# CPU vs ECU **URL:** \ **Category:** SON240sx Automotive\ **Created:** [August 8, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788 "2005-08-08T13:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/1 "2005-08-08T13:43:32Z")
Is it OK for a mechanic to call the ECU a “CPU”? So the convo went something like this: > Me: So what did the mechanic say? > Buddy: Says it needs a new starter and the CPU might be going bad. > Me: Don’t you mean the ECU? :hsugh: > Buddy: Well the mechanic said CPU. > Me: Ok, CPU for what then? > Buddy: You know the main computer > Me: No one calls it a CPU; everyone usually calls it an ECU > Buddy: Well that’s what my mechanic said. > Me: Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, doesn’t always mean it’s a duck. > Buddy: :squint: Bored at work :wavey: ---
**Author:** ![syd\_mysta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/syd_mysta/32/5488_2.png) [@syd\_mysta](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/syd_mysta)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/2 "2005-08-08T13:58:25Z")
Yes Gautam. This is the worst thread ever. ECU ECM and CPU all mean the same thing. Is there any others I don’t know about? See you at your house thursday. lol. ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/3 "2005-08-08T14:09:15Z")
> [@syd\_mysta](#): > > Yes Gautam. This is the worst thread ever. ECU ECM and CPU all mean the same thing. Is there any others I don’t know about? > > See you at your house thursday. lol. The hell you doing coming over on Thursday for? :noes: ---
**Author:** ![syd\_mysta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/syd_mysta/32/5488_2.png) [@syd\_mysta](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/syd_mysta)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/4 "2005-08-08T14:17:47Z")
> [@Gonad](#): > > [quote=syd\_mysta]Yes Gautam. This is the worst thread ever. ECU ECM and CPU all mean the same thing. Is there any others I don’t know about? > > See you at your house thursday. lol. The hell you doing coming over on Thursday for? :noes:[/quote] [http://www.son240sx.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14695&start=15](http://www.son240sx.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14695&start=15) ---
**Author:** ![beng2k](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/beng2k/32/5494_2.png) [@beng2k](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/beng2k)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 6:21pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/5 "2005-08-08T18:21:08Z")
Completely OT: wow whats with all the bing avatars?!?! LOL ---
**Author:** ![jjm\_240sx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b77776/32.png) [@jjm\_240sx](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jjm_240sx)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 6:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/6 "2005-08-08T18:52:40Z")
Ok i work at a shop and most of the guys call them ECM’s I call them ECU’s. ---
**Author:** ![DTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@DTS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/DTS)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/7 "2005-08-08T20:14:10Z")
bing overload ---
**Author:** ![Racer\_XTREME](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@Racer\_XTREME](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Racer_XTREME)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 5:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/8 "2005-08-09T05:42:55Z")
> [@Gonad](#): > > Is it OK for a mechanic to call the ECU a “CPU”? > > So the convo went something like this: > > > Me: So what did the mechanic say? > > Buddy: Says it needs a new starter and the CPU might be going bad. > > Me: Don’t you mean the ECU? :hsugh: > > Buddy: Well the mechanic said CPU. > > Me: Ok, CPU for what then? > > Buddy: You know the main computer > > Me: No one calls it a CPU; everyone usually calls it an ECU > > Buddy: Well that’s what my mechanic said. > > Me: Looks like a duck, walks like a duck, talks like a duck, doesn’t always mean it’s a duck. > > Buddy: :squint: > > Bored at work :wavey: This thread is dumb. If a mechanic tells you your CPU is bad, what do you think he is talking about? your tires? … lol i can’t believe you said that about the duck. :roll: ---
**Author:** ![Gonad](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gonad/32/5481_2.png) [@Gonad](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gonad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2005, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cpu-vs-ecu/87788/9 "2005-08-09T08:02:44Z")
I wasn’t saying the mechanic was fully wrong, just that his use of terminology isn’t common with most mechanics. :dunno: Either ways, not like the general public is going to understand what a CPU/ECU/ECM is. :o