I'm in shock. My 53 Octy 130 Elegance has been great, racking up 117000 miles with nothing but regular servicing and replacing usual bits. Then out of the blue it would not start. The AA man tried to find the fault and couldn't. Local independent garage tried and failed. Then it was down to the main dealer for more specialist help. They charged £410 to fit a new battery and tell me what was wrong - the ABC ECU was beyond repair and would cost £840 to buy and the rest of the £1200 to fit. They did make it roadworthy but, of course, the ABS icon is permanently on, as is the brake icon. The trade-in value is probably worth not much more than the cost of the total bill - around £1600. I do have 8 months left on the MOT, so I have time to think about what to do next.

Question: can this ABS ECU replacement work be done significantly cheaper, to allow me to hold on to what is otherwise a very nice car? Or should I trade it in at a main dealer, who would probably knock off an unknown amount from the true trade-in price before sending my car off unsentimentally to the auction?

give these people a call http://www.bba-reman.com/UK/index.aspx

How would the abs ecu cause your car not to start??????? if the light wasnt on before it went to the dealer then i suspect they have done some damage to the wiring/unit as part of the diagnostics for the non start.

If its like volvos then the abs unit has immobilizer codes in it and when it goes tits up car wont start

They can take down the CAN-Bus, so the ECU can't communicate with the dash insert.

This means the immo check fails and the car will stop after 3 seconds. When you unplug the ABS ECU the bus is back up so the car will start. The dash can't see the ABS unit so the light comes on

They can take down the CAN-Bus, so the ECU can't communicate with the dash insert.

This means the immo check fails and the car will stop after 3 seconds. When you unplug the ABS ECU the bus is back up so the car will start. The dash can't see the ABS unit so the light comes on

That is exactly what happened. Thank you for explaining it so succinctly. I'm now off to follow the link that you kindly sent me.

Ah i see,you learn something new every day! thanks guys!