For troubleshooting I have acquired a MFU and the matching ECU.
Considering how hard it is to get to the back of that fuse box...

I have seen quick comments that these ECU's will allow 2 starts in a unmatched vehicle b4 they will require testbook matching.

1) Is this true?
2) does that mean 2 starts for the life of the ecu? as in must be matched to it's original vehicle and MFU b4 it can ever be used as a test unit again?
3) the ECU in my troubled D1 has numbers that do not match many ECU's I have seen in pic's and the other 2 spares I have. Also shows to be a refab (painted). Does anyone have a definitive source for ECU information? Like vin applications, dates of manufacture etc?

Thanks all y'all

 

MFU - Multifunction Unit or alarm? The multifunction unit is the fuel pump/ignition relay, it doesn't require pairing. The alarm (AS10) and ECU does in many cases. I can't comment on the two starts before dead, they worked or didn't work right out of the box for me. A friend of mine had successfully swapped ECU's without needing pairing, he had an AEL 97 produced from mid 97 onward. I had an early 97 without AEL. That seems to be one of the factors, having a later 97 but as it's a Rover I wouldn't say that's an absolute.... Paul Grant would be the hands on guy, send him a PM.