Audi A4 Tiptronic with water damaged gearbox ECU
Discussion
Hi guys, I am hoping one of you knowledgable lot can help me out.
I have just bought a year 2000 Audi A4 1.9TDi which has suffered cockpit water damage caused by the flooding in the scuttle ( blocked drain holes!). The Tiptronic gearbox ECU is playing up now and the car is in limp home mode. Audi have quoted £670 + vat for a new ECU, I have been told that they also need to code the ECU to the car. Firstly is it true that the gearbox ECU needs coding. (my experience of my local Audi dealer leaves much to be desired and I wouldn't trust them to tell me the time) If i buy a second hand ECU how long should it take to code the ECU, assuming it actually needs it? Do I have to match the ECU precisely with part numbers etc.
I have been told by another Audi'specialist' that the gearbox ECU is inside the gearbox which makes it one hell of an expense if it is. Another says it is outside the gearbox and takes about an hour and half to replace.
One branch of my local Audi group said they wouldnt code my own ECU "In case it went wrong and it would cost me more." "They will only code one that I bought from them." I'm sure they would at £670+Vat plus fitting and coding!!
That ranks alongside them saying they wouldnt service my car because I didnt buy it from them!
Another branch (same group) is also not much help at all, you would think I was asking them to divulge state secrets!! They are prepared to code my ECU but told me it would take 1.5 hrs to programme at £120 per hour!! I had already been told by another 'specialist' it literally takes 10 minutes to code it. I think the Audi group staff must wear stripey sweaters and masks! So many conflicting tales not one of them matches another. I just want one of them to be honest. I can pick up a second hand gearbox ECU and I just would love for one to give me a genuine quote to get it fitted and coded without adding noughts on to it and treating me like I am an idiot!
So basically what I need to know is: Where is the gearbox ECU situated,internally or externally, does it need coding and how long realistically does it take to code? I am more than capable of doing the fitting myself but I take it that it means I won't be able to drive it afterwards to get it coded. Make sense?
Thanks in advance.
I have just bought a year 2000 Audi A4 1.9TDi which has suffered cockpit water damage caused by the flooding in the scuttle ( blocked drain holes!). The Tiptronic gearbox ECU is playing up now and the car is in limp home mode. Audi have quoted £670 + vat for a new ECU, I have been told that they also need to code the ECU to the car. Firstly is it true that the gearbox ECU needs coding. (my experience of my local Audi dealer leaves much to be desired and I wouldn't trust them to tell me the time) If i buy a second hand ECU how long should it take to code the ECU, assuming it actually needs it? Do I have to match the ECU precisely with part numbers etc.
I have been told by another Audi'specialist' that the gearbox ECU is inside the gearbox which makes it one hell of an expense if it is. Another says it is outside the gearbox and takes about an hour and half to replace.
One branch of my local Audi group said they wouldnt code my own ECU "In case it went wrong and it would cost me more." "They will only code one that I bought from them." I'm sure they would at £670+Vat plus fitting and coding!!
That ranks alongside them saying they wouldnt service my car because I didnt buy it from them!Another branch (same group) is also not much help at all, you would think I was asking them to divulge state secrets!! They are prepared to code my ECU but told me it would take 1.5 hrs to programme at £120 per hour!! I had already been told by another 'specialist' it literally takes 10 minutes to code it. I think the Audi group staff must wear stripey sweaters and masks! So many conflicting tales not one of them matches another. I just want one of them to be honest. I can pick up a second hand gearbox ECU and I just would love for one to give me a genuine quote to get it fitted and coded without adding noughts on to it and treating me like I am an idiot!
So basically what I need to know is: Where is the gearbox ECU situated,internally or externally, does it need coding and how long realistically does it take to code? I am more than capable of doing the fitting myself but I take it that it means I won't be able to drive it afterwards to get it coded. Make sense?
Thanks in advance.
Are you sure its tiptronic??
Is it quattro or front wheel drive??
I haven't change the gearbox ECU on an A4 that old, but I can tell you the multi tronic ECU's are inside the gearbox on A4 from 2002ish onwards. Being that old it could be the front wheel drive non multitronic, and sounds like that to me.
Personally I would try get a second hand one from an identical car, then I doubt it would need to be coded. Even if it did need coding it is likely the car would run but somthings wouldnt be quite right.
Whats invoved with ECU coding depends massively on exactly what ECU it is, I try to explain. Typically If I change an ECU, I look at the code on the old one before I remove it, its says 001234 for example, I fit the new one which will have the code 000000, and I change it to 001234. And it takes like 10 seconds. If you old ECU isnt working they wont be able to just copy the code so they will have to look up what the code should be for the exact spec of the car, this takes more like half an hour or so. This code only enables or disenables functions within the ECU or gives teh ECU informatiuon it needs to work propperly. For example if teh engine is petrol or deisel, what size teh wheels are for speedo correction etc. So if teh codes wrong, it will usually functions, but not always quite right.
If its a multitronic, then the adaptions will have to be redone as well as the code, which means running it up to a certain oil temperature and doing a very specific test drive, with a number of starts stops and forward and revers runs. This is where they are getting the 1.5 hours from I think.
I dont think the Audi dealers are trying to rip you off, I think they dont know, and its sounds like different people are telling you different ideas. I worked at an Audi centre for over three years now, I've never seen an automatic A4 that old, its likely the centres you are talking to havnt either, and they may well be getting confused with the later multi tronic ones, if that not what yours is, where the ECU's need replacing all the time.
Hope this helps, soz I dont know for sure.
Is it quattro or front wheel drive??
