Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: SJKOO01 on 28 March 2011, 20:18:51

Title: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: SJKOO01 on 28 March 2011, 20:18:51
Chap I know has just recently bought himself a Omega 2.5v6.  Wasn't running correct so took it to a local garage he uses, never had a problem with them working on his car before.

However, they diagnose that the main engine ECU isn't playing ball and tell him he needs a new one.

So he goes to he local GM dealer to buy a new one.
and the next day he takes the replacement one back to the garage and tells them don't throw the old one away, as the dealer needs to decode/download the old one of its software and upload it to the new one....

.... err... too late, we alreay have and the rubbish has been empted altogether they say  :-[ !.

As you can imagine, as well as going mad at them, he now has a has a car that he cant use.

Anyone know if there's a way to get a basic running software set-up loaded onto the ECU and if a Tech 2 could sort it out ??.

I told he should of come to me for advice and I could of helped him by asking the question on here first, before he let the garage even have it !!.

As the local dealer told him that they need the old one, is this the truth or a myth and just a way to extract some stupid amount of money out of someone?  :-?
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: o-meg-a on 28 March 2011, 20:30:03
 say its completely up to the garage that threw away the one bit that was needed to pay for and sort it out.
Next best thing is to buy a complete ecu and matching immobiliser fob etc to replace the old one so you wont need anything coded.

The garage has a responsibility to soak up all additional costs that its "mishap" has caused.
Tell them he'll take them to court if they refuse.

Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 28 March 2011, 20:49:45
Yep, it's the garage's problem. Probably was mis-diagnosed anyway as I can't recall anyone ever having a V6 ECU fail. Fancy throwing it before even ensuring a new one is available.

However, Best course of action from now would be to tow the car away from them and don't let them touch it again, then get a 2nd hand ECU with transponder chips and immobiliser from a breaker in the parts for sale section.

As I said, they very rarely fail, so 2nd hand is a much more sensible option than new.

Kevin
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: o-meg-a on 28 March 2011, 20:54:51
Quote
Yep, it's the garage's problem. Probably was mis-diagnosed anyway as I can't recall anyone ever having a V6 ECU fail. Fancy throwing it before even ensuring a new one is available.

However, Best course of action from now would be to tow the car away from them and don't let them touch it again, then get a 2nd hand ECU with transponder chips and immobiliser from a breaker in the parts for sale section.

As I said, they very rarely fail, so 2nd hand is a much more sensible option than new.

Kevin

Exactly.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 March 2011, 21:01:28
It would be funny if it wasn't true.

Fauty ECU is unlikely, but to then bin it.

To be honest, I wouldn't let them touch it, get them to pay for recovery elsewhere.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Ken T on 28 March 2011, 21:12:00
This is happening more and more, garages not knowing what is wrong so they pick something, usually the most expensive bit. When my Mig died a couple of years ago, the main dewsbury dealer, evans halshaw said it was the ECU and wanted a lot to replace it. Turned out it was the key transponder putting it into security mode and stopping sparks.

And as for halfords........

Ken
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 28 March 2011, 21:15:47
Pay nothing, remove the car and take the new ECU back as it is nothing more than a door stop.

Then get an ECU/Immobiliser setup with transponder chips and idealy the security pass to fit.

Then find and fix the REAL fault.

Simples.

In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Ken T on 28 March 2011, 21:18:17
Quote
Pay nothing, remove the car and take the new ECU back as it is nothing more than a door stop.

Then get an ECU/Immobiliser setup with transponder chips and idealy the security pass to fit.

Then find and fix the REAL fault.

Simples.

In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y

And if you can, get the reg and VIN of the doner car, makes getting a car pass a lot easier.

Ken
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Andy B on 28 March 2011, 21:18:47
Quote
.....
In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y

I agree, but I told a bloke at work the same re his Astra G when a local garage had diagnosed a duff ECU. In the end it turned out that it was a duff ECU.  :-? :-?
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 March 2011, 21:23:00
Quote
Quote
.....
In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y

I agree, but I told a bloke at work the same re his Astra G when a local garage had diagnosed a duff ECU. In the end it turned out that it was a duff ECU.  :-? :-?
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: o-meg-a on 28 March 2011, 21:23:40
or was it!! lol :D
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Andy B on 28 March 2011, 21:25:03
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 28 March 2011, 21:27:40
Quote
Quote
.....
In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y

I agree, but I told a bloke at work the same re his Astra G when a local garage had diagnosed a duff ECU. In the end it turned out that it was a duff ECU.  :-? :-?

Z16XE can suffer an issue (Simtec I think), £300 to get them repaired, the ignition coil driver fails on them
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 March 2011, 21:28:53
Quote
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
I've heard of faults on the Siemens ones
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 March 2011, 21:29:28
Quote
Quote
Quote
.....
In all the years of this forum (and others) we have NEVER had a 2.5/3.0 ECU fail and we have seen more Omegas than any dealer let alone independent  ;D :y

I agree, but I told a bloke at work the same re his Astra G when a local garage had diagnosed a duff ECU. In the end it turned out that it was a duff ECU.  :-? :-?

