ECU - ECU for C200 1997 Elegance

[Peter van Houten]

As a newcomer to this forum, please forgive my jumping in with a request.  I am involved in the IT world, not vehicles.  I am however, in a desperate situation and would appreciate any help or direction.

I own the above car and the local service agent tells me that the Engine Control Unit is faulty.  *Apparently*, this is a common fault on these vehicles and the unit is sealed and cannot be repaired. The price they have quoted to replace the ECU is exorbitant.  If you are able to, please point me in the right direction to have this unit repaired or replaced at a reasonable cost.

Peter van Houten
Peaceland

 

[simon]

ECU

Hi Peter,
             If you look below this post , you will note that I asked Andy how reliable ECUs are & he answered it in detail,together with problems with testing.
I see that you are in S.Africa...I may have a contact over there who can advise.Give me a couple of days & I will
send you a private message.

regards
Ernest.

 

[Andy]

ECU

Hi Peter,

I would be interested to know what the fault is?

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[Peter van Houten]

ECU

Thanks for the replies so far, my blood pressure is already starting to lower knowing that there is a *support group* out there.

The problem with the engine is that it appears to only be firing on 3 cylinders (maybe 2).  It was still drivable (albeit at 30mph) until I took the car to the local agents and they passed the ECU onto an unqualified 3rd party  to attempt a repair.  He sent it back to the agents unrepaired with all the bonding wires unsoldered from the board (which is protected by a gel layer). That's when the legal stuff started...

 

[dave elcome]

ECU

Sounds to me as thought the local agents had better order you a new ECU, and then fit it free of charge, after having loaned you a car whilst yours is sick, and sent your wife a nice bunch of flowers to help ease the stress!!.......... then i woke up!!

 

[Andy]

ECU

Hi

Sorry to be a kill joy. But I will be very supprised if the missfire was caused by the ECU.

Regards

Andy @ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[dave elcome]

ECU

Oh dear.

 

[Peter van Houten]

ECU

I have been in a legal battle with the agents to get them to  repair the fault since September 2000. My car has been standing in their workshops since then.  Remember, this is South Africa we're talking about...

Can anyone out there give me a ballpark cost of an ECU from the UK in £ or even better, if there is a qualified repair facility in the UK?

 

[Peter van Houten]

ECU

Sorry Andy, I missed your reply.  I was surprised to hear the agent's diagnosis myself.  I have never had problems like this with the Mercs I have owned previously.  However, that is irrelavent now as they have virtually trashed the ECU and unless I can get the unit to someone who actually knows what they are doing, I am going to be in for £1,250.

 

[simon]

ECU

peter,
       You sound in a pretty bad way, try www.carelect.co.uk regarding the ECU repair.Should they be unable to help they might know someone who can.

regards
Ernest

(Edited by Ernest Sidesman at 9:01 pm on Feb. 4, 2002)

 

[Peter van Houten]

ECU

Thanks Ernest, but that URL is dead.  Is there perhaps a typo?

 

[Matt Crooke]

ECU

If you know for definate that its the ECU at fault maybe you could get one from a decent breakers yard or something???