How to repair an ECU that has damaged pins?

[Radical Tides]

Hello, first post here.

I've had a problem with oil making its way to the ECU, likely due to a faulty oil pressure switch, and this has caused me to clean it several times. As a result, I have damaged some of the pins - most bent, one broken.
ECU pins damaged - https://Upload the image directly to the thread.com/a/mhmj5

I'd like to have a go at repairing it but would like advice on how best to go about doing it.

 

[snowhead]

Automotive ECU Testing - ECU Repair and Exchange - http://www.ecutesting.com/

 

[Radical Tides]

Thanks snowhead. I've already come across this service but it is far too expensive.

 

[Strima]

TBH you would struggle to sort those pins out, you'd probably break a couple. Professional repair is really your only option.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

The way I see it is it's '---- or bust', with a steady hand and a pair of small long nose pliers I would carefully have a go at straightening up those bent pins and hope that the broken one is an unused pin, after all you've nothing to lose!

 

[ruston]

It is as above , you have nothing to lose by trying . You could try soldering a wire to the broken pin and solder it to the corresponding wirein the harness if you can manage to straighten the other pins out.
What kind of car is it ?

 

[PEG]

Some French vehicles have an issue with this...
If not replacing original male/female connector (not always possible),then there are generally two other methods available.

You could isolate the damaged pins,dismantle the ECU,and bridge the offenders. This may require making another opening in the ECU,to allow the bridge to exit,and connect further up the loom.

The other method,is to remove the ECU connector completely,mark up corresponding pins/sockets to wires,and either bridge directly,or connect with your own method of disconnection,in between.

The downside of these type of jobs,is you would only take it on,as a labour of love,or if stuck half-way across the Gobi desert.

The minute the last soldered joint has cooled...your gearbox will blow up

 

[shaun1]

Is the plug mounted directly to the pcb inside the ecu?

Another option might be to get another one from a scrap yard, but this will probably need programming and coding to the car. But perhaps you could salvage the connector from another ecu to attach to yours.

 

[Squid]

The broken ones wi be difficult the ben ones can be straightened out with long nosed pliers as I have sorted out many a monitor cable in the past.

 

[Richard Burns]

It might be possible to drill down a couple of mm on the broken pin and then solder in a new pin, this will not be very solid so if the connector is at all loose it will move. Warming the pins before using pliers to straighten them may help relieve stresses, but may melt the ECU or damage the circuitry!

 

[Marvo]

I had a thread about an ECU a while back with corroded pins which I managed to resurrect. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Marvo]

Have a read of this, maybe some info that will help you.
ECU Corroded Pins - https://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/ecu-corroded-pins.93037/

 

[Radical Tides]

Thank you everyone for your help. I managed to straighten out the pins with a pair of tweezers and a ballpoint pen with the cartridge taken out. I thought this would be enough to rectify some of the issues I was facing but there wasn't any noticeable difference.

I've looked at a pinout diagram for my car and the broken one corresponds to cylinder 2 of the injection valve. This shouldn't prevent my car from starting so I believe my ECU is a faulty one