can ECU's be repaired | FerrariChat
Buy

can ECU's be repaired

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by prancin horse, Nov 7, 2007.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. prancin horse

    prancin horse Karting

    Aug 22, 2005
    52
    Naples Florida
    Full Name:
    chris
    #1 prancin horse, Nov 7, 2007
    I have a bad front seat ECU on a 95 456gt. Anyone know if and where I can get it repaired. Also looking for the motor that controls the recline function, I believe this is what failed the ECU. Ricambie has replacements for 1,300 USD but with just the recline function not working, I am hoping it can be repaired.
     
  2. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 24, 2006
    15,833
    Cerritos, CA.
    Full Name:
    Mike
    #2 miketuason, Nov 7, 2007
    Actually most circuit board can be repair as long as you have the schematic diagram, flowchart, and a list of values and specs for each component, and of course an O-scope will help too.
     
  3. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,055
    USA
    #3 f355spider, Nov 7, 2007
    Google search. There are places that specialize in such repairs.
     
  4. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
    73,104
    MidTN
    Full Name:
    DGS
    #4 DGS, Nov 8, 2007
    If it's just the one function, you might want to check the peripheral parts first -- it could be the switch or wiring rather than the solid state stuff.

    (Some shops will replace the expensive unit first -- because it's easier to get to.)

    Tracing a fault in solid state electronics is very labor intensive, requiring not very common analytical capabilities. Unless there's a specific analyzer system built for the device, it can cost more to trace, analzye and repair a computer than to replace it. And high density integrated circuitry can mean having to replace expensive parts just to repair.

    And many automotive computer boxes are environmentally sealed with conformal coating that would have to be stripped off and then re-applied to make the repaired unit equivalent to a replacement.

    Computers can be repaired -- but it's often cheaper to just replace it.
     
  5. 335s

    335s Formula Junior

    Jan 17, 2007
    870
    SF Bay Area
    Full Name:
    T. Monma
    #5 335s, Nov 8, 2007
    additionally, in my experience, the mechanical portions of the systems combined with additional overloading of the circuitry-usually spelled poor grounding, high resisitence)- are major contributing factors to the failure chart....check the "transmissions" in your seat frame, motors and drive assemlies circuits and so forth BEFORE popping in the new UCU lest you replay the failure episode....


    a 1995 456GT was a $207,000.00 Monronied vehicle, pus T&L....$1200 seems to be a statistically insignificant percent-no?
     
  6. prancin horse

    prancin horse Karting

    Aug 22, 2005
    52
    Naples Florida
    Full Name:
    chris
    #6 prancin horse, Nov 8, 2007
    I agree. When I switched the ecu with the working driver seat ecu the seat behaved the same way. Which told me it was the motor not the ecu. But when I reinstalled the driver seat ecu I lost the recline function there also. So in my infininate wisdom I have now fried the recline functions in both ecu's due to what I assume is a bad motor in the passenger seat. I have found a local expert that is going to look at the ecu and go from there. Thanks for all your info it was informative and helpful. Finally the 2,600 it could cost me is a small price for the great pleasure I get from driving this car and living my dream of owning part of the heritage that is Ferrari. I think i will leave the maintenence to the pros in the future.
     
  7. BwanaJoe

    BwanaJoe Formula 3

    Oct 23, 2006
    1,764
    Former Space Coast
    Full Name:
    Joe Burlein
    #7 BwanaJoe, Nov 8, 2007
    How can the motor in the seat fry the ECU?! (Even more glad I have a 308!)
     
  8. prancin horse

    prancin horse Karting

    Aug 22, 2005
    52
    Naples Florida
    Full Name:
    chris
    #8 prancin horse, Nov 8, 2007
    fixed both ecu's tonight. the boards were blown and soldiered in jumper at fault location. must be short in the motor which caused the boards to blow. sure beats replacing ecu's. motor should not be difficult to fix will investigate this weekend.
     
  9. Jeff Pintler

    Jeff Pintler Formula Junior

    Jul 20, 2005
    537
    Richland
    Full Name:
    Jeff Pintler
    #9 Jeff Pintler, Nov 10, 2007
    Don't beat yourself up for swaping the module and toasting it. A dealer would have installed a new module, fried it, then repaired the motor, then installed a new module. These guys at the dealership aren't any smarter than we are. And the short could be a pinched wire to the motor.

    Jeff Pintler
    89 348tb, 86tr
     
  10. prancin horse

    prancin horse Karting

    Aug 22, 2005
    52
    Naples Florida
    Full Name:
    chris
    #10 prancin horse, Nov 10, 2007
    you were right Jeff, damaged wire was the culprit. I now have my 2+2 back instead of a 1+2. All motors and swithces were fine all along>
     

Share This Page