Club 80-90 Forums

hi i have a 1990 2.1 caravelle and it will not start , the aa said the ignition amplifier has gone , so the coil is fine but no spark to the dissy. and i have no lights or readings on my dash . does this sound like the ecu is buggered or what else could it be ? cheers [color=blue][/color]

No lights or gauges on the dash is bugger all to do with the ECU, more likely an ignition switch or earth problem.

If you have a dodgy ignition switch you wont get current to the ECU or ignition amp.

The ignition amp is a separate unit from the ECU too.

Start with the simple stuff and work from that.

T

If AA have said it was ign amplifer and it was not the hall sender in the dizzy needs checking for an output.

from what i've read, and been told, the ECU is generally very reliable, and is hardly ever to blame for ign faults and should only be suspected as a very last option after usual stuff like ign amp module, hall sender in dizzy base plate, coil, leads,plugs, bad earths, broken/corroded wiring etc.

having had the ecu off i have put it back on and the van starts but only with the dash multi plug disconnected. the printed circuit looks knacked.thank god a new ecu from vw is £860!!!! thanks for the answers
cheers bert

Frost auto restoration do some stuff that is meant to be a paint on conductive repair for broken circuit boards/flexi circuit film, have'nt used it personally but might be worth a try if thats the problem.