Yes I found this thread the other day while doing a search as despite what people have said, that all you need to do to reset the ECU is just a matter of taking the Negative off the Battery for 2 hours or overnight then re-connecting it and then thrash your ride for the next 2 days. Nooo not at all! As their is a complete set of steps you have to do to after you have reconnected the battery which are as follows. Thanks to GTBob and Itchione for their input with these instructions from the EF & EL Workshop Manual:

Any time the battery is disconnected, the transmission must re-learn the closed and wide-open throttle positions to enable the PCM to determine the proper gear to select for the appropriate throttle position. If the calibration is not performed following power source interruption, the transmission will shift hard and perform poorly from then on.

So to calibrate as follows:

First of all drive the car to normal engine temp and the thermostat has opened etc
Then to verify the correct idlespeed of the engine the following 4 steps should be taken with the vehicle being idled while stationary for approx 1-2 minute in each of the following conditions.
NOTE- DO NOT TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR DURING ANY PERIOD OF THE 5 FOLLOWING ADAPTIVE PROCESSES.

1. Neutral with all electrical loads OFF.
2. Neutral with Air conditioning ON.
3. *Drive with all electrical loads OFF.
4. *Drive with Air conditioning ON.

After all this has been done then proceed to go on and to do these steps which actually set the TPS values;

5. *To set the closed throttle referance position , place the transmission
in Drive, Air con off, and let the engine idle for a minimum of 1 minute.
6. Next, set the wide-open throttle reference position by turning the
engine off- but leave the ignition switch to the "ON," position, ie;Idiot lights on etc, then press the accelerator
pedal to the floor and hold it their for 1 minute, minimum.
7. Then Place the gear selector to Park and switch off the ignition.
8. Drive the vehicle and check for proper shifting patterns.

*As a clarifying note, I guess that for steps 3, 4 & 5 you can place the car in D with the handbrake firmly applied.

I recently followed these steps and I must say my Falcon has a lot more smoother and responsive acceleration now

Last edited by 1 SLY 97EL on Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:11 am, edited 5 times in total.

Awesome. Its great to know the proper procedure. I think a lot of people will learn from this.

Great work guys. Surely much appreciated from all EECV owners.

1 sly, what about manual?

It has been covered before, but unfortunately all too often people just say "thrash it for a while" without knowing the facts like you have mentioned.
Perhaps this should be a sticky somewhere.

Oh and where's 'D' on my 5-speed, and will this help improve my shifts?

you control the shiftpoints of the manual idiot! this is to train the shift patterns for the auto box! if you want i'll swap you my auto box and ecu, for ure manual box and ecu!...then you'll be able to train it

Yeah sorry their folks that have only 5speeds. I honestly do not know. I beleive their would obviously be a another Procedure for them. Any one care to elaborate who is in the know

my auto is acting a bit rough and nearly everything to do with the spark has been replaced.
yesterday i replaced my MAF sensor and it still idles a bit weird... should this help if i recalibrate the sensors?

King amougst men, sly. Great post.

Sticky this please admin.

Its has always amazed me the (engine off- but leave the ignition switch to ON).I think the word (leave) should be changed to (turn).I don't think it is possible to turn a engine off and leave the ignition on at the same time.

I am but humble to be seen this way Martin. As I only choose to serve the betterment of every Fordmodder in a way of true altruism.
Cheers

Yes it was an Irony to say the least to try and do this and then I like you understood to leave "ON" was just to leave it "On" with the idiot Lights still on in the dash as such You will be pleased now that I have re-edited that part

hey i just got a new battery and should probly do this, noticed my car running abit different lately...

So just to clarify a few points before I go do this.

Step 4 -> 5 : Is this leave in Drive and let idle for another minute (After idle for 1 min in step 4).

Step 5 -> 6 : Turn car off while in Drive ?? (Dont sound right) And how is one supposed to turn the engine off but leave the keys in the ON position without turning it to accesories only first?


EDIT:
2nd part of the last question was covered OK, but will it stuff the learning process if you put it in park and turn the engine off (turning keys back to ON) then change to D and do the throttle full open position ??

Apply Handbrake first then just move the gearstick from Neutral to Drive thats all!

Yeah just turn the Key off so then the engine stops then move the Key back to the "on" position with Idiot lights showing etc. No just do everything in that sequence etc with each step a minimum of a minute

g'day cobbers

does this apply to the earlier boxes for eggssample my nc. I just had a quick flick through my workshop manual and couldn't see a reference but i havn't got the transmition supplament.

ps don't make it a sticky make it a docco.