Device for protecting a motor vehicle control unit before replacing

A device is disclosed for protecting a motor vehicle controller (10) against illicit exchange. The core of the invention is a function-inhibiting device (11, 12, 13, 27) associated with a connection between the controller (10) and the connecting element (20) of an electric supply line (21). The function-inhibiting device (11, 12, 13, 27) places the controller (10) and the connecting element (20) in a predetermined connecting position. This connecting position may only be interrupted in a non-destructive manner by supplying an unlocking code to the controller (10). When an attempt is made to interrupt the connection by force, the function-inhibiting device (11, 12, 13, 27) causes an irreversible interruption of the corresponding connection.