Heck, Neil  you got three good years out of the thing....and the next one
cost you thirty bucks, you said?  I paid $35 for a spare that I have....
   I guess $12/yr for ECUs, that could be affordable.....

  I am joking here in a way that points out how cheap parts are for the
Jetta/Fox/Rabbit motors...and I am joking about spending hours and hours
figuring out why your $30 ecu failed after only three years (of you using
it)....
   I know, a learning process and kinda like doing the cross word puzzle if
they still publish those......

  I recall them wanting $2800 for a used rebuilt ECU for my Porsche 928...

On Mon, Sep 15, 2014 at 11:59 AM, Neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:

> Thanks Jon. No. I haven't checked that cap with my meter. I will do
> so. Are you thinking that + power had back flowed through this cap to
> the negative buss in the ECU? Forgive my terminology. I don't know
> that much of electricity and electronics.
>
> Since I now consider that ECU non op, I did measured continuity
> between the exposed copper trace and various points. That trace shows
> continuity between ECU 1 (main negative ground connection) and the
> metal frame. It's obviously a ground path.
>
> My only real concern is that any small wiring details I'd previously
> gotten wrong in the harness, might've caused this issue over a period
> of time.  (i.e. I hadn't connected a "sensor" ground. The engine ran
> ok though) From what I'm understanding though, that likely isn't the
> case.
>
> Neil.
>
> On 9/15/14, Jon VonOhlsen <jondvo@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> > It does appear consistent with high reverse current damage. Have you
> > ohm'd out both sides of the C208 cap to see if one side is ground? This
> > would be the same as the mtg screw hole, most likely.
> > Jon
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
>
> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"  http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
>