Stolen Legacy - Recovered

[Millsy]

Hi guys,

Looking at purchasing a 03 'STI' speced up Legacy. Think its just a GTB with STI badges thrown on it.

However, it was previously stolen and currently won't start..

Electrics issue.

It had DEFI gauges that had been ripped out of it but these have also been recovered.

Theres not ECU in it either, but do the DEFI gauges remove the need of this entirely?

How much of a job will it be to get running again as a guess from you guys?

Ask me other questions you need to know and i'll try my best to answer.

Cheers

[Andy_Mac]

How cheap is it? Super cheap? Probably been thrashed like most stolen cars tend to be so could have engine issues to go along with it.

Defi gauges in no way can be a replacement for the ecu. Just to be sure are you actually meaning the ecu, as in the main computer under the passenger footwell or are you by any chance referring to the dash cluster with the speedo, rev counter and all that?

[Millsy]

Picking it up for 3k..

Engine looks OK. Oils etc are fine. Don't know what else i could check?

HA. I've just realised I've had a super blonde moment, i'm too used to my old hiluxs with the ECU being under the front dash.

Might go have another look and see if its under the seat.

Nope, i was thinking ecu.

Cluster etc are all there still

Its got adjusties etc all in it and the gauges, so theres a bit of money in parts if it all goes super south... (Fingers crossed it won't..)

[Guest]

Ecu is on the firewall/under glovebox under the carpet.

[Millsy]

Cool, so thats gone

Whats a ECU worth?

[Guest]

Normally resides under a steel kick panel. You have any pics? Is it single turb or twin? Be/bh or bl/bp?

[Joker]

only good for parts

otherwise bargepole

[Millsy]

Will get some pics of it all tomorrow

[Andy_Mac]

The ecu seems like such a weird thing to bother ripping out, fair bit of effort getting in there. Surely they're worth f all really.

[Zenki]

 Millsy said:

Cool, so thats gone

Whats a ECU worth?

ECUs are extremely low supply/demand items, they tend to be worthless if you're trying to sell one and horribly expensive if you're trying to buy one.

[megamac]

I suppose there's either no ECU or no power to it if the gauges don't sweep and light up when you turn the key? Assuming BL/BP of course

[boon]

If it's a BL/BP and the ECU's gone you'll probably need a matching key barrel and key set as they're all coded together off the top of my head.

[Kiwi_Fozze]

hang on, op mentioned defi gauges.

the main engine ecu is under a steel kick plate under the passengers foot area. there is a defi "brain" unit that controls all the gauges, normally installed into the drivers knee area.

if the car starts and runs, you are looking for a new defi unit brain, $300 or there abouts. if the main car ecu is gone, then you are in for a whole world of hurt with re-keying and immobiliser communications etc.

[Andy_Mac]

Incase you're still looking somewhere else its under that steel plate. So need to pull the carpet back to get there.

[Marky]

Without trying to be a c%$t when you say "does it need an ECU to run or can the gauges do this" I hazard you aren't super electrically minded

Buy it to part out maybe - bear in mind bits for these aren't worth *that* much (adjusties say $6-700 max, wheels, brakes etc arent worth f all, neither is an engine you have no knowledge of condition) so for 3k I don't think you'll end up making all that much off it to be blunt

If it does have an ECU in it (I struggle to think why someone would pinch that short of taking one to order) and still won't go then you have no idea what you're in for and why it won't start

[Joker]

holy left hand drive picture batman

do a flip

theres a lot of derp in here but good questions

[Andy_Mac]

 Joker said:

holy left hand drive picture batman

do a flip

theres a lot of derp in here but good questions

Yea as joker said. Its on the passenger side aka left hand side. Thats a pic of a US example.

[Rosssub]

JDM goodness. Carpet rolled back and plate removed:

[Millsy]

Would the DEFI gauges + controller not being there stop it from starting?

[Millsy]

Going to try have another look at it today - ECU is there passenger side has not been touched.

Just the drivers side has been pulled to pieces

[Millsy]

 megamac said:

I suppose there's either no ECU or no power to it if the gauges don't sweep and light up when you turn the key? Assuming BL/BP of course

It does turn 'on' by on i mean electrics - just doesn't get past that point

[Joker]

wiring fubar drivers side, tis hard to see from here tbh

[Marky]

The gauges have nothing to do with the running of the vehicle

There is obviously more problems involved, who knows what else has been removed or broken

Might just be that some wiring has been short circuited, or something immobiliser related

[Millsy]

Apparently the Auto Electricians at Fastt Fit down here couldn't get it going, but they only spent an hour on it and by passed the alarm/ immobiliser. (thats all the insurance company gave them time wise)

So probably something has shorted?

[Millsy]

Shorting would probably make sense, looked like there were a lot of free wires under neath, with wire showing.

I've only seen pictures, not the actual car