ECU Repair

[jimed]

I've had an issue with the Griff which turns out to be Lambda sensors with some associated ECU damage. It has now got new sensors fitted and a loan ECU (think 400 but with my 500 chip in it)fitted - anyway all sorted but I need to either replace the ECU with a decent used one or get the old one repaired - so has anyone a good ECU they would sell for sensible money or can someone tell me where I can get the old one repaired and any idea of price for that.
Jim

[The AJP Griff]

I have a perfect and little used original TVR ecu for a 500 for sale in the classifieds

[jonnyboy]

I have an ECU for a Griff 500, unfortunately my Griff has now been sold, so its not much use to me and I've never got round to advertising it. I bought the ECU to keep as a spare from Leven Technology just prior to them selling up to PPC.

If you're interested pm me.

Cheers

Jonny Boy

[blitzracing]

You can use any Post 1992 14CUX as fitted to the Range Rover etc. The only thing to check is that it has a socket for the fuel chip- they started fitting them some when around 1992-93, so anything later should be fine. There is a date stamp on the ECU. All you have to do then is swap your chip across (carefully!). £35-40 seems to be a reasonable rate for one from a breaker.

[DarkMatter]

blitzracing said:

You can use any Post 1992 14CUX as fitted to the Range Rover etc. The only thing to check is that it has a socket for the fuel chip

I bought a secondhand Range Rover 14CUX, de-soldered the chip, soldered in a new socket, and plugged in my chip - it all works a treat and better than my old 14CUX which had a fault. The de-soldering was quite tricky though, even with a solder sucker.

[jimed]

Thanks for the info everyone. Think I'm now sorted with a known good one from someone locally.
Jim

[x works]

Hope you got one Jim,
Yes 2 on e bay 14 cux around. £40... But you would have to ask if it has the fuel ecu socket inside . Easier swop chips
H

[Steve_D]

For anyone else looking for a repair i have used this company in the past http://www.carelect.demon.co.uk/index.html with excelent results both in cost and speed of return.

Steve

[jimed]

I was interested to read the post that says any 14CUX after 92/3 should be OK with the TVR chip fitted. For future ref a little clarification would be appreciated (putting notes in the Bible) - the unit needs the fuel chip socket - so assume after 92/3 they all have one but do you need to put the one in from a TVR unit or does it already have one fitted?
Also looking at Steve Heath's Bible there is a comment that the TVR ECUs have manual mode enabled (pin34 grounded via 510 ohm resistor;) if not idle can be erratic/low. Not sure here but suspect few Land Rovers were auto but some Range Rovers may well be so is the 14 CUX only on the Land Rovers which are manual or is that another ECU variant which may be part number defined?
Jim

[330p4]

Jim on the LR ecu without socket you would need to remove the chip in that position and fit an I'd socket suggest a turned pin type solder this in place of the chip you remove. Then take the TVR chip (EPROM) and fit it into the socket you have just fitted
Ian

[jimed]

Oh err - my brain is hurting .... just read the last post and realised that the fuel socket is the one that the TVR chip goes into - had stupidly thought the fuel socket was for a second chip - OK all is now clear re that. If the ECU is later than 93 it should have the EPROM socket already fitted so just swap the chip for the TVR one - still not sure re the manual enabled but I may be chasing a non issue here??
As I said no big problem as the ECU I've just got is a TVR one but info is the future ref.
Jim

[330p4]

Jim I think you may be talking about the resistor that selects cat/non cat etc if so this is the external tune resistor in the loom
Ian

[jimed]

I could be wrong but don't think it is the tune resistor Ian. I'm looking at the Bible: at the end of the Fuel Inj System bit there is a section called Dispelling the Myths which is based on a John Ravenscroft letter to Sprint (this is page 109 in 2nd edition); in this it says "... 3. No TVR thinks it is an automatic. There is an input on pin 34 of the ECU consisting of a 510 ohm resistor connected to ground to enable 'manual'mode. If this is not present idle speed may be low or erratic." It then goes on to say in 4c) about the Tune resistor and talks about different ones for cat or non cat - "without this the ECU will run in default mode" elsewhere in the section it says the test pins for tune resistor are 2 and 27 (the ohms values are different from the alleged manual resistance of 510 ohms as well). Based on that it appears to be different things but just to confuse further pin 34 is not shown on the ECU wiring diagram.
I may be confusing myself here but just trying to understand what the bible means. Maybe this is a complete red herring as some are clearly using the standard LR ECU with socket and TVR chip and all is fine but it would be interesting to know what it all about unless it is in the ECU as standard already and that ECU is not used in auto LRs; maybe that is the answer but if so why would he say about it that in the letter to Sprint.
Jim

[davep]

The 510 Ohm resistor (11a) for the ecu's pin 34 circuit is in your loom (or should be).

Edited by davep on Sunday 4th August 18:53

[jimed]

That would explain it and also mean the standard ECU is fine (as everyone says).
Jim

[blitzracing]

The ECU needs to know if there is extra load on the engine when an auto box is put into drive, so it can lift the idle, and this is what switches in the resistor. There are no less than three inputs on the ECU that affect the idle control, autobox, aircon, and heated screen.

Generally taking out the soldered fuel chips on early ECU's if difficult, as there are many fine tracks under the chip (if you lever it), plus its all sealed in with a heavy duty anti corrosion sealant. I personnaly remove the sealant with white spirit and the cut the old chip out leg by leg, then unsolder each leg. There is a major PCB change around 1990, and these wont work correctly with fuel chips from later ECU's.