Polo ECU help please...

[tonyvid]

Hi, not been in this little corner before so

I have a friend with a sickly 1997 1.4 Polo and she has been told its ECU is on the way out - it is running but not well. I'm not sure an ECU can be on the way out but heyho, that's what her mechanic has said and a new one is about £400.

So, does anyone a)have an old one they want to flog on, b)recommend a good secondhand supplier and c)maybe know of a good diagnostic place in either St Albans or the Hertford area?

Ta, boys and girls.

[shadwell davies]

Interesting diagnostic, ecu`s either work or don`t work.

Cannot see how you can suggest it is about to fail, unless you have say water ingress/damage?

Get your mechanic to tell you who will win the 2.30 at Haydock. That should pay for the repair.

[cptsideways]

Lambda probe guaranteed

[tonyvid]

shadwell davies said:

Interesting diagnostic, ecu`s either work or don`t work.

Cannot see how you can suggest it is about to fail, unless you have say water ingress/damage?

Get your mechanic to tell you who will win the 2.30 at Haydock. That should pay for the repair.

Quite, that was my general feeling

[tonyvid]

cptsideways said:

Lambda probe guaranteed

Is this the one at the top of the downpipe(I presume it only has one due to its age?)? If so, it looks pretty new. I don't know much about the car but do seem to remember her going through a flood and needing some new ignition bits, she also mentioned how "the cat caught fire after that...." I expect that is stuffed now as well if she drove it with a bad misfire. I think she needs someone else to have a peek at it - any recommendations for her 2 areas?

[cptsideways]

tonyvid said:

cptsideways said:

Lambda probe guaranteed

Is this the one at the top of the downpipe(I presume it only has one due to its age?)? If so, it looks pretty new. I don't know much about the car but do seem to remember her going through a flood and needing some new ignition bits, she also mentioned how "the cat caught fire after that...." I expect that is stuffed now as well if she drove it with a bad misfire. I think she needs someone else to have a peek at it - any recommendations for her 2 areas?

Ahhh

Misfire can cook the lambda probe certainly

OK next common fault is the coilpack on the bulkhead, they all break down at some point, misfiring & failing to start, giving up under load etc. about £50 fo9r a new one. You will loose one of the retaining nuts behind it when you remove it - crap design feature

If you've cooked the cat it'll also have cooked the cat temp sensor so the ecu could well be in limp home mode if it has one? Not 100% sure but any idiot lights on the dash on?

[tonyvid]

I'll check next week and come back.....

[J400uk]

Theres quite a good place down next to where the old car and van hire place was on St Albans Rd, I'll get you the name if I can remember. Could also try the VAG specialist on hatfield road (Chapmans I think).