Dodgy ECU -

[nigel_350i]

Hi,
After much electrical fault finding and substitution of parts on my 89 350I I've found that my ECU is (to use a technical term) dodgy giving me a intermittent "hunting" idle. It's a "Flapper" type Lucas 4CU.
All the connections to the unit are good but if I give the ECU some encouragment (via a thump)it starts working fine (dry solder joint?). My local landrover breaker has a used unit going fairly cheap at £99. I've seen comments before that the landrover ones are different. Anyone know whats different in the ECU's, or alternatively have a reliable source of the TVR spec ones? Or would be better contacting Mark Adams for repair? I want to avoid the re-soldering all the joints on the board myself route.

Thanks
Nigel

[dickymint]

Send an email to Uglymug as he has recently had his checked out by some company. (his came back as no fault found).

[wedg1e]

The Landie one would work, there's a few different resistor values I think. I have heard that some have (effectively) a top speed limiter fitted, but not sure how that's supposed to work.
If you can use a soldering iron, it's really not that difficult a job.

[HarryW]

Don't know how, if at all, proficient you are with a soldering iron. If you can weild one then I would recommend re-touching all the joints as one is probably a bit dry. Not done it myself but have heard tell this has cured others in the past.

Harry

Apologies just re-read your post properly , you don't want to do the soldering bit yourself, in which case I would speak to Mark first myself.

>> Edited by HarryW on Friday 8th April 14:15

[wedg1e]

I suppose if you were to twist my arm, I could do it for you and check it on my car....

[leorest]

Word of warning!
Only attempt retouching solder joints when you have exhausted all other possibilities.
Be prepared to pay out for a new ECU if your attempts go wrong.
I'm not trying to put you off but just making you aware of the risk taken.
I retouched mine and all went well. I spent half an hour with the soldering iron and a further half an hour with a magnifying glass and continuity tester looking for solder bridges which can be as thin as a hair!
Make sure you use a clean, fine tipped iron with thin solder. Take your time and don’t overheat any of the joints.
If you're not confident then don't do it.

Best of luck

Leo

[nigel_350i]

Thanks for all the inputs folks. I'm normally OK with a soldering iron but I'm pretty nervous about screwing it up. I've got the first track day of the season at knockhill (in sunny scotland) a week today and would rather limp round than not make it at all I'll maybe buy the ECU from the Land rover guy as a fall back and then attempt the soldering iron touch up job. Thanks wedg1e for the offer.

[nigel_350i]

Well the land rover ECU was faulty. Tried it in the Wedge and it didn't work at all! Glad I tried it out before buying! Looks like I'll rely on the "hit the ECU for good running" technique for the track day and go for the re-solder fix after that!