Replacement ECU

[brendanm]

After much detective work with my car the garage is now thinking it must be the ECU. The garage had the car hooked up to a computer and then ran diagnostics on it. Apparently this involved them disconnecting various sensors as and when prompted by this computer as it ran through its program. Supposedly took a couple of hours. They did have the car hooked up to a small diagnostics unit, about the size of a small laptop with only a small lcd screen. This didn't find the fault so they borrowed a bigger one (????) from a VW garage.
They are sending the ECU away tomorrow to be looked at and if possible to be repaired. Cost of having the ECU looked at is 45 Euros.

So my questions are....

1. Can all ECU faults be repaired?
2. Can I use a secondhand ECU?
3. Would I want to use a secondhand ECU?
4. How much is a new ECU?
5. Why would the ECU fail in the firstplace?

Looking forward to your replies.

[Crasher]

It depends on what the engine is but ECU failure is extremely rare. What is the problem and year/engine?

[brendanm]

Hi Crasher, thanks for the prompt reply.
Car is a 2002 1.9 TDI, engine AWX, 135000 kms.

I originally posted about the problems I'm having with the car here....
https://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/s...ad.php?t=20306

Garage has run diagnostics but not finding faults so they thought problem must be mechanical. They have looked at timing belts and flywheel. No Joy. Then borrowed another diagnostic computer thingy from a VW garage and ran that. Still no joy so they assume it's the ECU.

I gladly welcome any suggestions.

[Crasher]

It sounds like you have a faulty turbo which is very common on the AWX.

[brendanm]

I am inclined to agree. The funny noises, oil in the turbo, etc.
But would this problem be intermittent? Sometimes the car runs almost perfectly. Will replacing the turbo solve my problem?
My concern is replacing the turbo and still having the running rough problem.
If/when I do go down the route of installing a new turbo, what else should be replaced along with it? All the hoses, egr etc.
Where can I get these parts from. i want good quality and am willing to pay for it but don't want to be ripped off.

[Crasher]

Obviously I can't see and test the car but it does sound like a faulty turbo but more checks should be made on it before this, perhaps by a different garage, especially in relation to possible jammed vanes. You should always replace the main oil feed pipe, oil and filter and all nuts, bolts and gaskets as stipulated by VAG.

[brendanm]

RESULT


I hope.
The garage didn't send the ECU off for repairs, instead the mechanic decided to have a look again. I mentioned in a previous thread that one of the lines was split and another garage had fixed it. It was after this that my problems went from bad to worse.
So this mechanic decided to look again at the lines/hoses to see if there is something there and...... two lines where on the wrong way around!!!
His explanation (remember this is in The Netherlands so conversation is going from Dutch to English) is that at some time previous a garage worked on the car, disconnected these lines and then reconnected them the wrong way around. One line is vacuum and one line is release, (????, Dutch to English). Problem wasn't so bad because one hose had a leak which got progressively worse. Once this was fixed the problem manifested itself bigtime.
After all his investigative work he has told me that the turbo is in a bit of a bad way but leave for now. Watch oil consumption and if this starts to get bad then repair/change turbo, but leave for now.
Flywheel also in a bit of a bad way but leave until car starts to run like it is only running on 3 cylinders then exchange and do clutch at same time.
He is calculating the bill as I type this so will let you know the damage soon.

[bora(ing) nick]

Glad you got sorted...

Nick

[brendanm]

I would like to thank crasher and bora(ing) for their replies and advice. They may not have given me a lot of advice on this thread as the problem has been solved but reading the advice they have given others has certainly helped me. What a great forum this is.

So I was charged 420 euros in total!!!! Seems a bit steep at first read, I know.
But.....the garage said the car had clocked up 13 hours of work. I know they took stuff off (mainly pipework) and cleaned things, (pipes and egr), checked timing belts and supposedly the flywheel. And ran their diagnostic computer on it. Then ran a bigger/better (???) diagnostic computer on it that they had to borrow.
They have told me the turbo will need repairing/replacing sometime in the near future, it is making funny scraping noises when it comes off the power. They also think the flywheel is on the way out. I asked them if I should change these now and the bloke said not to. Wait until they do give up and then change them. They could last 6 months, they could last a couple of years. I assume a mains dealer would have ripped them out and changed them and then handed me a huge bill.
So my last couple of questions for a while is.....
Where can I buy a new flywheel and clutch?
How much should a new flywheel and clutch cost?
Who is good at reconditioning turbos for a decent price?
Like I've said before, I don't mind paying for decent work, sometimes you get what you pay for and big headaches come can come cheap. Just don't want to be ripped off.
Thanks again guys.

[bora(ing) nick]

I would like to thank crasher and bora(ing) for their replies and advice. They may not have given me a lot of advice on this thread as the problem has been solved but reading the advice they have given others has certainly helped me. What a great forum this is.

As you said.... I'm not sure what i've done.... but your welcome

So my last couple of questions for a while is.....
Where can I buy a new flywheel and clutch?
How much should a new flywheel and clutch cost?
Who is good at reconditioning turbos for a decent price?
Like I've said before, I don't mind paying for decent work, sometimes you get what you pay for and big headaches come can come cheap. Just don't want to be ripped off.
Thanks again guys.

You'd be better off posting a seperate thread....

EDIT... Just done it for you. click here

Nick