Z16XE can suffer an issue (Simtec I think), £300 to get them repaired, the ignition coil driver fails on them
LOL, I just said likewise ;D
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 28 March 2011, 21:33:33
Quote
Quote
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
I've heard of faults on the Siemens ones

What do you expect from Siemens, now there is a shite company thats completely lost its way  ;D
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Andy B on 28 March 2011, 21:34:25
Quote
....
Z16XE can suffer an issue (Simtec I think), £300 to get them repaired, the ignition coil driver fails on them

Yes. It was one of them. I think he paid around £150 for his to be repaired  :-/
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: TheBoy on 28 March 2011, 21:36:59
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
I've heard of faults on the Siemens ones

What do you expect from Siemens, now there is a shite company thats completely lost its way  ;D
Is now a good time to mention that OOF runs through Siemens routers ::)
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Andy B on 28 March 2011, 21:44:26
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
I've heard of faults on the Siemens ones

What do you expect from Siemens, now there is a shite company thats completely lost its way  ;D
Is now a good time to mention that OOF runs through Siemens routers ::)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: albitz on 28 March 2011, 22:02:14
Im fairly sure I saw an ECU with keys etc. on fleabay in the last few days. ;)
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: albitz on 29 March 2011, 09:54:48
not sure if a 3.0 version isany good. :-/
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-3-0-ECU-TRANSPONDER-2-KEYS-BARREL-/220761472612?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item336668be64
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: 2woody on 29 March 2011, 10:06:57
I can only echo the earlier views.....

In all of my time working on literally thousands of cars, I have never seen a Bosch engine ECU fail. I would be prepared to put money on this one not having failed, too. I can recall an ecu on one vehicle having remained serviceable even when having been underwater for long enough to the mounts to have rusted off.

what's probably happened here is that the garage have tried to rectify a fault on the vehicle that they can't understand and just blamed the ecu.

for what it's worth, I've worked on maybe twenty cars where the ecu has been reported as broken and have fixed all of them without changing the ecu.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: feeutfo on 29 March 2011, 12:55:50
What's the original fault/symptoms?
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: andyc on 29 March 2011, 14:52:13
Someones wants an Ar8e kicking. An OE ECU exchange is listed at £1247.00 + £70.00 Old Unit Surcharge and VAT

Andy
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: SJKOO01 on 29 March 2011, 18:20:30
Thanks for the advice all  :y

Just wanted to see if it was true or myth that you needed to swap the software over from one ecu to another.

I've told the chap that next time to call me with a problem, if I can't help I may know one or two with Omega's that maybe able to help  ::)  ;) .

Also told him to join here if he wants to as well, though not sure if he will as the way he was chatting he sounded like once the problems sorted he wants to get rid off because of all the hassle (yes I know what you're all going to say about once it's back on the road, etc etc  ::)  :D) but it's not my car.

I'll try to track down an ECU, key, transponder off someone on here if their breaking a car with it all on, like others have said will be cheaper.

As for the originally problem, I'm not sure.  Amongst the cursing, something about starting problems, but as that's a no go now to sort that out, it could of been anything ? :-? .
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 29 March 2011, 20:00:52
I've got a 2.5 ECU with a single chip somewhere if your mate is interested its from a '98 2.5 V6 Auto
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: SJKOO01 on 30 March 2011, 20:35:50
Well the story unfolds even more and I must of had a bit of a blonde moment  ::) from the original conversation.

Turns out it isn't a V6, he had a v6.

This car is in fact a 2.2 4cyl petrol, I've just spoken to him regarding the car and it pretty much sounds like the garage mechanics need a kicking (don't know what they’re doing!).  The chap has said that they still have the car and their now saying there's an immobiliser problem (I can see where this story is going  ::) ).

Anyhow if it can’t be fixed the chaps said he's going to scrap it as it owes him too much money now.

All I can say is apologises to all for helping, though it wasn't a v6, the problem of the ecu was still as my originally thread.
Sorry for getting mucking fuddled about the whole issue.

Teach me to lesson more to what people are saying and I feel embarassed about it now  :-[ :-/.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Lazydocker on 30 March 2011, 20:41:19
Quote
Well the story unfolds even more and I must of had a bit of a blonde moment  ::) from the original conversation.

Turns out it isn't a V6, he had a v6.

This car is in fact a 2.2 4cyl petrol, I've just spoken to him regarding the car and it pretty much sounds like the garage mechanics need a kicking (don't know what they’re doing!).  The chap has said that they still have the car and their now saying there's an immobiliser problem (I can see where this story is going  ::) ).

Anyhow if it can’t be fixed the chaps said he's going to scrap it as it owes him too much money now.

All I can say is apologises to all for helping, though it wasn't a v6, the problem of the ecu was still as my originally thread.
Sorry for getting mucking fuddled about the whole issue.

Teach me to lesson more to what people are saying and I feel embarassed about it now  :-[ :-/.

Even a 2.2... I doubt the problem was the ECU ;)

Just as a thought... The chip is still in place in the key isn't it? ::) ::)
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: SJKOO01 on 30 March 2011, 20:46:14
As the cars still at the garage I'm unfortunately not able to get to see it and check things like this.

If it doesn't get sorted and he ends up having back at his place I can perhaps take a look to see what they've done and check a few things such as the key.

Got a feeling this little story is going to drag on though.
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: aaronjb on 30 March 2011, 23:19:11
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
......
Astra-G was never fitted with the Bosch Motronic 2.8.1/3 ECU though ;)

True!  :y :y :y and apparently Astra G's ECUs do fail.
I've heard of faults on the Siemens ones

What do you expect from Siemens, now there is a shite company thats completely lost its way  ;D
Is now a good time to mention that OOF runs through Siemens routers ::)

Apparently so does the BBC website (http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/30/bbc-siemens-website-outage) ..
Title: Re: Omega Main engine ECU - Myth or Truth?
Post by: Kevin Wood on 01 April 2011, 12:52:16
Of course there's an immobiliser problem now, they've binned the ECU that was paired with the immobiliser. ;D

I would be taking legal action against the incompetent breakwits if they couldn't return my car in the condition in which I presented it.

Kevin