Interesting Magna ECU article

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Sigmaproject
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Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Sigmaproject »

makes you wonder if using a 20 year old Magna ECU for a Sigma EFI conversion is such a good idea :\

http://mrgears.50webs.com/ECU2.htm
A112H
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by A112H »

:thumpsup:
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by C_Fernance »

It's not just Magna ecus that have this problem. Anything electronic from this era from ecus through to household electronics suffers from the exact same issues with the capacitors.

Quite a few of the ecu's I have here have warranty void stickers and so on from different companies that have refurbished them.

Replacing the caps is something I will probably need to do soon on the Celsior, it is an extremely well known issue in them that effects everything from the engine and trans, through to the instrument cluster.
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Cottees »

The article seems to be just the guy trying to make people think that only he can repair ECUs, and justify the high price for doing so. The age isn't a real problem if looked after properly. Capacitors can be dodgy, but if replaced, will continue to work well. I have a computer from 1983 that still runs, so age is no real issue. The ECU I have in my GN is one I repaired myself, and works great. With basic soldering skills, it can be repaired. Even if you can't solder, you can find a second hand one for around $40.

This is the inside of the ECU. The cap was leaking a little.
Image

Got higher spec replacement capacitors from Farnell (Now Element 14). I ended up replacing all of the capacitors to make sure.
Image

Desoldered the bad capacitor.
Image

All cleaned up with brand new capacitors.
Image

The GN running with the repaired ECU:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJVyGYNjkc
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Sigmaproject
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Sigmaproject »

Chris

There is a guy on ebay that sells refurbished (?) Magna ecu's for around $130.00 ... I sent him a PM to ask if he replaces the Capacitors, but he hasnt got back to me. The two ecu's I have are supposed to be OK, but I would like to be 100% sure so that I dont spend weeks chasing a problem that is actually the ecu.
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Sigmaproject »

Cottees..you are obviously handy to have around the house. :thumpsup:
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

Cottees wrote:The article seems to be just the guy trying to make people think that only he can repair ECUs, and justify the high price for doing so. The age isn't a real problem if looked after properly. Capacitors can be dodgy, but if replaced, will continue to work well. I have a computer from 1983 that still runs, so age is no real issue. The ECU I have in my GN is one I repaired myself, and works great. With basic soldering skills, it can be repaired. Even if you can't solder, you can find a second hand one for around $40.

This is the inside of the ECU. The cap was leaking a little.
Image

Got higher spec replacement capacitors from Farnell (Now Element 14). I ended up replacing all of the capacitors to make sure.
Image

Desoldered the bad capacitor.
Image

All cleaned up with brand new capacitors.
Image

The GN running with the repaired ECU:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHJVyGYNjkc
Cottees, are those new capacitors a different value to the old or just smaller physically?? thanks

cheers
'82 GJ GSR Silver (family heirloom):)
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Cottees
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Cottees »

bruggz351 wrote:Cottees, are those new capacitors a different value to the old or just smaller physically?? thanks

cheers
The only differences is the physical size and heat rating. The old ones were 85C I think, and the new ones are 105C. At the time I didn't realise that caps came in various sizes for the same values. What matters though is that the voltage and farad values are correct. If I did it again, I'd use the same size caps.

The caps I used were:
1x 22uF 50v 130C http://au.element14.com/rubycon/50rx302 ... t=812-7026
2x 100uF 16v 105C http://au.element14.com/rubycon/16ml100 ... t=812-6240
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

Cheers for that Cottees. Learn something new everyday. :thumpsup:

cheers
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Cottees »

This is a prime example of why the forums are awesome. A place to share and learn :thumpsup:

As for the difficulty of doing the capacitor replacement, the hardest part I found was the de-soldering part. I was using the soldering iron + de-solder braise. When putting the new caps in, it is pretty easy. With a little practice, anyone could do it.
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

Wow. I feel old. At high school the high tech device for de-soldering was a bulb. :lol:
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A112H
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by A112H »

This thread is sounding more and more like what the article calls "Dirty Fingers" :wut:
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Sigmaproject »

Here is a pic of my ECU's... The capacitors are different sizes physically between the ECU's. The one on the left had a seal which read 'Guarantee void if seal broken'. I do not know if this is from the factory, or from a repairer. The inside of the case on the left ecu has a substantial scorch mark mid way down the right hand side .

Image

To the naked eye the ECU on the right looks OK. Where would I take these to get them tested ?
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

A112H wrote:This thread is sounding more and more like what the article calls "Dirty Fingers" :wut:
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

Interesting pic.
Are those ECUs from the same model?
I found a few more differences...
Image
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A112H
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by A112H »

bruggz351 wrote:
A112H wrote:This thread is sounding more and more like what the article calls "Dirty Fingers" :wut:
Image
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by Sigmaproject »

bruggz351 wrote:Interesting pic.
Are those ECUs from the same model?
I found a few more differences...
Image
The one on the left is TR manual....The one on the right is TR or TS Auto.
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Re: Interesting Magna ECU article

Post by bruggz351 »

A112H wrote:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

:lol:
;-)
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