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General => The garage => Topic started by: firstgolfgti on 30 August 2007, 14:25

Title: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 30 August 2007, 14:25
My car has been at the garage again. Problems with timing and after much testing it would appear that the ECU is faulty. Naturally a brand new one from the local stealers is brace yourself £680+vat what a bargin.......  :sick:

So I've contacted a few local places that deal in secondhand ECU's or Re-conditioned/Fixed ones has anybody else had any experience with this.

BBA-reman who are local to me are quoting £240+vat for re-conditioned unit comes with 2yr-warranty or from secondhand place £195+vat 3-month warranty anybody else like to pass comment.
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 30 August 2007, 14:55
I don't like second hand parts, door cards etc.. are ok but something that can break is just as likely to be broken or worn if your taking it off another car of the same age :nerd:

Based on the prices I'd go with the re-con, whats the warrantly on a new VAG one anyway? 12 months?
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 30 August 2007, 15:28
Yeah 12months i'm tempted with the re-con with a 2yr warranty.

The next question as i've taken it to the local specialist do I get them to take out the ECU or should I do it and where on a Mk3 is it?
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: Mew on 30 August 2007, 15:31
Just get a second hand one for 30 quid. That's what i'd do anyway........
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 30 August 2007, 15:57
They want £195+ VAT for secondhand  :shocked: (must be the same bloke selling 16v badges  :laugh:)
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 30 August 2007, 16:11
yeah must be  :grin:
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: Mr Blue on 30 August 2007, 16:58
ECU for what car? :smiley:

you can find them at scrappies for like £20. I would rather buy them @ £20 than fork out more than £100 for one with a warranty tbh  :rolleyes:


i doubt your ecu is faulty and i wouldnt fork out that much
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 31 August 2007, 08:40
2.0 8v. I've searched thru yell pages and internet can't find any secondhand to match what i've got the other option that I think i'll try is BBA-reman get them to test it for £35+vat that way i'll know if its at fault or not.

Ok it's £35+ the dreaded but its a step in the right direction.
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: Gambit on 31 August 2007, 09:53
if you have the ECU part number then do a search on ebay for "breaking golf" there are tonnes of people breaking golfs on it. just email them your part number & details - ask for a price inc p&p
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 31 August 2007, 10:16
I've changed my mind i'm going for a 2nd hand one instead  :smiley:
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: rubjonny on 07 September 2007, 13:55
if the car runs I very much doubt its a faulty ECU, they either work or they dont!  Timing issues is probably more down to them not knowing how to set it properly on a digifant car, either that or a faulty crank sensor (assuming your car has one)
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 11 September 2007, 16:27
I've replaced the crank sensor back in march this year.

The dizzy was replaced as well is it possible that the wrong one type of dizzy was put on, i.e mine is an ADY engine if one had been put on that was for arguments sake an AGG engine could this upset the timing or is it more the case that one dizzy does the whole range of 2.0 8v engines no matter what the engine code?

The new one is a Bosch 0 986 237 646 Exchange if that helps, i've googled it but nothing with that code comes up.
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: rubjonny on 11 September 2007, 23:33
the early 2e dizzy certainly wont work with the later crank sensor engines, but it wouldn't run at all if you put the wrong one in.  Sounds to me like they didnt time it up properly!
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 17 September 2007, 12:26
I'm taking it to Youngs in Wrotham spent 15mins on phone talking to them about he thinks that the belts i.e. Cam and aux haven't been set up properly hes gonna look at the dizzy as well.

Finally I think i'm getting somewhere.
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 18 September 2007, 16:09
Right off to pick car up tommorrow afternoon. Won't get to excited until i've got it home without any incidents!

Apparantly the timing belt was set up correctly as was the dizzy, but the three wires that come off the hall sensor one of them the pulse wire that goes to the ECU had been jointed with solder not very well (dry joint) and no insulation had been applied resulting with moisture getting in causing damage to the copper inners, therefore making it intermittent.

BUT I still won't believe it until i've got it home without incidents then cover another couple of hundred miles :smiley:
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: boneybradley on 18 September 2007, 17:47
sounds like good news to me tho??
keep us updated and see if it's finally cured
Title: Re: ECU - Secondhand Vs. Re-conditioned?
Post by: firstgolfgti on 19 September 2007, 19:46
Well i've driven it back with no probs yet early days though.

I'll try and get a picture of the faulty joint.