Drowned ECU's

[CivilSteve]

Or seal it up and map out the sensor if it causes an issue?

It's used as a fuel limitation device for when atmospheric pressure drops, however unless you're climbing mountains then I imagine it won't be much of a problem day to day

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by CivilSteve

Or seal it up and map out the sensor if it causes an issue?

It's used as a fuel limitation device for when atmospheric pressure drops, however unless you're climbing mountains then I imagine it won't be much of a problem day to day

Ok Steve, you've seen MEMS3, and EMS2000 ECM connectors, now why not explain why it is not only impractical to seal a DDE4 ECM, but it actually is detrimental to do so

Brian

[coab]

Originally Posted by marinabrian

Ok Steve, you've seen MEMS3, and EMS2000 ECM connectors, now why not explain why it is not only impractical to seal a DDE4 ECM, but it actually is detrimental to do so

Brian

When Brian offered to use mine as a door stop and returned it to me free as he is a gent and BMW are far superior providing better but goosed ECUs I took my
old one with a used one to a lovely chap in Brum he said I could not “seal” the new one but he sealed the unit about 3” from the bottom only as the barometric
sensor or what ever it’s called could not be sealed off. This chap knew his onions and was willing to do the bottom half in case I had another build up of water.

[Mike Trident]

I pulled out the plastic box containing the ECU on my diesel only a couple of days ago to give the plenum under it a good clean out. I thought the same thing last time I pulled it out, why put it in a nice plastic box, but have a great big hole in the bottom? Plus, the other thing is, why put a plenum drain so high up on the passenger side. By the time the water reached that level the plastic box containing the ECU would be flooded and it would already be game over!

[marinabrian]

Originally Posted by Mike Trident

I pulled out the plastic box containing the ECU on my diesel only a couple of days ago to give the plenum under it a good clean out. I thought the same thing last time I pulled it out, why put it in a nice plastic box, but have a great big hole in the bottom? Plus, the other thing is, why put a plenum drain so high up on the passenger side. By the time the water reached that level the plastic box containing the ECU would be flooded and it would already be game over!

The driver side plenum is at the bottom of the chamber, the same as the passenger side one.......it's only accessible from underneath, as the top is below the brake servo

Brian

[Mike Trident]

It's a facelift, the drivers side is blocked off.

Don't I just have one at the bottom between the ecu and the cabin filter, then one easily spotted at the passenger side?

[BigRuss]

Originally Posted by Mike Trident

It's a facelift, the drivers side is blocked off.

Don't I just have one at the bottom between the ecu and the cabin filter, then one easily spotted at the passenger side?

No there's one on the opposite side just under the brake servo

Unfortunately you can't get to it from the top only from underneath.

Russ

[smudge.g]

Am a bit confused - on my tourer, I have a plenum hole roughly mid way across engine bay, in front of the ECU box, cover presently unmodified so i have to remove the 2 covers to get to it. The only other, that I am aware of, is close to the bonnet hinge on passenger side, easily accessed. Are you saying that there is another one somewhere else??

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by smudge.g

Am a bit confused - on my tourer, I have a plenum hole roughly mid way across engine bay, in front of the ECU box, cover presently unmodified so i have to remove the 2 covers to get to it. The only other, that I am aware of, is close to the bonnet hinge on passenger side, easily accessed. Are you saying that there is another one somewhere else??

My understanding is that there were potentially four drains, but not every car had all four, the later cars had fewer. The important ones, the crucial ones to keep clear, are the lower and more difficult to check ones, at the bottom of the each side of the plenum chamber.


One of which (O/S) simply cannot be seen from above, because it is hidden by the brake vacuum unit. The N/S one can be seen if you remove the plastic top cover, or some have drilled a hole through that cover, to enable the drain to be rodded more easily.



Earlier cars had a pair of useless drains, at high level, just under the rear corners of the bonnet.



For diesel owners, it is absolutely essential to ensure water is NOT allowed to build up in the N/S plenum, because the engine ECU is located in that plenum - so rod the drain often, especially at this time of year when leaves are falling whih tend to block the drains. The ECU is not water tight and numerous owners have suffered ECU damage after flooding.


I check my drains often. The N/S one via a 'spyhole mod'/ hole drilled through the plastic panel. I use a 6mm flexible nylon rod around 600mm long, pushed in via the top on the N/S. On the O/S, I have never been able to rod it from the top - I tackle that by rodding from below, when the car is up on ramps.



Much of the leaf and other debris can be prevented from getting into the plenums, by blocking the plenum to body gaps at the bonnet edges. Jules sells a ready made moulded plastic item, but open cell sponge or gutter guard mesh will work as well, though less neat - simply pushed into the gap.

[smudge.g]

Thats very helpful thanks, note to self to check all drains when I eventually get home this weekend! BTW, i bought this rifle cleaning kit recently:



online for princely sum of 3.00 and it works great for cleaning out the drains, lives in the glovebox!!