Background.  I disconnected negative battery terminal to save battery decline because I wasn't in town 3-6 months.  Upon reconnecting the negative terminal several warning lights (ABS, parking brake, +) lit up & the speedometer didn't work.  Internet search told me it was related to ABS &/or ECU problem & recommended I try connect/reconnect negative terminal again & then drive car a bit.  That did not correct the problem.  A local Thai mechanic, very good with everything else, didn't want to address it, & told me to go elsewhere, I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) he meant to Ford dealer.  The Ford dealer in Chiang Mai replaced ECU at cost of 32,000 Baht (24,000 for the ECU part).  I am wondering if readers have helpful input for future (rather than just criticizing my acknowledged past ignorance :-).

 

1. How to avoid future repeat of problem I apparently caused by disconnecting / reconnecting negative battery terminal to save battery?  Must I avoid doing this?

2. If I just was more patient & drove the car 100 Km+ might perhaps the ECU problem would have corrected itself (The car was driving fine, but I would not have had a functioning speedometer)?

3. How could I perhaps have gotten a cheaper fix than immediately going to a Ford dealer?  For example, perhaps if I queried more folks about local Thai electrical specialists, should I likely have been able to find one?

 

  

A bit late asking for advise after forking out 32k, I would have carried on driving it as it was, if it starts, stops and steers alright it's good to go, until it stops totally.

 

If you had put a few miles under it's belt, there is always a possibility those sort of messages go away on there own. 

 

Use to call that, putting a LID on it, meaning, let it develop.

 

To stop it happening again remove the battery from the car completely.

 

Buy an OBD2 reader.

7 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

A bit late asking for advise after forking out 32k, I would have carried on driving it as it was, if it starts, stops and steers alright it's good to go, until it stops totally.  If you had put a few miles under it's belt, there is always a possibility those sort of messages go away on there own.  Use to call that, putting a LID on it, meaning, let it develop.  To stop it happening again remove the battery from the car completely.  Buy an OBD2 reader.

Thanks.  All advice / opinions appreciated for my future use.