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[Derek_in_Penzance]

I thought this might be interesting. I nearly slit my wrists today removing my ABS ECU from my 1998 3.0 Elite mini-facelift. I used this method to get onto the lowest pair of small Torx screws:



This is the bottom LH screw, going through the battery tray with a combination of 1/4" drive extensions, including a spring coil extension.

The bottom RH screw was mucgh more difficult. I useda  chisel asa  wedge to force the whoole ABS punp assembly away from the water pump and pump mounting frame (bad practice I know, but hell, I was getting desperate trying to get onto that screw). Then I used a longer combination of extensions, again with the spring coil piece (in the middle). The extension assembly was pushed up through the bottom front of the engine bay, bedside the chassis leg, then guided onto the screw. It took me ages, but worked in the end. See photo below.

They won't be going back in that way mind. I plan to weld an extension to them so that they are longer and much easier to position & do up.

[Derek_in_Penzance]

Here's the long extension. Note the spring coil section. This is crucial, and allows the Torx tip to be manoeuvred onto the screw by resting the extensions against a pipe (as a fulcrum) and manipulating its shape.



This probably isn't the best way to do this job but it was the first time for me and I just had to improvise with what tools I had at hand, and what advice I could glean from this forum (thanks to the Maintenance Guide, very helpful -I wouldn't have had a clue otherwise).

I didn't take a photo of me actually using the extension on the bottom RH screw as by that time I was getting pretty fed up! Camera pics were the last thing on my mind.

Anyway the ECU is on my kitchen table now, and I am glaring at it. I hope it feels appropriately guilty for wasting nine hours of my life!

[MutantCav]

I really must be missing something here??? Keep hearing its 6 torx screws...ABS/TC unit right??

When I'm removing an engine I just undo the 10mm bolt from the left hand side of the ABS/TC unit and prise the frame holding the ABS/TC unit in place a little to slide the units holding bolt and out it comes... then its just a matter of undoing the earth bolt the connector and the wires to the the top of the unit...

[Varche]

Well done Derek.

What took you so long! I reckon mine only took 5 hours to get off.

Good luck with putting it back together. Check the steering pump reservoir pipes for leaks afterwards.

varche

[Derek_in_Penzance]

What took me so long? Too many cups of tea I expect, and thinking about it ... and thinking...trying not to dismantle anything more than was really necessary ... taking pics... also my eyes are not what they used to be so I must have spent at least two hours on the lower LH screw, trying to focus on it from under the car!

Oh, and every single plastic clip or connection these days is unique, usually with a Chinese-puzzle method of unclipping. No wonder so many plastic bits are are found broken on cars.

Next time, I'll be quicker.  

Maybe.

[Varche]

I'm impressed that you did it from below the car! If I had got down I would still have been there now.

My eyes too are so bad for the close up stuff. I did mine by touch from above. Mind you I did have the replacement to hand to judge where the wretched holes are.

What is this about next time. I won't be doing another one. Once is enough for most people.

varche

[dbug]

I really must be missing something here??? Keep hearing its 6 torx screws...ABS/TC unit right??

When I'm removing an engine I just undo the 10mm bolt from the left hand side of the ABS/TC unit and prise the frame holding the ABS/TC unit in place a little to slide the units holding bolt and out it comes... then its just a matter of undoing the earth bolt the connector and the wires to the the top of the unit...

Its 6 x torx screws holding ABS/TC ECU to ABS block.  Need to undo the 6 torx screws to change nackered ECU only.

[dbug]

Did mine from above - didn't need to remove anything except top rad hose.  Very tight used "long" torx blades with ratchet ring spanner (magnetised torx blade!).  Old off and replacement back on in a morning.

Edit - link added
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1203113254/5#5