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ECU problems again - I think...

colin129

colin129

PCGB Member
Member
In Feb last year I had a post on here as my engine was cutting out whilst driving. Eventually, it resulted in being stranded on the M4 in the middle of winter (and on the day I stopped smoking!!!) and having to be trailered.

JZ Machtech eventually tracked it down to a bust ECU (brain) and I brought a 2nd hand one from Porsche-apart for £175.

Well, only 13months later I am having similair engine cutting out problems, which I fear will enevitably lead to an embarressing tow if I don't sort it out. At least I now have a spare car, so I'll still be mobile.

I have a number of options:

1) Speak to Porsche-apart and see if they will do me a deal on another 2nd hand unit as this one has only lasted a year. Does anyone have any experience of their goodwill?
2) Buy a new ECU, probably £800 or £900, which will at least have a 2 year warranty.
3) Dig out the old ECU and get it repaired. Does anyone have any experience of getting ECU's repaired i.e. who does it? How much? How long? Will it work afterwards? Is it possible at all? This option also gives the possibility of some mild tweaking. (I suppose [:D][:D][:D]) Although I expect this would be limited with a naturally aspirated car.

Any thoughts would be appreciated....
 
Hi Colin,

It's rare, but not unheard of for an ECU to fail (on a 944S2). Are you sure that your current ECU has failed? (or is about to) There is a very specific test routine to undertake to determine a failed ECU (documented within the workshop manuals). I would certainly advise beeing 100% that it is the ECU and not failure of a sensory input or other wired connection.

Porsch-apart will gladly sell you another ECU. They (like most breakers) do not warrant 2nd hard parts and I am sure their 'goodwill' policy will not extend to 13 months after supply (I wouldn't even ask personally).

You can get a new exchnage ECU (requires your old one). These are supplied as new sealed units with warranty. We have only supplied these for 911 3.2 models - hence, not sure of the cost of a 944S2 version. A repair is also possible, but may not be cost effective.

If you are having issues with the engine cutting out. Check the DME relay and AFM (Air Flow Meter) connections first. Both simple and easy to look at and statistically more likely to be the cause of your engine cutting out. There are also other things that could potentially cause your symptoms.

Good luck in getting it sorted out.

Regards,
Andrew
 
Forgot to say that the first thing I did was to put my spare DME relay in, but it did not improve the situation.
 
High fuel pressure kills more 944S2's than anything else.

Standard 944 S2 fuel pressure is 3.8 bar at the rail.. when the fuel pressure regulator fails it causes more mechanical load on the fuel injectors, which causes more electrical load on the injector harness to open the injectors, which in turn causes the injector line drivers in the ecu to run hot and fail.

Check your fuel pressure.

Its also worth doing a resistance and waveform check on your flywheel sensor... it could be begining to break down.

other than that, it could be any one of many things, hard to tell without seeing the car... should not take a competant porsche technician more than an hour to pin point.

 
This may not be relenvent but.
A few years ago my 926 Turbo 2 was giving trouble and everything pointed to the DME (ECU) unit. I tried a new relay without success. The car had been fitted with a replacement DME 12 months earlier.
The problem turned out to be the fact that the rubber gaiter on the DME unit was pushing the plug out !! It was acting like a spring and some washing up liquid on the rubber did the trick. I also had the same problem with a Ducati motorcycle and John Barnatt (924 nutter) had the same with his Turbo in fact it was John who discovered the cure.
 
There is an unbelieveably great place out Southend way that I got my Bosch distributor parts from. You want an induction coil for a 924 distributor, they have got it. They also get E.C.U.s repaired by a specialist in Milton Keynes.
They don't appear to have a website.

S.A.M.E.S Ltd
201-207 West Road
Westcliff-On-Sea Essex SS0 9DE
Tel: 01702 344613

give them a try
 
Just an update for those that might be interested.

The problem I was having was a complete lack of power, even though then engine continued to idle.

This turned out to be very dirty contacts on the Air Flow sensor.

As I described the symptoms to Dave (the Bosch expert at JZ Machtech) he said that this sounded like the same as a common problem on 964s.

A bit of a relief as it only cost me a bit of labour and a few sleepless nights [:-]

Looking forward to going to pick her up tomorrow morning [:)]
 
Great news Colin!
Dave really knows his stuff, so you were in safe hands there (he even did the engine swap on my car).
Best regards,
Peter
 
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