Need A Ecu For Dummys Manual

[mygsx2120]

My brothers car has been diagnosed with two bad ecus in one month. I also have two spare one lying around that I dont know are good. Is there any way to check visually? I don't know if I can just give them to the mechanic and have him try them on the car. I have read about caps leaking, what does this mean? Can you rebuild a computer? Is it worth it? If someone can just help point me to the information, thay may help. I am usually pretty good at searching, but I think I may just be overthinking on this one.

 

[tenn-gsx]

There are alot of places that can test an ecu. One in particular is the guys at dsm link. Maby contact them and see what they would charge you for a diagnostic and possibly repair.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I'm curious to know also, what exactly "the caps are leaking" means?

 

[chicagoavenger]

I'm curious to know also, what exactly "the caps are leaking" means?

I beleive it means the capacitors themselves are leaking a brownish ooze which usually has a fish smell to it.

 

[steve]

There are two capacitors used in 1G ECUs that had a design defect that allowed the electrolyte that fills the space between the two plates to leak out where the wires exit the case. The electrolyte is corrosive. Once it leaks out it begins to dissolve the metals it comes in contact with line the copper that forms the circuit traces and the solder. It wicks under the waxy coating and spreads. Left alone it will either eat through a important circuit trace or cause a short. Once the capacitors go dry their plates can short and explode.

All electrolytic capacitors have a lifetime but these were defective and failed long before they would have normally. One of the same capacitors was used in the transmission computers too. It causes them to die.

The 2G ECUs use different parts and aren't expected to leak. Every 1G ECU and TCU will fail if the caps aren't replaced.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Thanks for the explanation! I'm that much wiser now!

 

[mygsx2120]

Thank you also, I am one step closer to having a clue. I don't know why, but electronics scare me, I tend to shy away from everything except maybe a C.D. player install.