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[Terbs]

Hi all,
Recently I posted that the ABS ECU light was coming on.
I have been using the car regularly for the last couple of months with no seemingly ill affects, apart from no ABS or TC. cruise control and occasional heavy steering, etc. Using Sat Nav as a speedo....lol
I am now in a position where I have time to get the ECU out, and we are going to Poole for a couple of weeks, where there is a company called Autotek which like BBA Reman, repair the ECU's.
Question is, I note in the maintenance section for ECU, it is mentioned about still driving the car with the ECU off.
Is it safe to do so, I appreciate no ABS or TC, but will the power steering cut out completely, or more to the point, damage be caused in any other areas. I am hoping the answer will be that the car will behave exactly the same as when the ECU light is on.

[geoffr70]

The car can be driven without it on, the effects will just be like driving with it on when it is defective. The steering will be heavy, but only as heavy as it is now when the abs/tc lights are on.

The onlhy thing is to drive it without it off you'd have to replace all the other parts, nearly doubling the work. You'd also need even more PS fluid aswell, and you'd have to do a good job of covering and making watertight the abs modulator that is exposed when the ecu is taken off.

As for the legality, I'm not sure, I drove mine for a few months with a broken ecu, but the satnav should be ok.

[Terbs]

Thanks Geoff,
Couple of points there I had overlooked.
I reckon I'll have to mull it over now. Not got much work on at the moment, so not bothered about time....its the weather bothers me more. I have got loads of PS fluid.
At least you have reasured me as to safety.

[geoffr70]

Well, 'safe', obviously the ABS and TC won't be operational, but how often do we use or need that!

[Terbs]

Obviously, Geoff, I am not in the 'boy racer' group at my age.. although I appreciate its what others do that cause problems.
By 'safe', yes, as long as the vehicle operates as at does now, then I have no problems
I must as you say, make sure its waterproof.
Allowing for the holiday driving, I reckon I'll be doing about 500 miles without the ECU attached.

[mrgreen]

can u not find another ecu second hand they usually are'nt too dear

[Terbs]

can u not find another ecu second hand they usually are'nt too dear

Not looking for a secondhand one, because, as has been stated many times in ABS threads, secondhand ones could still go wrong, probably need programming, and probably cost as much as having existing one refurbished.
Thanks for suggestion, but not really on

As a footnote, I did see one at OmegaSpareParts second hand ...nearly £200

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Although I appreciate that second hand parts can go wrong (as, indeed can brand new parts, I'm sure we've all got plenty of horror stores to that end) myself and a fellow oofer have been down just this route lately.

The trick is to find an ABS ECU with both the same partnumber and from a car of the same engine/gearbox. A 2.5 Omega is not the rarest of beasts on this fourm, or indeed in the scrappys.

Armed with this knowledge, courtesy of some excellent advice from this forum, myself and a mate scoured around for one week, when we found a breakers. We got an as-new exhaust, leather headrestraint, full set of switchgear and the correct ABS ECU for the grand sum of 35quid.  8-)

I always believe in shopping around, and at that price, frankly if he gets one year out of the ECU, he can't say he wasted his money, can he?

Not disagreeing with your choice at all, when budget allows a professional refurb is the best way to go. Let us know how you get on, and the price too 

[geoffr70]

Although I appreciate that second hand parts can go wrong (as, indeed can brand new parts, I'm sure we've all got plenty of horror stores to that end) myself and a fellow oofer have been down just this route lately.

The trick is to find an ABS ECU with both the same partnumber and from a car of the same engine/gearbox. A 2.5 Omega is not the rarest of beasts on this fourm, or indeed in the scrappys.

Armed with this knowledge, courtesy of some excellent advice from this forum, myself and a mate scoured around for one week, when we found a breakers. We got an as-new exhaust, leather headrestraint, full set of switchgear and the correct ABS ECU for the grand sum of 35quid.  8-)

I always believe in shopping around, and at that price, frankly if he gets one year out of the ECU, he can't say he wasted his money, can he?

Not disagreeing with your choice at all, when budget allows a professional refurb is the best way to go. Let us know how you get on, and the price too 

still false economy though, by the time you factor your time in (even if you get a year out of 2nd hand part) and little things like more ps fluid when refilling, refurbed is always better than second hand