Where is my Ignition Control Unit?

[Lestere]

Hi I have a Audi 80 2.0E 1989, with a 3A motor, possibly japanese assembiled.

It stopped and will not start. I have been told that is probably is the ICU, but I can not find it.

I have looked in the compartments on both the left and right side foot wells, but nothing there. Although you can see where it should be on the RHS, the pressing and the screw holes, but they were obviously never used.

Can anyone suggest were else to look?

[scotty33]

The ECU should be fitted up behind the glovebox on the back of the firewall. If the bracket you found is to the side of the footwell, it is for the tci switch unit which your car probably does not use? (It was on earlier K jetronic models). Yours is Bosch KE motronic but uses a Hitachi coil.
Your ECU has fault code facilities, the diagnostic connectors are 2 x 2pin in the under dash area above the accelerator pedal. You may need to remove the dash panel to fish them out? I don't know if it is possible to blink out fault codes this way:
http://20v.org/fault.htm
but it would not cost much to rig a testlight up? (it does not have to be a l.e.d, a low wattage lamp would work just as well, and does not need a resistor added)

[Lestere]

Thanks Scotty33, I will have a look there and report back to the forum

Regards

[Lestere]

Hi Scotty33,

I still cannot find the ICU.

Removed the Clove Box the only thing I can see behind it is a very large heater unit.

I hope it is not behind the heater, it looks very difficult to remove.

What do you think?

[neil w]

Before you do that check the coil pack, I believe they use the same one as golfs of the same era which are prone to regularly failing with no advance warning. I've had two golfs and a seat do it in a four year period.

[scotty33]

All I can say, is that on UK (right hand drive) cars, the ECU is up there in front of the glovebox. The blower motor is also there, but this is a little to the side, the ECU is in front of the air duct that runs toward the centre of the dash area.
I would not worry too much about locating the ECU unless you have a spare one you intend to try? The ECU is generally quite reliable, it is likely to be another component or sensor that is the problem. I would concentrate on finding the diagnostic connectors and either try to blink out codes with a test light or get a code reader that is compatible with the 3A.
The coil is a possibility, but it is not the same part as the mk3 golf.

[Lestere]

Thanks for your input guys.
I live in NZ, my car is RHD and was imported from Japan.
I do have a replacement ICU to swap in if I can find where it is, I will keep looking. your last email may help when I get a chance to have another look.
I have checked the readings from the Coil it looks okay.
I will also try to locate and measure the diagnostic connectors

thanks again, I appreciate your input

[eddiemax28]

i got the 80 1.9tdi and my ECU is in the boot wiv the firstaid box on the left hand side in the cubby hole try there. try under the back seats lyk.

thanx chris

[kenney]

Hi Have never replaced an ECU on these engines.Lestere you dont mention if you have or have not a spark at the plugs.There are two things i would concentrate on,the one has been mentioned the coil and the other is the distributor hall sender

[scotty33]

It stopped and will not start. I have been told that is probably is the ICU, but I can not find it.

Can you give us a bit more info, did it cut out, what have you tested?

My Haynes manual says that the motronic system in the 3A does blink out fault codes so the method in the 20v link should work. The difference is that the 20v stores its fault codes permanently, the motronic does not store all of its fault codes permanently, some are erased when you turn the ignition off.
So you must operate the starter for 6 seconds then leave the ignition switched on - then start the fault code read.