Toyota ECU/Computer Box Price Discounts?

Almost two months after Typhoon Ondoy struck and here I am still waiting for my Toyota Vios 1.5G to be resurrected due to a damaged Engine Control Unit (ECU), popularly called computer box

Two of my officemates' cars, both new, were also submerged, the first is a Nissan Sentra (two weeks old) and the second's a Mitsubishi Lancer (2 months old). Both ECUs were repaired already and cars running fine...

My Toyota's ECU cannot be repaired with a damaged chip (a Fujitsu 10 21194-1230 chip) and ECU part number 89661-0D250 with engine number 1NZ-FE (1.5L A/T) notorious with car shops saying the computer box was disposable and cannot be repaired.

At my first inquiry with Toyota about 2 weeks after Ondoy, the ECU was priced at P36k. But since I was hoping my ECU can be repaired, I tarried and waited for it to be repaired only to tbe told that it can't bre rescued.

I again inquired from all nearby Toyota casa promo and heard of 40% discount valid until April 2010 but learned that the ECU now cost more than P50k and with the 40% discount is now about P31k...

Did they really apply the mark-up then offered the discount to make it more appealing? :(

Later I learned that a surplus 1NZ-FE engine from Japan costs only P30k from a friend of mine who imports whole engines. Those engines come with ECU too. I only imagined if I had known earlier, I could've bought a surplus engine, installed the ECU in my car then sold the surplus engine chop-chop or whole.

The only reservation I have with surplus ECUs is that my engine can really start but some features of my car won't be activated since some sensors/ accesories may not be present in the original car.

Facebook Password Reset Confirmation Phishing Email

I received an email in my corporate email account informing me about a password reset of my Facebook account...what Facebook account? I don't have one

the email has subject lie: "Facebook Password Reset Confirmation" sent from IP address 202.64.92.44 (yeah, email addresses can be easily spoofed but not the source IP address but may be a compromise home PC)



Phishing email has body message:

"Hey xxxx ,

Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed.
You can find your new password in attached document.

Thanks,
The Facebook Team"

the file attachement is a zip file with filename "Facebook_Password_4cf91.zip"

I didn't bother to have file scan with my online anti-virus, keyloggers and malware scanning tools. Running malware analysis might be interesting but sadly, I don't have the time for it.

Just beware of facebook phishing and don't even think of executing the attachment unless you know what you're doing.

GSIS/SSS Calamity Loans Applications

I remember my college life when i usually asked by my mother, a public school teacher, to go to GSIS to apply/follow-up on her loan applications whether salary loan, policy loan, or whatever loan she can get her hands on just to tide us over

GSIS then was at the old GSIS building in front of SM City Manila behind Manila City Hall then it transferred to the new GSIS building at the reclamation area in Pasay City.

those were the days. Back then I knew by heart where to file, and whom to ask even the requirements for loan processing. Now i don't remember the details, i only remember it recently the GSIS vs IBM database issue that's painful not for both of them but for the millions of GSIS pensioners and loan applicants trapped in the middle of the "war"

Typhoon Ondoy again brought back surge for GSIS calamity loans. No idea about SSS calamity loans for i've yet to apply for one.

Computer Box Repair ECU Flooded Cars/Vehicles Don't Come Cheap!

I hate to admit it but I'm one of the probably hundreds of car owners with flood submerged vehicles by typhoon Ondoy.

Since I know my car no longer has warranty and no insurance coverage against "acts of god" that include protection against flood damage.

My two mechanics from Andok's maintenance pointed out that my car's Engine Control Unit (ECU) popularly known as Computer Box and the Whetron Car Alarm and keyless entry system's damaged and need to be repaired/replaced. Note that there's another computer brain found in my Toyota Vios 1.5G and that's the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) computer that may have also been damaged. I already got the boxes withh me cleaned (using contact cleaner i bought from Handyman), and dried using a hair blower/dryer but the same problem that my car engine won't start (after replacing all oils, ATF, gas and coolant).

I'm looking for people and shops who can guarantee, as second opinion, that my ECU and ABS systems are really damaged. Testing, engine scanning and ECU replacement services, at a price cheaper than Toyota Casa. I prefer shops on Banaue (quezon city, araneta avenue, San Juan, and Mandaluyong. An officemate also pointed me to Evangelista St in Bangkal, Makati.

I may have to shell out too much money on this one but I have no choice. heard the ECUs of Honda are more expensive. Don't know about Nissan and Mitsubishi ECUs, new cars of my two peers also submerged plus a Toyota Altis of a director here.

Charge it to experience!