1G Car keeps turing off randomly, replaced ECU capacitors.. still turning off

[Nicker]

After hours of searching for what could cause my 91' tsi awd(all stock, 103k) to turn off random while driving I found it could be due to bad capacitors on the ECU. (When it started, the car turned off 3 times in one night, each taking about 5 mins before it would crank over and startup again.

I got the right capacitors, removed the board, removed the capacitors, cleaned the leakage from the capacitors off the board, and soldered in the new ones. After that the car ran fine for 3 days, and now today again it died again while driving leaving me in the middle of a major road for about 10 mins (not fun).

After more searching I can't find anything else that might cause this, is my only option a new ECU(200$)?

Anyone have previous experience with this problem?

 

[Quasimondo]

If the capacitors leaked enough fluid, they can do damage to the boards like eat at the runs in the circuit board. Even though you replaced the caps, the damage to the board is still there. Your only option might be a replacement ECU.

When you cleaned up the boards, how much fluid was leaked out on it?

 

[Nicker]

Only one leaked, it was one capacitor that is near the back of the board. I would say a fair ammount leaked out, but it seemed to not be in any tight spots, and came off with some cleaner and a toothbrush.

As for the car turning off, I guess im 100% right when its the ECU?

I tried looking on dsmtrader.com for my ecu but could not find one, the part# I came up with is MD165531 (1991 awd turbo auto). Next thing to do is spend 200$ on ebay?

 

[Quasimondo]

This board has a classifieds section, as well as dsmtalk.com. Any 91-94 ecu for a 5-speed turbo should work (the ecu's for turbos with automatic transmissions are calibrated differently).

 

[Nicker]

Well my car has an automatic transmission so would any 91-94 ECU from a car with a auto tranny + turbo would work? Does awd matter either?

Thanks for your help with this, if I can still not find what im looking for im thinking of this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250040908035

200$ + 100$ if you do not send in a core.

im thinking that the leak could of dammaged more things unseen to the naked eye.


its funny... I spent 1500$ on this car and must of spent that over again alone in repairs and maintance.

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

AWD doesn't matter. Just the transmission because manual transmission 1g cars have 450cc injectors where as automatic's have 390cc injectors. That looks like a great deal for eBay. I would go for it and let us know how it goes. I'm sure some other people would be interested in it.

 

[toybreaker]

The exact match for your ecu is from a 6/90 to 6/92 turbo, awd, automatic, dsm.

Try and score an e-prom unit. In the future you can socket the board and replace the e932a e-prom chip with an upgraded custom chip or dsm link, and really dial in your setup nicely.

If you don't get an e-prom, you're stuck with the factory tune. If you modify your car, you won't be able to compensate for higher boost and bigger injectors without resorting to piggybacks and etc. You'll also run into fuel cut, and that's no fun at all. (If you're not going to mod your car it doesn't matter)


I would strongly recommend that you replace the caps in your replacement ecu asap, to prevent the same thing from happening again.