ECU Swapping with Immobilizer III
Posted  9 Jul. 2003

Ross-Tech is not responsible for any damage or problems that may result from following these instructions. They are to be used at your own risk.

Immobilizer III:

Some 2001+ Volkswagen/Audi vehicles have Immobilizer III. This works similarly to Immobilizer II, except a secret key code (SKC) is required in order to perform the adaptation routine. The routine changes depending on whether you are using a BRAND NEW ECU that has never been in any other car, or if you are using a USED ECU that has been previously matched to another car. Note: 2002+ Audi A4 and VW Passats use the KWP-2000 protocol for the engine controller. At the present time, VAG-COM does not yet support saving of Adaptation values in controllers using the KWP-2000 protocol, therefore this procedure cannot be used for 2002+ Audi A4 or VW Passat ECU's. See our Function Chart for more information.

Immo-3 knows your car's VIN. Access 17-Instruments (or separate 25-Immobilizer on vehicles that are set up that way) and look at the first "Extra" field.

If you see something like: "Immo-ID VWZ7Z0W0648696"  You've got Immo-2 (or maybe even Immo-1 in earlier non-US models).

If you see something like "WVZKB58001H231169 VWZ7Z0W0648696" You've got
Immo-3. The first 17-digit string is the VIN. The second 14-digit string in the Immo-ID.

There are different procedures for installing a NEW ECU or a USED ECU.

NEW:

1. Before Installing a  BRAND NEW ECU in vehicle, get the ECM coding from the old ECU in the vehicle
   [Select]
   [01 - Engine]
   Write down the 5-digit Soft. Coding
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
    

2. [17 - Instruments]
   Write down the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number from the "Extra" field
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
    

3. Take that 14-digit Immobilizer ID number (along with your VIN number) to your dealer and request your seven-digit SKC, along with the workshop code and importer number (all this information can be found in the upper-right corner of the Administration screen of the dealer's VAS 5051).
    

4. Install new ECU in the vehicle.
    

5. Measure the car's battery voltage, it must be 12.5 V or higher.
    

6. [Select]
   [01 - Engine]
   [Adaptation - 10]
   Enter "50" in Channel Number
   [Read]
   [Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
   Enter the 7-digit PIN, Date on which the PIN was GENERATED BY THE DEALER, along with the dealer's Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number
   [OK]
    

7. VAG-COM will validate the data you have entered and return you to the Adaptation screen, where the New Value will show as "XXXXX".
   [Save]
   [Done, Go Back]
    

8. Verify that the VIN now displayed in the "Extra" field matches the VIN on the vehicle code from dealer
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
   [Go Back]
   [Exit]
    

9. Turn ignition OFF and then back on within one minute, but do not start vehicle for two minutes
   After 2 minutes, start the vehicle
    

10. [Select]
    [01 - Engine]
    Verify that the 5-digit Soft. Coding matches the coding from the old ECU
     

11. [Fault Codes - 02]
    Clear all DTC's.

---

USED:

1. Before Installing a  USED ECU (we'll call it ECU #2) in vehicle, get the ECM coding from the current ECU (we'll call it ECU #1) in the vehicle
   [Select]
   [01 - Engine]
   Write down the 5-digit Soft. Coding
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
    

2. Install the  USED ECU (ECU #2) in vehicle, (the Immobilizer light will be flashing, that's okay for now)
   [Select]
   [01 - Engine]
   Write down the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number from the "Extra" field. This the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number for ECU#2.
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
    

3. [17 - Instruments]
   Write down the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number from the "Extra" field. This the 14 digit Immobilizer ID number for ECU#1.
   [Close Controller, Go Back - 06]
    

4. Bring both 14-digit ID numbers to your dealer and request both your seven-digit SKC's
   Keep track of the SKC for ECU#1 and the SKC for the ECU#2, as well as the Date on which each SKC was GENERATED BY THE DEALER, along with the dealer's Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number.
    

5. Measure the car's battery voltage, it must be 12.5 V or higher.
    

6. With the  USED ECU (ECU #2) in vehicle, (the Immobilizer light will be flashing, that's okay for now)
   [Select]
   [01 - Engine]
   [Login - 11]
   [Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
   Enter the 7-digit PIN from ECU #2, Date on which the PIN was GENERATED BY THE DEALER, along with the dealer's Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number
   [OK]
   [Do-It!]
   (You just "introduced" yourself to ECU#2 and the ECU should listen to you since you knew how to login. The ECU is now ready to learn its new home.)
    

7. [Adaptation - 10]
   Enter 50 in Channel Number
   [Read]
   [Use 7-digit PIN/SKC]
   Enter the 7-digit PIN from ECU#1, Date on which the PIN was GENERATED BY THE DEALER, along with the dealer's Workshop Code (WSC) and the Importer number
   [OK]
   [Save]
   [Done, Go Back]
   (You just told ECU#2 that it has a new home, and that it should make friends with the Instrument Cluster.)
    

8. Verify that the VIN now displayed in the "Extra" field in the Engine matches matches the VIN now displayed in the "Extra" field in the Instrument Cluster controller.
    

9. Turn ignition OFF and then back on within one minute, but do not start vehicle for two minutes
   After 2 minutes, start the vehicle
    

10. [Select]
    [01 - Engine]
    Verify that the 5-digit Soft. Coding matches the coding from the old ECU
     

11. [Fault Codes - 02]
    Clear all DTC's.