Glow Plug Recall = Fried ECM

I was picking up my Touareg yesterday and I had a few hours to kill, so I had the steel glow plug recall performed on my Jetta. A few hours after my car deal was finished, the technicians were still on the line with VW technical support trying to get the software loaded on the ECM. The end result was a fried ECM, so I have no daily driver for now. Has anyone else had any similar problems? Also, do you think the VWoA will find the Rocketchip tune on the ECM when it is sent back?

Well, why not call RC and ask him..

Bill

The VAG reflash setup has had a lot of issues. Apperently they no longer load flash files from a local server, everything is coming straight from Wolfsburg. And if there is a problem halfway through, the ECU cannot be salvaged (the way they do it).

Other car companies are similar, except they have the common sense to allow the entire flash file to be downloaded on to the equipment that is directly attached to the car. So many potential problems can be eliminated.

This is why flashing a Volkswagen takes so long, but flashing a Ford takes all of 3 minutes.

Didn't they used to distribute the files on CD? I don't understand why they would go to a system that has to download the file each time. 45 min to flash an eprom is silly

compu_85 said:

Didn't they used to distribute the files on CD? I don't understand why they would go to a system that has to download the file each time. 45 min to flash an eprom is silly

Click to expand...

This is Volkswagen we are talking about here. You should know as well as I do that they do silly things. Why does a B5.5 have a totally different front wiring harness just for fog lamps when every other car company would just use the same harness and have the plugs for fog lamps hanging neatly out of the way if the car was not equipped with the lights?

Why does Volkswagen change the part numbers on things for no other reason other than to change the part numbers?

We could go on and on....

Mine didn't fry, but because of my RC1 tune they couldn't do it after multiple attempts. I just had them put the steel plugs in and I drove straight to Jeff's. He fixed it up and I was on my way.

oEo said:

Mine didn't fry, but because of my RC1 tune they couldn't do it after multiple attempts. I just had them put the steel plugs in and I drove straight to Jeff's. He fixed it up and I was on my way.

Click to expand...

I never even let them touch mine. I had a professional install the plugs, and had Jeff do his magic.

oilhammer said:

I never even let them touch mine. I had a professional install the plugs, and had Jeff do his magic.

Click to expand...

Yeah, well if you weren't in St Louis...

oEo said:

Mine didn't fry, but because of my RC1 tune they couldn't do it after multiple attempts. I just had them put the steel plugs in and I drove straight to Jeff's. He fixed it up and I was on my way.

Click to expand...

That was my plan after they couldn't get the new programming on. I was just going to unplug the glow plug harness and be on my way. Unfortunately, the ECM was already gone. I have a couple of things that I need done to the Touareg anyway. So I will have those punch list items completed when I pick up my old car. The dealership, by the way, was very apologetic and offered me a loaner car even though they knew that the T-Reg was my third car. This is the 180 degree opposite of my previous experience with my local dealer.

40X40 said:

Well, why not call RC and ask him..

Bill

Click to expand...

Jeff is a great guy, but he is not the easiest to get a hold of. Plus I know he is probably already looking at this thread.

I had a reflash performed a few years ago when I had a thermostically controlled transmission coolant hose installed. This was strictly a volunteer type of TSB and the reflash, IIRC, was only for cars with a manual transmission and mine is an automatic. The service writer informed me that the ECU had to be replaced which I guess means that the OEM was fried. I went back a few days later because the car didn't seem right, but the tech finally got it right.
The TSB was to make the car warm up faster in the Winter, but the whole ordeal was a waste of time as I could not see any improvement. In fact I think mine may have been the first for this particular TSB at this particular dealership.

They fried my ECU also.

Need to get it RC1'd again...wish Jeff was easier to get hold of. Not fond of the way it drives with the new tune. I think it sux.

mannytranny said:

They fried my ECU also.

Need to get it RC1'd again...wish Jeff was easier to get hold of. Not fond of the way it drives with the new tune. I think it sux.

Click to expand...

I'm glad it wasn't just me.

Proffesional

oilhammer said:

I never even let them touch mine. I had a professional install the plugs, and had Jeff do his magic.

Click to expand...

And might that professional be you oilhammer?

In another post I think Oilhammer said he installed the plugs. He's just being modest here.

--Nate