My Experience with EcuTek - Perth-WRX.com

BOMB3R · #1 15-01-2009, 01:49 PM

Had a few PM's so seeing as I am not bagging a workshop I don't see any reason not to post this anymore. Started a new thread so when people ask I can point them here rather than trying to find posts over different forums to jog my memory.

The car started running like a bag of shit all of a sudden, it was stalling and backfiring and using a truckload of oil. I booked the car in for a tune and checkup.

I took the car in and got a phone call saying the car is running extremely lean and it now won't start. I replied that no other workshop had touched the car and it had been running fine with that tune for 3-4 months, the car had also only done 40,000kms and not all those were modded km’s.

They obviously worked out it was a problem with the Ecu that they couldn't solve here. They flew my Ecu to MRT over east and had MRT fly an Ecu over from a car with similar mods running EcuTek. They put the new Ecu in and the car started and things were looking great. My program was then downloaded to the Ecu and the car wouldn't start again. In the meantime MRT couldn't see anything wrong with my Ecu. The logged files were then sent to MRT and there were no obvious issues with them either.

The Ecu was then flown to EcuTek in the UK where they diagnosed it as being a corrupted log file. There are holes with that explanation.

The Ecu I received back from the UK worked fine and the car was running again. It was still using alot of oil and gradually blowing alot more smoke.

Upon Inspection I was told I was up for a full rebuild. Do you think EcuTek would take any responsibility. Fuk No, the workshop certainly wasn't going to offer warranty on something that wasn't their fault either. So many hands went in the air very quickly it was amazing. The workshop were definitely prepared to help me out with the rebuild and look after me.

I don’t blame the workshop at all I blame EcuTek. Moral of the story is, you play you pay, just be careful you play with the right tools. Don’t expect warranty even when it is offered.

This is only a personal experience and other people have run EcuTek for years with no issues. Steve for example.

American Dave · #2 15-01-2009, 02:18 PM

reserved for future thread whoring

Jimmy S · #3 15-01-2009, 02:19 PM

I <3 Jaron & ECUTek

BAS · #4 15-01-2009, 02:20 PM

Do you reckon the result would have been any different with something like Verso though? I've always had the view that if anything goes tits up its gonna be my problem.
I would actually hold the workshop more responsible for resolving the problem to be honest.

BOMB3R · #5 15-01-2009, 02:27 PM

The Ecu wouldn't have had to go to the UK if it happened with Verso. Yeh I always knew that when I modded that if anything happened it was 99% going to be me to pay.
The workshop didn't resolve the problem EcuTek did which means it was a fault with their product not a workshop fault.

American Dave · #6 15-01-2009, 02:29 PM

plus 1

If ASG blows my car up on the dyno then I wont be happy...but its the chance you take when modifying any car

You actually pay to play I reckon. I know how much an engine or gearbox is going to cost if it fails so I am budgeted for it in my mind and wallet.

At least you got a new engine and one that is a significant improvement on stock pig sti.

BLUES · #7 15-01-2009, 02:30 PM

Wouldn't you agree that your case would be the exception rather than the norm considering all of the Ecutek'd cars in the world? (I am not trying to justify the company's actions BTW).

My Autronic SM4 ECU board fried itself for no reason (kindly replaced by workshop/Autronic without hesitation) - sometime bad shit just happens.

nauli · #8 15-01-2009, 02:30 PM

Yes, certainly bad luck Jaron...and the bottom line is "you play, you pay".
From your story it seems likely that engine damage was done early when the car first started running roughly...that was probably the point of no return.
I will not speculate on cause/effect etc, just say that most aftermarket ECU's have had problem cases at some stage...yes, even MoTeC...so I just reiterate my original comment...you play, you (could) pay (a lot).