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[Tim11111]

As you can see from the title, I know what the probable problem is! But as that will probably result in a cost equivalent to what I paid for the car two years ago, and I have limited time at the moment, it'll probably result in the car being scrapped! So I want to try anything else first.

The other day, some idiot in a mini was not looking where they were going and came round a corner in the middle of the road, resulting in me locking my brakes up to avoid a collision. On leaving work that day I noticed my ABS & TC lights were on (didn't notice anything else wrong such as loss of speedo or power steering), so pulled over for a few minutes, started her up and all was fine again. Then next day was cruising down the motorway, and the lights popped up again and speedo stopped working (no loss of rev counter, and didn't notice any change to steering) for about a minute then all returned to normal.

Don't know if this could have any impact such as misalignment of sensors, but had 4 wheel alignment done a week or two before. Although I've probably done 500 miles since then.

So to test all easy options before losing her:

1) Possible fuse or relay failure/failing? Any pointers on which one(s) could be the culprit to check?

2) Sensors - assume rear abs sensors are the one's to check? Guessing all I can do is give them a clean along with toothed gear thing they point at? Would I be correct in assuming these are the ones shown in first pic here?
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=90537.msg1155386#msg1155386

3) Last chance saloon if that fails is checking codes to see if it throws up a faulty sensor. Would paperclip test show his up? If not, is there anyone with tech 2 or similar in Reading area prepared to check it for a few beer tokens?

If worst case of ECU starting to fail, has anyone got past experience of how long these intermittent faults last before full ECU failure?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Tim

[Entwood]

When mine went on the old 2.5 it gave exactly the same symptoms as you initially, then over time it took longer and longer for it to start working from "cold", then it would work for a short time then fail again. Initially I never noticed the steering, but as the failure light was on longer and longer eventualy the steering got quite heavy.

All this happened over about 2 1/2 - 3 months or 3000 miles-ish - I got fed up with it after doing a 2 hour run with it failed ... I went the BBA -Reman route .. £130 to fix, sent it on the Monday , got it back on the Friday.

HTH

[adey2]

if it the same as mine there one on the bay of e at min, wish it there when i needed one as bba did mine too, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABS-Omega-0273004206-/110947338413?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19d4fa08ad&BackToListReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta   hth

[Andy B]

if it the same as mine there one on the bay of e at min, wish it there when i needed one as bba did mine too, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ABS-Omega-0273004206-/110947338413?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19d4fa08ad&BackToListReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fmy.ebay.co.uk%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FMyEbayBeta   hth

I know it's 'only' £15, but you've no idea if it works, or how long it'll continue to work if it does ...... 

[tunnie]

Given its not a fun job removing the old ECU, I'd only fancy doing that job once. So refurbishment of the old one is the best route, as its a fairly common failure 

[Tim11111]

Ok, thanks for all the quick responses. Had a flick through eBay, and there seem to be some reasonably priced ones on there but as Andy says I'd be worried about how long it'd last.

Entwood - thanks for that, with any luck I might have a bit of time to sort it out then (famous last words!)

I'll have a go at cleaning the sensors this weekend in the hope that's what it is (unlikely from other threads I've read).

Can anyone advise if the paper clip test would confirm ECU failure, as that would at least tell me what I need to do, or do I need a proper code read?

Anyone in Reading area prepared to help me out with code diagnosis (and possible ECU removal if needed) for some cash. Might have a look this weekend to assess if I could manage it on my own but looks a bit of a b@5tard job.

Also if I went down the refurb route, would the car be driveable short distances without the ECU in to get me to work? I'm assuming not.

[Andy B]

....
Can anyone advise if the paper clip test would confirm ECU failure, as that would at least tell me what I need to do, or do I need a proper code read?

Unfortunately the paper clip tset just does engine codes. 

.... Might have a look this weekend to assess if I could manage it on my own but looks a bit of a b@5tard job.

I've never had the pleasure (touches copiuos amounts of wood    ) but it appears so. 

Also if I went down the refurb route, would the car be driveable short distances without the ECU in to get me to work? I'm assuming not.

Just bag up the plug, & you can drive the car as far as you want, but only till your next MOT   

[Entwood]

Ok, thanks for all the quick responses. Had a flick through eBay, and there seem to be some reasonably priced ones on there but as Andy says I'd be worried about how long it'd last.

Entwood - thanks for that, with any luck I might have a bit of time to sort it out then (famous last words!)

I'll have a go at cleaning the sensors this weekend in the hope that's what it is (unlikely from other threads I've read).

Can anyone advise if the paper clip test would confirm ECU failure, as that would at least tell me what I need to do, or do I need a proper code read?

Anyone in Reading area prepared to help me out with code diagnosis (and possible ECU removal if needed) for some cash. Might have a look this weekend to assess if I could manage it on my own but looks a bit of a b@5tard job.

Also if I went down the refurb route, would the car be driveable short distances without the ECU in to get me to work? I'm assuming not.

It is physically driveable, the steering will be heavy, you'll have no ABS and no speedo, how this would affect you legally, and how it would affect your insurance, I cannot say ... but I suspect that the latter would probably be invalidated if the insurers ever found out ....

The physical work involved is simple .. and there is a guide .. but make sure the swear box is empty and you have plenty of coins !!!  4 of the 6 bolts are "invisible" and have to be done by feel alone ...and access is poor if you have large hands ... add these together and a simple job becomes a frustrating job .... but it does eventually go back together and work as it should !!

[Tim11111]

Good point on the insurance, wouldn't like to try arguing that one after an accident!

Anyone in my area got the ability to check ECU failure?

[adey2]

bba do there service through ebay too, 100 quid all included   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSCH-ESP-ABS-PUMP-CONTROLLER-MODULE-ECU-0273004206-/390409146263?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5ae632cf97   hth

[Tim11111]

Cheers Adey, looking like recon of unit is a viable option.

Still need to confirm if it is the ECU failing - don't want to go down that route only to find it's something simpler and cheaper.

[adey2]

need to get on to the boy, think hes pretty close to you and has a tech2 to read any probs

[Manual Elite V6]

The ABS ECU has failed 3 times on my car, once in the ownership of my father, he ended up going the second hand route after sending his off to BBA Reman for repair and having them charge him £70 to tell him it couldn't be repaired, then I had that one fail in my ownership after being on the car for 2 years, the one I fitted then failed after just a month and fitted the latest one yesterday morning, BBA Reman is a good option but if it can't be repaired you will still be £70 out of pocket!

[TheBoy]

To check (I know you don't have the equipment, but someone close may have):

Try to access ABS, if you can't its likely the ECU has failed.

If you can, live data, looking at the speed feedback from all 4 wheels - should be bang on in a straight line, up to 3 or 4 KPH difference on corners (maybe a tad more on full lock tight corners). Any problematic sensor or reluctor ring should show up - note if intermittent, you may need to drive around for a bit, whilst monitoring.

For Reading peeps, I'd thoroughly recommend Kevin Wood for this diagnostic, as he's closer than I am.

[Tim11111]

Cheers. Will give Kevin a shout and see if I can pop down to him to diagnose before I dive in and get the ECU out.

Did about 3 hours driving today, and it seemed to flick on and off at random points - although I probably spent about 70% of the time with no speedo and warning lights on. Definitely more constant now so will need to look into fixing it asap.