[RESOLVED]

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Hi guys,

I have 1 hour to change my ECU before my wife needs the car for an urgent hospital appointment.

I'm stuck on the exact part that I knew I was going to be..... because all other instructions and help I'd gotten were really clear.... until the removal of the plugs, which was described as "just remove the clips".

I am at the plugs and I cannot determine what or where the 'clips' are that are holding the ECU plugs into the ECU.

Are we talking about these 'cable tie' type things, and if so, how are they removed? ..... do they need to be cut?

Other than these I am at a loss as to what 'clips' I am looking for in order to get the plugs out.

Many thanks for any help!

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear

As you look at the two plugs that go into the ecu, the clips are on the outside edge of both plugs and need to be pulled outwards (towards the wings). The cable ties do not need to be cut, the clips are located behind them and can be pulled outwards using your fingers.

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by tonyb8063

Thanks so much mate - went straight out and found them ...... it's that magic word "behind" ... as the clips are hard to see unless you know what you're going for

Got one out and going for the other now - many thanks once again - lifesaver!

hi mate, stab in the dark here - are there little push-in clips either side of the plugs, if you follow me?

never mind, looks like you sorted it!

Ok, you SO know what's coming next! ....... :sun:

Got plugs off no problem, but now can't figure out how to physically loosen and remove ECU ....... I can see a black 'bar' at the right hand side but can't figure out whether it somehow slides up, or out... (doesn't seem to want to move).

Any clues ?

Cheers

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear

use a flat point screwdriver or your fingers and pull the black metal bar out to the right, it just bends out as the hook locks over a small pin, then just pull the ecu out.

or this,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hope you get sorted quick, mate.

My God, getting this ECU out is singlehandedly the most god-forsaken hell-like job I've ever done on a car. Eventually discovered that the part of the 'black bar' that you need to move is at the back of the ECU retainer plate (not the front as you would intuitively expect). But even with the bar bent back, the ECU did not 'slide out', it came out begrudgingly, 1mm at a time, desperate not to see daylight!

It's out now, but I'm bleedin' dreading getting the new one in ...... and, well, I'm just bleedin'..... physically!

It will all make sense when I tell you that I could not get my wipers off (no puller), so have done the job with the wipers on, and the skuttle plate just held up by a couple of bits and bobs ...... keyhole surgery anyone?

I have got it done in the end ............... but this is a horrible job, and I wouldn't recommend anyone trying it this way....... I actually wish I had paid my local garage £30 to get this little b'stard out !!!!!

Cheers

Jesus.... when I think I'm over the hump and things can't get worse .............. Large ECU Plug went onto new ECU no problem........ small ECU plug just will not go onto the ECU....... 20+ attempts.... obviously I'm not going to force it but it just will not go on. Can't see any bent pins, I'm holding the guard clip out the way but it just will not go on........ sodding nightmare.

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear

I take it the new ecu is IMMO defeated (or the original)

You need to push the clip in a little as you push the connector on. If the new ECU is not a clone or immo defeated, you will need to use VCDS to pair it with the cluster.

Bah!.....Monsoon rains arrive while I'm trying to finish this absolute hellpit of a job..... Took ECU back out and unplugged large plug, eventually got small plug in.... now large plug will not go in.

I am an idiot !! ...... cannot get wipers of and just cannot get both plugs onto the ECU while the ECU is in position...... the action of trying to push on the large plug closes the 'lock clips' prematurely and it is just impossible to do this job without taking the wipers and skuttle plate off...... I know.... I said it above - I'm a f***ng idiot.

PS... New ECU is Immo defeated

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear

Feeling for you mate, had the same wiper/scuttle problem when swapping mine last week but had a mate to lend a hand. Got it done in 1 hour but wouldn't fancy trying it on my own.

Ok, for future generations reading this thread ---> ......if you are an idiot like me and attempt to change an ECU on an Octavia, without removing the wipers, take note that the only physical way to be able to get both ECU plugs back onto the ECU (when doing this job this way) is to have them both unplugged, push them together, inwards, into eachother, and then plug them simultaneously into the ECU. If you try and plug 1 plug in first, you will not get the other one on, as you just cannot get the right angle to pull out the safety catches while putting the plug on........ again, this only applies if you're doing this job the idiots way: key hole surgery

So ....... got the ECU changed eventually, and the car starts, so that's a good initial sign ....... but my head is too mashed to do anything else, so I'm off to put a damp towell on my head and listen to white noise.

PS........ For anyone needing to change their ECU, don't be an idiot like me and believe the person who said you can change the ECU on these cars, without taking off the wipers, and by just "lifting the skuttle panel out of the way" ...... it is possible, but only by going to hell and back. Just get a puller and get your wipers off and do it properly, without twisting and bending your plastic skuttle plate ........... or pay a garage to do it.

Took me 2.5 hours of hell, and some seriously cut hands.

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear

2.5 hours to change that?

woow! was it laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

........ was it laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

....it was like doing three of those! :sun:

Now go and buy yourself a wiper puller

Now go and buy yourself a wiper pull

A pint first, then a Wiper Pull :sun:

I love your threads Longyear. All ways full of fun and excitement lol. Glad you got it sorted in the end mate. Just out of curiosity have you done the cage mod? If so did you notice any difference at all?

I love your threads Longyear. All ways full of fun and excitement lol. Glad you got it sorted in the end mate. Just out of curiosity have you done the cage mod? If so did you notice any difference at all?

Thanks Lol! ..... yes, always some drama

Yes, I did the cage mod while the car was standard (bought some of the bielectric silicone grease especially for it) .........after treating the MAF and N75 contacts I could 100% notice smoother running, better idling, and also the car seemed freer revving, up the rev range (probably due to a good strong MAF signal coming in when the air volume was higher).

So def worth doing! ........... before I put the grease on, I thoroughly cleaned with electrical contact cleaner first

Edited 22 June, 201213 yr by Longyear