164 check engine light, code 1251

[Ray <RayClemo@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

When I went in for smog a couple of weeks ago, the mechanic noticed that 
there was no check engine light.  I don't remember ever seeing a check 
engine light since I bought the car about two years ago.  So I went to the 
Alfa mechanic yesterday.  Guess what - the bulb was missing.  So he 
replaced the bulb, and as you might suspect, the check engine light stayed 
on.  Anyway, the error code is 1251: replace ECU.  Has anyone else gotten a 
1251?  What would cause this?  The car runs fine. (Searching the digest 
archives, there was one case where this was fixed with contact enhancer.)

Seems like the dealer shouldn't have passed smog on the car when I bought 
it.  Any prospect of recovering some of the expenses?

Ray Clemo
164Q
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