I am about to book my 2103 1.6 TDI estate in for service. The attached photo is not from my car but a library image.

 

At the top right hand corner of the photo and attached to the bulkhead is a silver box with wires and a plug. I'm guessing it may be something to do with the ECU but not sure. The plastic bracket seems to have broken and the silver casing is lose. I have retained it with a large cable tie for now.

 

Just so I can describe it properly to the service dept, could anyone just describe what it is.

 

Sorry for such a numpty question and I hope my attached file is visible.

 

 

Are you referring to the silver box behind the airbox? That would be the ECU.

 

ECU is usually there and it is extremely unlikely to come loose. Better, close up photos could help. 

Has anybody fiddled with the ECU before, like remapping by any chance?

ECU is usually there and it is extremely unlikely to come loose. Better, close up photos could help. 

Has anybody fiddled with the ECU before, like remapping by any chance?

 

Unsure about Non-VRS' but on the VRS the ECU is 'locked' and is a bigger job to remap so I haven't bothered.

Thanks for the reply chaps. I'm fairly certain it is the ECU. I have attached two actual photos that I have just taken.

 

As you can see near the top of the unit, I have used a black cable tie to keep the unit in what seems to be it's plastic bracket, which in turn it attached solidly to the bulkhead. It looks like something has failed on the plastic bracket, allowing the unit to fall forward.

 

ECU that is. Perhaps your regular service engineer was a tad ham fisted while replacing the air filter? YOu had the car from new I gather?

ECU that is. Perhaps your regular service engineer was a tad ham fisted while replacing the air filter? YOu had the car from new I gather?

Cheers. Yes, had the car from new and fairly sure it was secure until just recently.

 

Car is going in for service next week so will point it out.

 

Thanks to all who have commented.

How did you manage to buy a 2103 car?????? :happy:

How did you manage to buy a 2103 car?????? :happy:

Obvious… He went back to the future! :clap:

I would be worried that it was loose and may have been swapped or used by the garage for some reason.

My ECU came loose in a simlar way, but as the bracket wasn't broken (just seemed to have been 'stretched' in some way), I put a small piece of foam behind the ECU and re-fitted it into the bracket. My car had not had any work done on it before the ECU came loose, so I cannot blame the mechanic for damaging the bracket, just one of those freak things I suppose.

It does bug me that many plastic parts don't stand the rigours of time. I would have thought though, that your Heath Robinson approach was going to be just as good as replacement of the bracket, unless its quite a cheap item, and may even last longer or be easy enough to re-replace. That said, YOU will always notice it! Make sure the part is snug and not vibrating or rattling unduly so it doesn't kill the ECU.

Obvious… He went back to the future! :clap:

 

I'm the urban spaceman. Didn't you know? There's even a song about me.

My ECU came loose in a simlar way, but as the bracket wasn't broken (just seemed to have been 'stretched' in some way), I put a small piece of foam behind the ECU and re-fitted it into the bracket. My car had not had any work done on it before the ECU came loose, so I cannot blame the mechanic for damaging the bracket, just one of those freak things I suppose.

 

Don't think it really is freak as from what you describe, it's exactly the same with mine. Going in for a service next week so I'll get them to sort it out.

 

As mrgf says, the plastic bracket doesn't seem to have stood up to just 20 months. It is deformed rather than damaged.

I'm the urban spaceman. Didn't you know? There's even a song about me.

Theres one about me too, its called the Winker song (Misprint). By Ivor biggun and the red nosed burglars!