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Author Topic: Help! New ECU needed??  (Read 8520 times)

Offline DJGTi

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Help! New ECU needed??
« on: 22 January 2010, 14:53 »
Can anyone assist a damsel in distress?

My engine management light and EPS light came on yesterday. Car is a '06 GTI.

Took it to my local specialist, who couldn't work out what the fault code was and said it needed to go to the dealer.

Dealer says it came up ' P0601 Internal Contr Module Memory - Check Sum Error - Static'

Says a new ECU needed @£800.

Do I have any alternative to paying up?

Posted in Mk4 maintenance section also as I'm not sure which gets the most traffic.

TIA
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Offline Komenda

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #1 on: 22 January 2010, 15:01 »

Check for cars being broke on the bay or local scrappies. Usually loads about.
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Offline FamilyDub

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #2 on: 22 January 2010, 16:04 »

Get a second opinion - independant specialist, perhaps?  :undecided:
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MKV GTI | Reflex Silver | 5-dr | Anthracite 17" | Manual | Highline MFD | Cruise | Revision 'D' DV | Dirty Pipes |

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Offline PDT

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #3 on: 22 January 2010, 18:46 »
Checksum errors are commonly seen in the tuning industry on remapped ECU's. Take the car to a specialist remapping company (one that actaully writes ECU maps, not buys them off the net) and aske them to check it.

I recently recovered an ECU with the same fault code on a 2005 GTI and it was caused by poor quality mapping, checksum wasnt calculated in the tuned file, suprisingly the car started and ran but had lots of canbus errors. May neeed to be done on the Bench by BDM, and these ECU's arent fun to remove or re-fit!

post up the symptoms you are having as well as any other info the dealer will give you, I will see if I can help.
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Offline DJGTi

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #4 on: 22 January 2010, 18:54 »
Thanks for replies so far.

Spoken to R-Tech, but they couldn't give any more without doing their own diagnostics.

Both specialists and the dealer asked if the car had been remapped and as far as I know it hasn't (but was bought when 2 years old, so can't be 100% certain).

There are no symptoms other than the warning lights. The car seems to drive fine. When the lights are reset, they come back on after 2 engine starts.

Tried looking for a used ECU, but it seems they are like rocking horse poo.

 P.S. What do you mean by BDM? The dealer quoted 0.7 hours to replace the ECU, so can't be that hard?
« Last Edit: 22 January 2010, 18:57 by DJGTi »
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Offline PDT

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #5 on: 22 January 2010, 21:05 »
BDM (Background Debug Mode) is a tool that you use on the 'bench' to read and write info to and from the processors/eproms (chips) inside the ECU. These usually cant be accesses via the diagnostics port.

It will be easy to see if it had been mapped, just need someone to read the current flash file and and to an experienced software tuner a modified map will be simple to spot. Also, reading the file out and comparing the checksum with an original file with matching hardware and software numbers will show up any checksum inconsistencies.

I am a software tuner (ECU mapper) and I see this fault on poorly tuned vehicles rather often. I am confident that an ECU replacement isnt required.  Shame you are a long drive from us.

Hope you get it sorted, try ringing a few local specialist remapping companies, ask if they can help.
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Offline PDT

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #6 on: 22 January 2010, 21:22 »
I have just looked through my logs of ECU repairs with this fault code, ON EVERY TFSi engine that I have seen this code, it has been a mapped ECU.

The dealers can erase this code, and then reflash the ECU with the latest software version, it may not work, however according to the info I have here this may not always delete the fault code permanently.

If all else fails and you fancy a drive to sunny Newcastle, I am confident that this issue can be solved via software work and not a new ECU. PM me if you need any impartial advice.
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Offline topher

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #7 on: 22 January 2010, 21:31 »
I'm familiar with this problem, there was a vw bulletin about it in 2007 but your dealer probably doesn't know/forgot about it.

I think you spoke to Ben on the phone earlier, it was me that offered to take a look at it tomorrow :laugh: (small world!)
If it's just a re-flash required it should be possible without removing the ECU... they're a pain in the rear to get out as there is a shear bolted security cage on them.
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Offline PDT

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #8 on: 22 January 2010, 21:51 »
those shear bolted cages ae fun......
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Offline DJGTi

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Re: Help! New ECU needed??
« Reply #9 on: 23 January 2010, 11:27 »
OK. Looking a bit more promising. :smiley:

Should I take the car back to the dealer and ask for them to reload the latest software or take it to a mapper and get fresh map. Believe it or not, I'd prefer to keep the car standard.

Failing that a trip to Newcastle is not out of the question. It'll be worth a tank of fuel if I could potentially save £100s.

Topher, you are nearer. Do you think you could help? Unfortunately, I can't make it today, but will be in touch if necessary.

Thanks again.
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