhere! which we now see why that Escape one was put in and the vehicle sold. If anyone know where I can purchase a 2005 Mazda Tribute ECU, I would greatly appreciate it. I hate to have to junk this vehicle already and only had it for 2.5 years, only 105,000 miles and I am still paying on it! Thanks for your help!

 

Did you look at companies that offered refurbished units with a short warranty on the good old internet?
I click on and immediately found one?? $193 Flagship in NY.

 

The mechanic does not trust those (he used to work for a junkyard). He is hoping that a Mom and Pop auto parts place have one sitting on a shelf somewhere or someone with their original one still intact and just not driving their vehicle. Too many problems with this item. I bought this exact same vehicle and ended up having the exact same problem with the other one...at least that one last me five years and it was paid for in full. No more Mazdas for me. Thanks for responding!

 

LOL we use them (not that specific vendor) all the time in our shop and replace I would say about 30 a year and about 1 or 2 get replaced as a bad or failed within the warranty period unit and replaced. These ECU from companies that have been established for at least a decade test each unit before sending them out. Working for a "junkyard" and selling take off ECUs is nowhere close to the same thing.
Many so called mom & POP auto parts store are more than likely to have a rebuilt ECU sitting on their shelf and not a new one BTW!

So ask a question and I gave you a qualified answer based on direct experience. Oh and I am far from a "mechanic" level!

ASE


And you last response quote "No more Mazdas for me.".auh ok what did you expect with the year and the model that you purchased used?

 

If I would not have had to have mine's replaced four times, I would agree with you and disagree with him. I'm hoping to find a new one or an old original one, if not I will junk it. I will hold on to it for a few months and see what happens. I have a lot of people looking.

 

Thats why you get an ECU applicated for your series and not another platform. been doing this a view decade if you went through 4 something was badly done wrong, overlooked damage in another area of the electric harness that communicates with the ECU , diagnosed incorrectly you did not get from a known vendor that checks them before selling them.
And as I am one of the few that actually went to a training class on ECF/EFI Performance calibrating I often for my personal business and worldwide customers often have them get a rebuilt inexpensive ECU for me to do a complete OEM flash download that info and then turn around and build a complete performance-based ECU calibration tailored for their person vehcle and upgrades.
Even if you find an original new one unless it is checked there is no guarantee it will work! And these rare finds will not have a warranty of any kind and as an electrical part I am sure will be sold as is !

Any way good luck with your next platform (different auto manufacture)of used vehicles.

 

You would not happen to be in the Texas or surrounding areas or know someone with your knowledge in this area?! Yep, this is the seventh mechanic I have had doing some work on this thing so I don't know what to tell you. I am beyond frustrated but I am not a mechanic so I'm hopeless and helpless. I love this vehicle that's why I bought another one like it but I don't need/want the headaches that comes with it. My husband has a used 2002 Chevy Tahoe that is about to hit 300,000 miles and the vehicle still acts like it is not about to die any time soon. He have had it about 12 years now.

 

No sorry I am not. As the profile say I am living in the dictatorship run state of CA. lol but always looking at Texas property for the future.

You need to find a shop that has ASE signage. To display that sign they are required to have at least one ASE certified mechanic or better an Automotive Diagnostic technician (like me) employed. You should get better service with these ASE shops then with a dealership (that has no Mazda factory trained or ASE certified employees in their service department) or other non-ASE service shiops.

 

Thanks