Ecu recommendations

[highlander]

Ok, when marci was last in garage getting gearbox fitted the garage owner thought resoldering the ecu would fix a hot start issue ( an issue I never seen before she went in bytheby) and since then, she has both deteriorated and lite up like a Christmas tree. I was thinking a starting point might be getting someone who knows what they are doing refurbish the solder on the ecu? Any recommendations?

 

[midlifecrisis]

This is a very specialist job, not one in the automotive world but electronics.

What makes you think that resoldering the ecu would cure a hot start issue? If the ecu has a fault it would probably be more cost effective to replace.

Modern PCBs are multilayered and many components are surface mount, a skilled engineer could resolder many discreet components on a board but would have to be very brave to tackle surface mount. Phone repairers use specialist machines to accurately desolder and resolder new surface mounted chips.

However it might be best to get the board inspected for any dry joint and go from there.

 

[highlander]

Hi Martin
Sorry, have not made myself clear, I'm not trying to fix a hot start issue, she never had a hot start issue as far as I'm aware......just trying to get the girl back to a start point before the ecu was, IMO poorly, tampered with most likely causing all the warning lights to light up and her to shut down.

 

[midlifecrisis]

Eeek, that sounds terminal Greg. If someone has opened it up and not observed ESSD handling techniques they may have blown a chip with a static discharge.
You may be able to find a specialist ECU diagnosis firm, who could put the ecu on a test rig and find the fault or reflash the EEPROM but it could be dead.

Sorry.

 

[MRichards]

That does indeed seem terminal. If you suspect that the ecu has been opened,you need a specialist ecu repairer to inspect it. FYI,a reflow (resolder) of a laptop computer by a specialist costs me GBP100,to fix dry joints.
Best of British luck with this one.

 

[jluis]

Sorry to hear that.
20 years ago I repaired cell phones for a living and replaced a lot of surface mounted chips.
If you have the ecu out and open, you can post some pictures of the PCB and I can give you my opinion on the work dobe

 

[davy83]

Hi Greg, what exactly did they do to your ECU? WAS it removed from the car and opened? did they mess around with the PCB inside the unit? Or was it the wiring they were messing around with? I have a horrible feeling you will need another ECU to get out of this, but I do work in electronics for a living and may be be able to help either my self of get some one specialised to have a look at it for you? I was up near you couple of weeks back i could have had a look then????

 

[allandwf]

Maybe have a word with Stuart, (SopranoStu,) see if you can borrow one to see if it helps? What other functions other than the engine does the ECU control, hopefully not many as I suspect there will be other control units for other things.

 

[highlander]

Hi Davy, if coming up again please drop me a line and I will take you up on your offer as a start point for me.
Full story is I had an intermittent no ASR message before the gearbox went but after gearbox replaced and, from what I was told, he thought the solders were loosening in the ecu when warmed causing a hot start issue so he re soldered them (I never had a hot start issue before she. Went in for gearbox)........unfortunately since then ( and only 25 miles from garage the first time) almost every warning light comes on with key turn and if (big if) she starts, within 30 secs slow down comes on and she cuts out......has not moved since sept
Personally I think we are dealing with several issues not necessarily connected. Firstly an ASR issue which was present before she went in for gearbox replacement, secondly something done when changing gearbox caused the fan to stay on, causing hot start issue and lastly probably a bodged solder job on ecu doing God knows what damage.
I have stayed quiet on this up till now but am now getting more seething mad the more I think on it having handed over nearly 8k last year for just over a thou miles, not gave permission to open ecu and a car that now cannot even start.
@allan. Have tried SS, but he does not have one for an auto, only the manual.

 

[allandwf]

Hot start and fan staying on MAY point to a MAF issue. It is plugged in? If I can help in any way just ask. A part of me is quite glad I have went old school! lol

 

[davy83]

I am not sure when i will be back in your neck of the woods but I will certainly give you a shout. I will ask around some friends of mine and see if any of them have specialists in recovery of circuits. I think a detailed inspection of the soldering (ands the PCB in general) in good bright conditions with a serious magnifier would be a start and have a look at whats been done. Have you checked the main ECU connector has been plugged in properly? Its a big clumsy thing and may just not be pressed all the way in? I know its never that easy, but you never know

 

[MRichards]

This may not be relevant to your circumstances,but my car threw up random NO ASR messages until we corrected a problem with the immobiliser. My advice,hook up the correct diagnostic tool (SD2 ?) & see if anything shows up

 

[Rex B]

Sorry to here of your problems and hope they are not as bad as you are thinking they are.

To remove the gearbox the exhaust system has to be removed and the thermocouples have to be disconnected. Its these that protect the cats and cause the slow down lights and stop the engine if they detect excessive temperature in the cats and so it is possible one of these failed after being disturbed when the exhaust was removed and could cause your problems .

Before you think of buy or loaning a second hand ECU be careful as the manual indicates that you can't fit a second hand ecu to check another as it has to be matched to the immobilizer unit and the Keys that are programmed to the immobilizer.

As other have said you really need It connected to a SD2 tester but if this is not possible you might find an old er garage in your area that has a tester that can connect our early 3 pin ecu and can connect to the ecu selecting Fiat as entry vehicle. My friend has a garage in reading and he can connect to his 3200 using his old garage tester and read and reset engine codes.

Best of luck hope you get it sorted.

Rex B
Manual 3200.

 

[allandwf]

Before you think of buy or loaning a second hand ECU be careful as the manual indicates that you can't fit a second hand ecu to check another as it has to be matched to the immobilizer unit and the Keys that are programmed to the immobilizer.

As oth.

That was the bit I was unsure about. If it might be the thermocouples then they will give out a mV signal, that I assume will get changed to a 1-5 or 0-5v signal somewhere for the ECU. You could possibly trick it into thinking they are healthy. Also a quick continuity check on them they should read 0 ohms.

 

[jluis]

If your car is eobd compliant, a good starting point is to connect a generic reader and get inputs from all the sensors you can get to see if you have an obvious misread (like temperatures that don’t make sense or others that don’t move)
This is in case your problem is related to connectors/wiring causing sensors to get erratic values

 

[highlander]

Thanks all for replies. If nothing else you have clarified that my original plan of getting a trailer and towing her down to someone who knows what you are talking about and is able to then fix her is the way to go from here. I guess I got desperate enough that I posted hoping that, even though I am totally illiterate in this level of car maintenance, an easy fix may have came up (just press this button Greg).........stupid and even delusional I know, but I am missing driving the old girl more than I care to admit so pretty desperate really.
I'll post on this again once the ball is moving. Thanks again all.

P.s. she is 2000 so not obd compliant, I have never managed to get the pre-obd software/hardware to work probably due to my IT illiteracy inadequacies so am not able to even check codes etc.......you can stop laughing now

 

[MRichards]

Who is laughing,we are all helpless when confronted with the mysteries of Italian electronics.

 

[alfatwo]

Who is laughing,we are all helpless when confronted with the mysteries of Italian electronics.

German more like, as most of the electrical systems are Bosch!



Dave

 

[Mott The Hoople]

German more like, as most of the electrical systems are Bosch!



Dave

Yes-----but they're put into the car by Italians (using spaghetti as wiring.)

 

[jluis]

Just one word of advise, before starting to replace expensive parts like the ecu, demand proof from whoever is repairing that the thing is actually broken.
Bad wiring can cause all sorts of issues that can easily be confused with major electronics damage.

A loose or corroded ground wire can cause all sorts of random behaviors

In the end your issue could be just faulty wiring when putting the car back together.