I haven't change the gearbox ECU on an A4 that old, but I can tell you the multi tronic ECU's are inside the gearbox on A4 from 2002ish onwards. Being that old it could be the front wheel drive non multitronic, and sounds like that to me.
Personally I would try get a second hand one from an identical car, then I doubt it would need to be coded. Even if it did need coding it is likely the car would run but somthings wouldnt be quite right.
Whats invoved with ECU coding depends massively on exactly what ECU it is, I try to explain. Typically If I change an ECU, I look at the code on the old one before I remove it, its says 001234 for example, I fit the new one which will have the code 000000, and I change it to 001234. And it takes like 10 seconds. If you old ECU isnt working they wont be able to just copy the code so they will have to look up what the code should be for the exact spec of the car, this takes more like half an hour or so. This code only enables or disenables functions within the ECU or gives teh ECU informatiuon it needs to work propperly. For example if teh engine is petrol or deisel, what size teh wheels are for speedo correction etc. So if teh codes wrong, it will usually functions, but not always quite right.
If its a multitronic, then the adaptions will have to be redone as well as the code, which means running it up to a certain oil temperature and doing a very specific test drive, with a number of starts stops and forward and revers runs. This is where they are getting the 1.5 hours from I think.
I dont think the Audi dealers are trying to rip you off, I think they dont know, and its sounds like different people are telling you different ideas. I worked at an Audi centre for over three years now, I've never seen an automatic A4 that old, its likely the centres you are talking to havnt either, and they may well be getting confused with the later multi tronic ones, if that not what yours is, where the ECU's need replacing all the time.
Hope this helps, soz I dont know for sure.
Tame Technician said:
Are you sure its tiptronic??
Is it quattro or front wheel drive??
I haven't change the gearbox ECU on an A4 that old, but I can tell you the multi tronic ECU's are inside the gearbox on A4 from 2002ish onwards. Being that old it could be the front wheel drive non multitronic, and sounds like that to me.
Personally I would try get a second hand one from an identical car, then I doubt it would need to be coded. Even if it did need coding it is likely the car would run but somthings wouldnt be quite right.
Whats invoved with ECU coding depends massively on exactly what ECU it is, I try to explain. Typically If I change an ECU, I look at the code on the old one before I remove it, its says 001234 for example, I fit the new one which will have the code 000000, and I change it to 001234. And it takes like 10 seconds. If you old ECU isnt working they wont be able to just copy the code so they will have to look up what the code should be for the exact spec of the car, this takes more like half an hour or so. This code only enables or disenables functions within the ECU or gives teh ECU informatiuon it needs to work propperly. For example if teh engine is petrol or deisel, what size teh wheels are for speedo correction etc. So if teh codes wrong, it will usually functions, but not always quite right.
If its a multitronic, then the adaptions will have to be redone as well as the code, which means running it up to a certain oil temperature and doing a very specific test drive, with a number of starts stops and forward and revers runs. This is where they are getting the 1.5 hours from I think.
I dont think the Audi dealers are trying to rip you off, I think they dont know, and its sounds like different people are telling you different ideas. I worked at an Audi centre for over three years now, I've never seen an automatic A4 that old, its likely the centres you are talking to havnt either, and they may well be getting confused with the later multi tronic ones, if that not what yours is, where the ECU's need replacing all the time.
Hope this helps, soz I dont know for sure.
Hi TT,Is it quattro or front wheel drive??
I haven't change the gearbox ECU on an A4 that old, but I can tell you the multi tronic ECU's are inside the gearbox on A4 from 2002ish onwards. Being that old it could be the front wheel drive non multitronic, and sounds like that to me.
Personally I would try get a second hand one from an identical car, then I doubt it would need to be coded. Even if it did need coding it is likely the car would run but somthings wouldnt be quite right.
Whats invoved with ECU coding depends massively on exactly what ECU it is, I try to explain. Typically If I change an ECU, I look at the code on the old one before I remove it, its says 001234 for example, I fit the new one which will have the code 000000, and I change it to 001234. And it takes like 10 seconds. If you old ECU isnt working they wont be able to just copy the code so they will have to look up what the code should be for the exact spec of the car, this takes more like half an hour or so. This code only enables or disenables functions within the ECU or gives teh ECU informatiuon it needs to work propperly. For example if teh engine is petrol or deisel, what size teh wheels are for speedo correction etc. So if teh codes wrong, it will usually functions, but not always quite right.
If its a multitronic, then the adaptions will have to be redone as well as the code, which means running it up to a certain oil temperature and doing a very specific test drive, with a number of starts stops and forward and revers runs. This is where they are getting the 1.5 hours from I think.
I dont think the Audi dealers are trying to rip you off, I think they dont know, and its sounds like different people are telling you different ideas. I worked at an Audi centre for over three years now, I've never seen an automatic A4 that old, its likely the centres you are talking to havnt either, and they may well be getting confused with the later multi tronic ones, if that not what yours is, where the ECU's need replacing all the time.
Hope this helps, soz I dont know for sure.
It is a front wheel drive with tiptronic. It transpires that the unit that is at fault is the one under the drivers seat because of the flooding. My local Audi main dealer do not have a good reputation. I could understand what you say about them not knowing for sure, if only they were honest enough to say that!
I met someone who refuses to use them, he would rather drive to another much further away Audi main dealer than use them. I took my old A4 1.8 in to diagnose an alarm fault a couple of years ago and they hitched it up to the diagnostic but couldn't tell me what was wrong with it. £75 to leave me no more informed than when I went in, plus the car was running like a nail when I pulled out of the shop and I had to take it back. They diagnosed an AFM problem. Never ever one problem at all with the running prior to them having it. Coincidence? I think not!
Thanks for your help so far everyone!
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