Ecu question

[Browniebrown]

So I was driving my 90 laser rs fwd the other day. The car just died. A smell of fish filled my car. Took the computer out and of course as you all already know it has a capacitor leak. My question is. Can I replace the leaking capacitor myself. I've never done it but im willing to try if it can be done. Everyone I've talked to said to either get another ecu or to send it in to get repaired. Has anyone ever replaced one themselves. If so how and can you get the part at radio shack or where. I pretty much sank all my money into the fuel system on the car. Pretty much got it all fixed finally and this happened. If I have to send it in. Where is the best place and how much am I looking at and how long? Autozone said I can get a new one for 280. I can probably get the price down because I work for a shop and I get cost. So if sending it in is more I may as well get a new one. Just looking for some guidance. Thanks.

 

[steve]

People still get lucky from time to time with just changing the capacitors, at least for a while before the leaking electrolyte eats through something critical and it dies out in the middle of nowhere.

I've replaced them for myself, but I've also done it for hundreds of others (in the past) so I'm not the sample your looking for. I can tell you from experience your better off sending it to ECUTuning if the processor isn't blown) for repair than buying some half rate repair ECU from an autoparts store. I used to see the junk that came from the "professional" rebuilders all the time.

Take quality pictures and post them. Let's see how bad it is.

 

[Browniebrown]

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This is the best I can do. And I'm uploading it from my phone so I hope it even shows up. If not I'll do it when I get home from work.

 

[Browniebrown]

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Maybe this one is better.

 

[steve]

The goal is to see the whole ECU board. To avoid flash reflections find a bright place or gather a few lamps nearby.

Yes, it's leaked and it doesn't look like the 12v filter cap C106 has shorted out yet (common on 90 ECUs and usually fatal) but I want to make sure the CPU (large square chip) isn't blown.

 

[blackeagle92]

If you do try make sure you clean up the board really really good.

 

[Browniebrown]

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Is this good. Still has that flash. But my ecu is at work for the weekend.

 

[micha118833]

I order a lot of my caps from Badcaps.net - Badcaps Home You need to be really careful when removing the old cap that you don't mar up the board and expose circuit tracks or tear them up. I use a hot air rework machine wth and ultra fine tip that only covers the two prongs on the back of the board, this allows me to remove the cap without harming the board. then I remove the rest of the solder with my desoldering station. They make a braided copper that will help in removing the solder if you don't have a desoldering station, they also have a plunger style desoldering iron at radioshack. I couldn't see which cap was bad in your pics but make sure you put the new cap back on the right way. Also make sure you order the correct capacity (uf) and voltage. while voltage can vary higher (never lower) just slightly, the uf can't be changed without harming circuitry

if it doesnt work out for you I have a 97 gst ecu that works

damn it, didn't read or look at your photo, disregard my ecu offer

 

[steve]

Nothing looks blown but you can tell from the first picture that not only is C108 leaking but C106 (which is expected). The electrolyte has run under the metal heatsink and likely under the orange EMI filters in addition to what you can see around C108.

Otherwise the board looks pretty good, I'd send it off to Tom and Dave at ECMTuning so you know it's going to work and be done right.

 

[Browniebrown]

I think I'm gonna have it sent off. I just don't know enough about replacing them. I have soldered things before but I really don't want to mess something as important up as an ecu. I talked to them. They said they quote me price until they get it. Which sucks as I am low in funds. Does anyone know judging by the pics around about estimate for them to do it? Thanks for all your replies.

 

[clipto]

You should be able to pick up one those ecu cheap there a dime a dozen tons of people have stacks of them just collecting dust. Contact English Racing for one they have heeps of them for sale collecting dust.

 

[Wild Bill]

I went to buy a tube bass amp recently, guy turned it on and Puff! i got it for substantially less.
Ordered caps and replaced the one that smoked and plugged it in. Same one went Puff!

While it could have been just a bad cap there could be something else that made the cap blow.

In my case it was another cap down the line that shorted and was just a matter of getting the meter out to confirm however changed all of them and it's sweet. $7.00 fix and about a $500 savings for me.

 

[steve]

They said they quote me price until they get it. Which sucks as I am low in funds. Does anyone know judging by the pics around about estimate for them to do it?

I don't know what their current rates are but I'm sure it's going to be less than whatever your price is at AutoZone for that replacement.