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ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 7:55 pm
by sarahjane.thomson
Here's what's happened...

Driving for about one minute and suddenly most of the lights on the dash came on, a couple of seconds later the engine cut out. I retried restarting the engine but to no avail. Electrics would still work. After a few minutes, if I was lucky the engine would start but would cut out again just seconds later. Car had to be towed to independent VW garage.

After looking at the car for a day, the garage called to let me know they were taking a really good look at it. Their fear was that the ECU was shot and the cost for replacement is 700pounds alone. They spent another day checking all cables and fuses, and confirmed that the ECU is definitely need replacing.

Total cost for replacement ECU and labour is 1254.60. As I'm sure you can understand, I'm pretty upset considering this is a 2011 VW with just 33k miles on the clock - the ECU should not be failing. Unfortunately I'm 6months out of my Arnold Clark warranty. My only slight hope is that perhaps given the high cost maybe Volkwagen will offer some level of goodwill?

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Sarah Jane

Re: ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:00 pm
by Cuprabob
I suspect get goodwill from VW, the fault would have needed to be diagnosed and subsequently repaired by a VW franchise dealer.

It does no harm to give VW Customer Services a call but I fear you'll be onto plums unless you want to transfer the car to a dealer to diagnose and repair.

Normally, I would also say speak to AC but in my experience they are useless.

Re: ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:25 pm
by sarahjane.thomson
Yes I had issues with Arnold Clark previously so I hadn't even considered calling them up.

Lets see what VW say - can always get my breakdown cover to take the car to an authorized dealer if thats what they want. Feels like it makes little difference to me when I have no car anyway. Saving any amount of money would be a huge help right now.

Re: ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:28 pm
by Cuprabob
Good luck...

Re: ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:30 pm
by Roy_01
Buy a second hand ecu from a specialist and let them install it. 1254 pounds is way too much!

Re: ECU Failure

Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:28 pm
by greg7728
Contact VW via social media too - they don't like bad press but will need diagnosis from VW dealership to get good will


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