• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

Need replacement ECU

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scrapla347
  • Start date Start date Oct 14, 2020
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last

Scrapla347

Active Member
Apr 23, 2020
200
67
38
Florida
Oct 14, 2020
#1
  • Oct 14, 2020
  • #1
I need a replacement A3M ECU. What are your experiences with buying replacements. Should I get one off EBAY or a reman at AutoZone or another parts store? I want to stick with the factory ECU because I have a custom chip for one or else I would go with a MicroSquirt.
Like

Comment
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
Mar 2, 2015
6,945
5,816
213
Oct 14, 2020
#2
  • Oct 14, 2020
  • #2
Ebay from ECUExchange. A few people here have dealt with them with very good results.
 
Reactions: revhead347 and General karthief

Scrapla347

Active Member
Apr 23, 2020
200
67
38
Florida
Oct 15, 2020
#3
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #3
Thank you!
 

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#4
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #4
That’s you’re only option other than going with the Holley terminator kit like I did. There is not a reman out there to be purchased. They say then have them but believe me I’ve spent hours looking and not a part store around has one. I would send your old one to ecu on eBay and the will rebuild what you have for $120. No need to buy a complete replacement especially if you can wait 2-3 weeks they are pretty quick with their ecu rebuilds.
 
Reactions: General karthief

a91what

SendMeUrDataLog
10 Year Member
Apr 6, 2011
10,739
6,720
214
Hillsborough county
Oct 15, 2020
#5
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #5
Vinnyc1487 said:
That’s you’re only option other than going with the Holley terminator kit like I did. There is not a reman out there to be purchased. They say then have them but believe me I’ve spent hours looking and not a part store around has one. I would send your old one to ecu on eBay and the will rebuild what you have for $120. No need to buy a complete replacement especially if you can wait 2-3 weeks they are pretty quick with their ecu rebuilds.
Click to expand...
There are actually dozens of options other that a stock ecu, including those actually made in the USA.
 
Reactions: TOOLOW91

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#6
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #6
a91what said:
There are actually dozens of options other that a stock ecu, including those actually made in the USA.
Click to expand...
 

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#7
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #7
I totally get what your saying. Put actually try and put on in your cart and order it. You’ll never complete the transaction or get it. They have them listed but the only ones in stock or for 4 cylinder vehicles. I promise you I just went through this 3 months ago and it’s not what it appears.
 

a91what

SendMeUrDataLog
10 Year Member
Apr 6, 2011
10,739
6,720
214
Hillsborough county
Oct 15, 2020
#8
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #8
Vinnyc1487 said:
I totally get what your saying. Put actually try and put on in your cart and order it. You’ll never complete the transaction or get it. They have them listed but the only ones in stock or for 4 cylinder vehicles. I promise you I just went through this 3 months ago and it’s not what it appears.
Click to expand...
I meant other than the China Holley unit.. dont get me wrong its good for what its capable of for a basic install. I just hate large corp products.
 

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#9
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #9
For my situation converting my 87gt from speed density it was the clear answer. By the time I found a a3m or A9L ecm, mass air flow sensor, harness, power pipe etc. I was about $300 less than buying the Holley kit that I can easily tune. For cars with lots of add ins the Holley kit is the way to go. For a stock mustang not worth it at all!
 

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#10
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #10
Back to my original comment is there is not a remanufactured 5.0 ecm available for sale from any auto part store online. I would love for someone to prove me wrong but outside of repairing a unit you have or paying $300 plus off eBay or forum you can’t not find an A3M or A9L ecm!







Vinnyc1487 said:
For my situation converting my 87gt from speed density it was the clear answer. By the time I found a a3m or A9L ecm, mass air flow sensor, harness, power pipe etc. I was about $300 less than buying the Holley kit that I can easily tune. For cars with lots of add ins the Holley kit is the way to go. For a stock mustang not worth it at all!
Click to expand...
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,160
17,854
224
Massachusetts
Oct 15, 2020
#11
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #11
Remans have dropped off because nobody was turning in a good core anymore, or some ECU's were simple no longer usable. Many were buying A9L's to do mass air swaps on speed density 5.0's and returning the SD ECU as a core, which cannot be used. Attrition is slowly reducing the number out there. Good, functioning ECU's are selling for $300+. (Speed density ECU's sell for much less however).

The same happened to 03-04 Cobra steering racks, and 93 Cobra boosters. Guys would buy these, and return non-equivalent parts as cores. As a result, no good cores means nothing to rebuild to offer for sale. Try and find a 93 Cobra booster today. I sold a reman unit for $300 not too long ago because you can't find them now.

Really, the only option available today is ECUexchange, pay the $300+ for a used mass-air ECU, or go with an aftermarket system.

The aftermarket ECU option may not be the best for some who still need to pass emissions or smog as most setups don't come ready to control things like the EGR, air pump system, evap. Some guys can make it work though, but for the most part people installing aftermarket ECU's aren't concerned with this.
 
