Does anyone know if I could put the ECU from a automatic into a manual s line to repair it?

[Adam Rhodes]

I had a lovely dolphin grey Audi A3 s line that was my baby and it's 2003 and I have always kept it immaculate and well looked after but right at the end of winter the last snow fall we had I had stopped out after a night out and had my jacket stolen and next morning I went to drive back home and it struggled to start and regrettably I stopped at my local shops just wearing a jumper and when I tried to leave it was dead! I tried to bump start it but had no traction on the ice and the car behind me was giving me the horn so I stopped trying got out went to his window and said the battery is dead and he offered to give me a jump start. 

Well long story short I opened the bonnet freezing in heavy sleet and wind and he was having troubles with his so I put the lead's on my car and he said he'd tell me when to turn it over but the idiot put the lead's the wrong way and when I tried to start it all the dash lit up and went pitch black I jump out knowing it wasn't right to see the cables nearly on fire and I had to call a tow truck! I hoped that a relay or fuse had just gone but it was the ECU that took the punishment!! 

So I got it checked and the mechanic said 800 to get the ECU sent off and repaired or I get the clocks, locks, key's and ECU from a similar car for around 600 and run the risk of them working and been all from the same car!! So I was desperate for transportation and looked everywhere and whilst looking found a cheap 2.0 2006 4 door with automatic and tectonic gears. So I bought it and my friends all said green cars were unlucky and the first week on the road a woman reversed into the driver side! Twice!! And after repairs I was waiting for someone and a old man in a smart car parked on the other side of the road also managed to reverse straight into the passager side and burst the tyre!! When I tried to change the wheel someone had overtighten the bolts and I rounded off the locking nut!! After a nightmare I got them off and switched the wheels from the other car and the insurance made a right mess spraying the wing and only half the bumper so it was two tone! And the wing hits the door when opened taking paint off and since getting it back the gearbox slips out of gear and doesn't change right!! And during the heat I washed both cars with the hosepipe and the window screen cracked straight across ☹️ 

The garage hasn't contacted me to fix it and my insurance policy with the company in question ran out.

So now I just want to give up on the green one and get my nice reliable one working again.

 

Does anyone know if I can use the ECU clocks locks and keys to make the manual a3s work?? It's same engine type and size. 

Please please please let me know and advise me as Audi themselves want silly money to repair the burned out ECU and clocks

[Steve Q]

Sorry to hear of all your bad luck. It's the kind of luck I have too! 

I'm not sure if it will work as I'm sure the ECU for auto is slightly different. My advice would be to speak to a ECU specialist or Audi to see if it'll fit. 

Cheers

Steve

[Magnet]

Hello Adam, 

If I was in your situation, I too would follow Steve's advice, but also talk with a local trusted auto electrician, since it's likely that any such work taken on by garages close to you will be subcontracted to such an auto electrician. 

I must confess that I am short on knowledge of the total extent of damage caused by reverse polarity on 'modern' vehicles, but expect the alternator to now be faulty as well, since it's usual that the diodes in there have been adversely affected by connecting the leads the wrong way around. I must say, I am surprised by the leads ' almost catching fire' unless the two cars were in physical 'earth' contact. 

Kind regards,

Gareth, 

[Adam Rhodes]

I have just been offered the correct ECU for the car for just 35 quid but I thought I would have to get clocks locks fob and ECU from the same car?! If I get this one can it be reprogrammed does anyone know? I know they can reprogam the keys to a different frequency but not sure where the clocks come in to it all

 

[Steve Q]

On 9/1/2018 at 2:35 PM, Adam Rhodes said:

I have just been offered the correct ECU for the car for just 35 quid but I thought I would have to get clocks locks fob and ECU from the same car?! If I get this one can it be reprogrammed does anyone know? I know they can reprogam the keys to a different frequency but not sure where the clocks come in to it all

 

I'd be getting the clocks to be on the safe side as I know it's an issue on my model of a6. My view is, if in doubt get the parts. Better safe than sorry. 

[Adam Rhodes]

I just got the new ECU today I will let you know how I get on.

With luck I will finally hear my s line prrrrr again and I can get rid of the other A3 then

 

[Adam Rhodes]

It surprised me that the serial numbers on the ECU are identical to my original one except the last three didgets? 

I am hoping that the car will run ok and I will have to have the fobs reprogrammed ?

This is what I am hoping for but what actually happens will be another thing I'm sure lol

No venture no gain and for under 50 quid it's not a expensive lesson

[Adam Rhodes]

He was in a van reving the nuts off as he gave me the thumbs up and it was in heavy sleet and snow but the leads I still have are seriously melted and the red one nearly black where it goes into the one clip? 

I too have never seen cables do that but I have never seen anyone stupid enough to put the cables the wrong way either?? 

I have just received a new ECU through the post and going to fit it tomorrow.

Thanks for the heads up about the alternator being fried. If she runs tomorrow I will take the one from my 4 door A3 and move my insurance ect over to the s line.

I have missed her something crazy.

She should fly through the mot as hardly moved since the last one

[Adam Rhodes]

I tried fitting just a replacement ECU and if anyone is ever in the same position you do need the clocks and if possible the ignition+ door lock and keys I'm afraid ☹️

I spent a couple of hours making sure it was fitted correctly and got a multimeter to test the feed and I am pretty certain in a case of reverse polarity it doesn't just fry the ECU but also the clocks as no illumination. The car trys to start every time but stalls after a second 😕