Can the car still run if the engine motherboard is broken?
3 Answers
Whether the car can still run with a broken engine motherboard depends on the situation. For ordinary mid-to-low-end cars, once the motherboard is damaged, the vehicle cannot start, let alone be driven; if there are multiple motherboards, the car can continue to be driven. The reasons for the damage to the car's computer board are as follows: The car has been submerged in water: If the vehicle has been submerged in water, the computer board may corrode, causing short circuits, adhesion of component pins, or damage to the components. Burned-out components: During vehicle charging, if the charger voltage is adjusted too high, the positive and negative polarities are reversed, the starter motor or engine is running with loose battery connections, causing the generator to directly supply power to the computer board, etc., it may lead to the burning out of high-power voltage regulator diodes and other components.
As a seasoned car enthusiast who has dealt with numerous ECU failures over the years, I can tell you that ECU (commonly known as the engine control unit) is essentially the brain of your vehicle. When this computer board malfunctions, your car's ignition system basically becomes useless. Even if you occasionally manage to start the engine, the dashboard will flash warning lights erratically, the engine RPM will become unstable, and it may stall at any moment - driving with such condition poses serious risk of losing control. I remember one stubborn car owner who insisted on driving, only to get stranded at a highway exit, nearly causing an accident. My advice is to turn off the engine immediately, don't attempt to restart it, and first check for loose or corroded battery terminals. Also inspect the fuse box to see if the ECU-related fuses are blown. Most ECU failures are caused by water intrusion, voltage fluctuations, or aging circuits. Proper diagnosis requires professional diagnostic equipment - towing it to a repair shop is the safest option. While replacement or repair might cost a couple thousand, it's worth it. The key to prevention is avoiding water accumulation in the engine bay and frequent electrical modifications.
Last month when my car's ECU malfunctioned, I didn't take it seriously at first. After ignition, the dashboard warnings were flashing frantically, and when I pressed the accelerator, the car felt like a sick cat—completely lacking power. I barely managed to drive to a traffic light before it stalled completely. I quickly parked and searched forums for help, where everyone advised not to ignore the issue and keep driving, as it could completely burn out components or leave me stranded in the middle of nowhere. I immediately contacted a repair shop, and they sent a tow truck to haul it away. After diagnosis, they replaced the ECU module to fix the problem. It cost over 4,000 yuan, but looking back, forcing the car to run could have destroyed the engine or even caused an accident injuring someone. It was better to swallow my pride and pay for the tow, saving both money and safety. Now during regular maintenance, I always have the mechanic check the wiring connections to ensure they aren’t affected by rainwater and damaging the ECU.