Reactions: Vinnyc1487

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,481
8,677
234
S.I.NY
Oct 15, 2020
#12
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #12
a91what said:
I meant other than the China Holley unit.. dont get me wrong its good for what its capable of for a basic install. I just hate large corp products.
Click to expand...
You have a real strong hate for the Holley stuff huh ...
 

a91what

SendMeUrDataLog
10 Year Member
Apr 6, 2011
10,739
6,720
214
Hillsborough county
Oct 15, 2020
#13
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #13
TOOLOW91 said:
You have a real strong hate for the Holley stuff huh ...
Click to expand...
I mean I tune the stuff but I would never use it on my own projects...
The China corp that owns holley also owns racepack, msd, mallory, and the list goes on... you know what happened to the other companies the quality began to suffer.
I just prefer to buy products that support American companies that have jobs and manufacturing in the states. [ well to be fair some things you literally have no choice but to buy from china they are the only manufacturers of a lot of electronic parts. ]

Bottom line is if they actually moved the manufacturing back to the states I would not hate on it as much, its still way overpriced for what you get the datalog software is lacking but they do make it very simple for the basic user.

FYI MegalogviewerHD is the only datalog software I use for everything much better in terms of flexibility but does lack the ability to jump back and forth between the log and the tune like the package software does.
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,481
8,677
234
S.I.NY
Oct 15, 2020
#14
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #14
a91what said:
I mean I tune the stuff but I would never use it on my own projects...
The China corp that owns holley also owns racepack, msd, mallory, and the list goes on... you know what happened to the other companies the quality began to suffer.
I just prefer to buy products that support American companies that have jobs and manufacturing in the states. [ well to be fair some things you literally have no choice but to buy from china they are the only manufacturers of a lot of electronic parts. ]

Bottom line is if they actually moved the manufacturing back to the states I would not hate on it as much, its still way overpriced for what you get the datalog software is lacking but they do make it very simple for the basic user.

FYI MegalogviewerHD is the only datalog software I use for everything much better in terms of flexibility but does lack the ability to jump back and forth between the log and the tune like the package software does.
Click to expand...
I know they are all owned under one unit . Comes down to what you like I guess . It is simple and definitely works well , different ways to skin a cat .
 

Vinnyc1487

Active Member
Jul 14, 2020
106
61
38
Chicago
Oct 15, 2020
#15
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #15
Not to mention any remanufactured ecm that could be found would have been made over seas... I wish it was 1942 again and products were made in the USA but let’s be real 85%of America made cars today are all made from parts not produced here. So let’s not get to carried away with this nonsense topic. Insert uncle same reference here


TOOLOW91 said:
I know they are all owned under one unit . Comes down to what you like I guess . It is simple and definitely works well , different ways to skin a cat .
Click to expand...
 

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?
20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 29, 1999
8,481
8,677
234
S.I.NY
Oct 15, 2020
#16
  • Oct 15, 2020
  • #16
Vinnyc1487 said:
Not to mention any remanufactured ecm that could be found would have been made over seas... I wish it was 1942 again and products were made in the USA but let’s be real 85%of America made cars today are all made from parts not produced here. So let’s not get to carried away with this nonsense topic. Insert uncle same reference here
Click to expand...
I’m not getting carried away with any topic . I have a holley on my car for years now that works light years better then a stock ecu . I was just pointing out as to why was the holley finger pointed at when it works and is on some of the fastest cars in the country . That’s all .
 
Last edited: Oct 16, 2020

Scrapla347

Active Member
Apr 23, 2020
200
67
38
Florida
Oct 16, 2020
#17
  • Oct 16, 2020
  • #17
I have a 347 and a chip when I got it tuned at Diablo and I wanted to reuse that tune instead of buying a MicroSquirt and trying to tune it on my own. Should I just get a factory ECU off ebay?
 
Reactions: 7991LXnSHO

Scrapla347

Active Member
Apr 23, 2020
200
67
38
Florida
Oct 16, 2020
#18
  • Oct 16, 2020
  • #18
Deleted
 
Last edited: Oct 16, 2020

HemiRick

I'd be looking at jacking under the house
Jun 28, 2020
723
272
73
Memphis TN
Oct 16, 2020
#19
  • Oct 16, 2020
  • #19
a MICROSQUIRT WILL TUNE ITSELF W A WIDEBAND o2 SENSOR.
 

Scrapla347

Active Member
Apr 23, 2020
200
67
38
Florida
Oct 16, 2020
#20
  • Oct 16, 2020
  • #20
Yea I heard they are easy to use but I wanted to reuse my chip I saved.
 
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
Next
1 of 3 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
ECU help!
  • starkiller1134
  • Aug 16, 2025
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
2
Views
265
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Aug 17, 2025
starkiller1134
S
1990 Mustang with no-start condition - Fixed and how-to
  • TTSaleen
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
96
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 22, 2026
TTSaleen
B
Paint in engine bay questions
  • B0udreaux
  • Feb 26, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
8
Views
244
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Feb 27, 2026
AeroCoupe
H
Strange steering/brake issue
  • Haxmaster
  • Tuesday at 10:13 PM
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
1
Views
31
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Wednesday at 9:31 AM
squeak93
T5 5th gear 89 gt
  • mac_55
  • Mar 19, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
162
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 20, 2026
Mustang5L5
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?