ABS light comes on every so often - HELP!

[blocko]

I have a 1998 Passat 1.8T 20v SPORT estate

During the last 2 weeks the ABS light, and the (!) have been coming on intermitentally.

I took it to my local VAG specialist who plugged it into the diagnostic machine.
It recognised one fault- ABS control unit No signal (error code 01203)

He says Im going to have to have a whole new ABS control unit at a cost of just over £925 fitted :aargh4:

I have taken the car away to do some research. The part number I need is apparantly 8E0 614 111 B , but he says the new VW modified part number is 8EO 614 111 F :confused: He did say that either is fine for my car.

Can anybody suggest what I should do...... buy a 2nd hand item from a breakers or get my current one repaired. ....... or could it simply be a loose/ correded wire or connection somewhere????

Also..... is it true I can just change the electronic black boxes over off of the ABS unit as the garage want to do the whole lot including bleeding brakes etc?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY HELP :beerchug:

[Sam]

There is a thread on how to fix this if you're handy with a soldering iron and presuming you have the same problem.

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155771

This is obviously all at your own risk ;)

[blocko]

Cheers for that. Sounds like I can change the electronic part myself then. Where does it say about needing a soldering iron? From what I read it is a simple swap over?

[Sam]

Sorry, that was the thread for swapping :o

Repairing is here - http://passat-b5.ru/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=296&Itemid=57

Links to a Russian Passat site but the text is in English.

[blocko]

Wow... is that it! Ive seen better electrical connections on kids toys !!!

May have a go at this. I assume this is all that the re-furb/ repair companies do?

[Sam]

I believe so, yup.

If all you have to lose is an already broken module it can't be bad. I'd price up a refurb first though, just in case....