There are a lot of things that can cause a rattle in the front end of a car on a rough road. Fundamentally, there’s something that’s loose and that’s causing the rattle as the suspension moves up and down on the uneven road. When you touch the brakes, everything compresses and tenses up either under the strain of slowing the car or because more weight has been thrown on to the front suspension. At that point, whatever is loose tightens up and the rattle goes away.

Start with the basics. That means bushes, ball-joints, springs, dampers, wheel bearings and the brakes. A mechanic will be able to do a quick inspection and locate what’s loose and what needs replacing. But don’t ignore it, as anything loose in the front end of a car is a serious safety issue. It could be something as simple as a loose brake backing plate, but even a worn bush or ball-joint is not difficult or expensive to replace.

The description `plug and play’ is used to describe a replacement ECU which is designed to simply plug into the car and immediately offer full functionality without requiring additional coding or set-up. That’s why they include things such as ignition keys and sensors; it’s to avoid having to code your existing components to the new ECU. You simply replace the lot and – hopefully – turn the key and enjoy.

So, yes, it’s possible, but you need to make sure you’re getting every component necessary for the swap and that the unit is correct for your car in every detail. The are detail differences between the ECU for a car with an automatic transmission and the same car with a manual, for instance. And always buy from a known source so you can get tech support if it doesn’t all go exactly to plan. Buying from an online clearing house is unlikely to provide the same level of after-sales service.

I wouldn't consider any of the European brands, they're too expensive and cost too much to run. That rules out the Up. Asian brands, particularly the better-known and well-respected Japanese brands are a much better bet, which rules in the Echo. The Asian brands tend to be more reliable and cost much less to run. Another to look at in your situation is the Suzuki Alto.