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[Chris56]

When things go wrong it always seems to be expensive!
I have had power steering and ignition units go which cost £700 a time, now my TC and ABS lights come on occasionally and I lose speedometer. It looks like another control unit and another £700. In the meantime is it totally safe to drive? or have I just lost ABS and TC

[TheBoy]

You've lost ABS and TC.  There is a company that recons them for £125, and have reasonably quick turnaround as well.

[Chris56]

I have found comment that they are a pig to get off though. Is it safe to drive do you know?

[TheBoy]

I have found comment that they are a pig to get off though. Is it safe to drive do you know?

Its likely the ABS and TC - vital parts of the cars safety systems - are non functional.  Its possible this may affect your insurance in the case of an accident.

So depends on your definition of 'safe'.

I would be looking at getting it sorted ASAP (ie, within days).

[Chris56]

Thanks for that, my definition of safe is that the brakes still work normally although the ABS is not working

[TheBoy]

Thanks for that, my definition of safe is that the brakes still work normally although the ABS is not working

The brakes should still work normally, its a simple electronic failure of the ECU.  There is a remote possibility that it may leave the solenoids in a position to disable the brakes on one or more wheels, but incredibly unlikely.

As said, bear in mind your insurance may be invalid, hence for the £125 cost, worth doing ASAP.

[TheBoy]

I think, as its likely to affect the speedo, its probably illegal to drive in that condition as well  :-/

[Chris56]

Can you let me know who the recon company is?

[cbs2]

I've had the same prob for the past couple of weeks. every now & then the lights came on & i lost the speedo. While I was changing the handbrake cable today, my tame mechanic (bruv-in-law) scrubbed the oil & crap out of the rear sensor rings & cleaned the sensors up. Cars been fine on the way home.

Might be worth giving this a try before shelling notes out

I'll keep you posted if it works on mine

[Dazzler]

Can you let me know who the recon company is?

www.bba-reman.com

This is the one i used

[TheBoy]

Can you let me know who the recon company is?

www.bba-reman.com

This is the one i used

^^^
what he said, sorry, couldn't remember the name of them

[Derek_in_Penzance]

I've just had mine doen at ECu Testing, 23a Church St, Eastwood, Nottingham NG16 3HP.

www.ecutesting.com

Phone 01773 535638

info@ecu-testing.com

Very quick turnaround, only a few days, cost £128 inc. VAt and delivery.

I will stop short of a 100% recommendation as I haven't fitted the unit yet but but I have no reason to think that it won't work. They do them all the time. They only need the electronic bit -the ECU, not the pump part or the whole pump/ECU combo.

And yes, on my 1998 3.0 Elite estate it was a pig of a job to get it off. I used the Maintenance Guide article on thsi site and it was very helpful, although I did deviate a bit, mainly through frustration with my poor eyesight. So I'm not looking forward to putting it back on!

One tip -the release clip for the plug (pink on mine) was difficult to slide outwards towards towards the  RH inner wing (nearside) of the car. It needs to be pulled right out about an inch or more before the plug comes off. The Guide mentions this but doesn't say just how difficult it is!

[Entwood]

I can vouch for bba-reman ... had the ABS ECU rebuilt by them on the old miggy .. excellent service, they received it on the monday pm - I couriered it to them, they phoned on the wednesday am, with the test result - mendable, £135 including return courier & VAT, 2 year warranty - we gave the go-ahead, it was back with us friday pm, fitted saturday, I left for a two week holiday in France on the monday !!!!