ECU Fault - Repair / Replace ?

[Traction]

Hi,

I've had startup issues on my Leon for some time.
Got so bad that I had to bring it to the garage.

Issue has been diagnosed as an ECU fault.

Brand new the ECU is around £1200.

Not sure how much one in a breakers would be.
Particular model also seems hard to find.

Does anybody have any opinions/reccommendations on ECU repairs?
If I get one from a breakers I'd be worried that the same issue could appear on another one.
I figure that if the particular fault is repaired on the ECU then that same fault is less likely to re-appear.

I've seen places that repair an ECU if you send it to them.

Others will send you a refurbed ECU and then you send them your own one.


http://www.ecutesting.com/catalogue/product/volkswagen_golf_ecu_engine_management_eem012221.html

http://www.ecutechnologies.co.uk/ecus/207_EDC_16U1.php

 

[Paulki]

It might be worth checking your battery as ECU's can be affected by low voltage. I had the engine management light and EPC light come on on my car and could not clear them. The initial diagnosis was that the ECU was failing, but after finding some info on the Ross-Tech (VagCom) website, I checked my (factory original) battery and found the the static voltage was 12.4v, a healthy battery should be over 12.6v. The car showed no symptoms of battery problems, it always started first turn of the key and ran perfectly!

I bought a new battery and had the ECU reflashed at AMD as the ECU software had been corrupted due to the low voltage and it's been fine ever since.
.

 

[Traction]

As far as I know the garage have tried lots of different things and the ECU was their answer.

Is an ECU repair just a reflashing or do they change physical components?

 

[TllEWL]

Depends on the fault usually, but as the first of those links points out; the ECU is programmed to everything in the car, so abandon all ideas of getting one from a scrappers - by the time you've had it wiped / re-programmed to your car (if that's even possible??) you might as well have had your existing ECU repaired.

 

[Traction]

anybody heard if any of those places are good?

 

[Paulki]

Do you have any of the fault codes logged on the ECU? If you can get the fault codes you can ask the question in the Vag-Com and Diagnostics forum: http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=104 for the best solution.

Garages will usually go for the easiest and most profitable repair solution, so their simple solution to an ECU problem is to replace it, which is what would have happened with mine if the garage had their way.

 

[Traction]

Thanks, i'll put a post in that section

 

[Traction]

sorry to dig this up again.

2 years ago I got the ecu repaired.
Now I have a start up problem again and it looks like the ecu needs to be repaired again.

Just wondering what opinions people might have.

Is an ECU problem this common?
If the ECU has a problem again after 2 years, could there be something else in the car which is causing the ECU to develop a fault?

 

[GrahamFR]

did the new ecu only come with a 12 month warranty? ECU problems arent that common, suggest you find another solution instead of waxing another grand or get it rid of it. Have you tried speaking to a decent tuner?

 

[Traction]

did the new ecu only come with a 12 month warranty? ECU problems arent that common, suggest you find another solution instead of waxing another grand or get it rid of it. Have you tried speaking to a decent tuner?

I actually don't know how much warranty the ecu came with, thats my fault.
Fault repaired for dealer by a third party.

Didn't try a tuner but sounds like a good idea.

 

[GrahamFR]

ring the dealer and complain, what you got to lose!