CDI/ECU Problems

Maintained by mods and admins. but contains all the answers to all those questions that get asked over and over and over . .
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knackeredMk1
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CDI/ECU Problems

Post by knackeredMk1 » 31 Oct 2009, 10:18

ALL CRMs have 'CDI' units located under the seat.

Mk1s have two control units. One for the powervalve (by the exhaust, on the side of the airbox) and one 'CDI'. Generally these very rarely break but can occassionally be bought on eBay or more often Rinkya.

Mk2, 3 and ARs have one unit. Unfortunately these do develop faults from time to time. Mk2 units do come up regularly on eBay; but ARs much less frequently. There are almost always Mk2 & AR CDIs on Rinkya but it is currently very expensive to get one to the UK, mainly due to exchange rates. It goes almost without saying that a new CDI, though currently available from Honda, are very expensive. Mk1 and Mk2 are no longer available from Honda.

Mk3 CDIs seem to be less prone to failure but are more rarely available second hand.


There are Mugen versions of Mk3 and AR CDIs but they are generally even more expensive. One new AR Mugen unit was sold for the equivalent of £750 on Rinkya last year. They are, in my opinion :roll: , not worth investing in for a small increase in power over standard - more pose value ;) . A little more over rev and a little more midrange. See graph -

(2nd gear - 6th) - Image


It does happen that owners mistake other faults for CDI failures. Amongst these are:

Regulator/Rectifier faults - Poor, or intermittent supply of electricity makes faults appear as though CDI. BUT if you have got a CDI fault then it is often the Reg/Rec that has caused it. You do need to check this before you replace your CDI.

Sticking powervalve or non-operative powervalve servo.

General wiring faults/shorts.

Lack of consistent electricity from generator.

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Re: CDI/ECU Problems

Post by knackeredMk1 » 08 Jul 2010, 17:53

Serial numbers of ECUs to the best of my knowledge:

Mk1: ECU - KAE C1575, Powervalve control unit - KAE TV-79.
Mk2: ECU - CI604.
Mk3: ECU - CI659. Mugen ECU - CI659A.
AR: ECU - CI690. Mugen ECU - CI6904 OR CI690A.

New ECU & part numbers:

Mk1 ECU and PV controller : 30410kae000 (ECU) and 31810kae000 (PV controller). Out of stock for several years.
Mk2 ECU : First release was 30410kae870 superseded by 30410kae871. Now no stock at Honda but could be available if found for £475 :? .
Mk3 ECU : First release was 30410kae740 superseded by 30410kae741 - £462 inc VAT
AR ECU : First release was 30410kae770 now on fourth evolution 30410kae773 - £462 inc VAT

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CDI ECU Repairs

Post by knackeredMk1 » 27 Oct 2010, 13:44

A number of repairers of CDI/ECUs have been found. Both have done repairs . Some things can be fixed, others cannot at the moment. -

Not many have used this one - http://www.carmo.nl/ OR http://translate.google.co.uk/translate ... md%3Dimvns (Carmo)

Very good reports about this one - http://2tracelab.blogspot.com/ OR http://tsrl.bigcartel.com/ (2TRacelab) OR sometimes on eBay.


Mian listed this solution to a blown AR ECU/PGM -

Honda CRM250AR Power Valve PGM/CDI/ECU fix
http://student-spb.livejournal.com/1836.html
Text in Russian. But http://translate.google.com/ can be used to translate text

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Mk2/3 ECU Exchangeability

Post by knackeredMk1 » 27 Mar 2014, 20:45

I haven't tried this but others have found it to work.

Mk3 and Mk2 ECUs are exchangeable as long as you swap the generator rotor/flywheel to match the ECU. So if you use a Mk3 ECU on a Mk2 bike you need to swap the rotor to a Mk3. The reason is the ignition timing.

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Re: CDI/ECU Problems

Post by knackeredMk1 » 23 Jul 2014, 10:05

Some new Chinese aftermarket ECUs have come up recently. Good price compared to Honda:

Mk2 - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 71275.html

AR - http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 13367.html

Currently ~ £215 delivered + customs charges (July 2014)


Edit 2020 - Lixianda now do replacement CDIs for all Mks. They are available on Ebay and Aliexpress.


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