[IN2DEP]

Hey guys, it's been a few years since I last posted on here, it's been a few years since my Zook has ran to be honest ... Any who, I'm finishing my GTI conversion on it and just looking for ideas on what other people have to to mount there ECU

I know a lot of people mount there ECUs in the Glove box, up high and out of the way, but I still want to use my glove box, so I was thinking of putting the ECU in a waterproof box and mount it behind the glove box under the dash

What's everyone done ?

[Technotron101]

I remember hearing people say they've put it in the space above the glovebox inside the dashboard, but I could be wrong.

[Eddy]

tupperware ...

or Decor

[atari4x4]

conformal coating... google it.

[Angus Martin]

I just used some heavy duty plastic soil bags, a few cable ties and some duct tape, works well

[IN2DEP]

Top section on above the glove box sounds like a good idea, if your dash board is under water I think the computer would be last thing your worrying about lol But how would you get there ? Take glove box out yea ?

Conformal coating, I'll google it and have a sus, cheers

So place the ecu you in a water tight box and cut a hole out for the cable to run through yea

[Gwagensteve]

Conformal coating - fine, I guess.

Putting an ECU in a waterproof plastic box - No. Don't do this.

1) You won't ever seal it properly. It's not possible to cut a big enough hole in a relatively small plastic box to get all the plugs/loom through the box and then effectively seal it up again. A partially/poorly sealed box is worse than having the computer in free air because it will trap any water that does get in. The way to seal it would be to use a fairly stiff sided box or something like a Pelican case and then use a Cannon, Lemo or Amphenol pass though connector, which is going to be outrageously expensive. this would allow the box to be properly sealed but will involve masses of solder connections which add their own level of unreliability and potential impedance issues.

2) Computers run warm. This means they generate condensation when running if sealed into a box with atmospheric (i.e damp) air inside. Obviously, this also generates pressure and will try to defeat sealing, and when it cools it will draw in moist air from wherever the seal has been compromised leading to more condensation.

I have seen attempts at sealing computers, none of which were effective.
Some/many OEM's now run the computers in the engine bay or even on the engine itself, but, as you can imagine, they are built incredibly robustly and are generally fully potted with urethane to insulate and protect the circuitry.

The cars I have wired with factory ECU's up behind the dash (either above the glovebox or next to the steering column have never given trouble. Granted, I've never submerged a car to that depth and have no intention of doing so, but experience has taught me it is possible to clean and dry an ECU after submersion and have it work properly.

I do/have pressure washed the inside of my car with an unprotected ECU without issue.

Steve.

[IN2DEP]

Thanks steve ... food for thought, I had a little look see under the dash earlier today and found a nice spot behind the glove box on up high on the fire wall ... I don't have any intentions of submerging mine either but you never know what would happen lol hence my User Name "IN2DEP" lol

So box is not the best idea then, is there anything I can do to make it water resistant like spray it with WD40 or wrap the plugs up ?

Just for so added protection

[atari4x4]

IN2DEP wrote:

Thanks steve ... food for thought, I had a little look see under the dash earlier today and found a nice spot behind the glove box on up high on the fire wall ... I don't have any intentions of submerging mine either but you never know what would happen lol hence my User Name "IN2DEP" lol

So box is not the best idea then, is there anything I can do to make it water resistant like spray it with WD40 or wrap the plugs up ?

Just for so added protection

conformal coating... seriously google it.

[MrRocky]

Just get a spare ecu and keep it in a tuppaware container, couldnt cost more than $50 off a wreck

[IN2DEP]

GTIs are becoming harder to find lol

Atari4x4, who does this conformal coating ?

[IN2DEP]

Ok I checked out this conformal coating on eBay, they do sell 2 types of it DCA and HPA ... not to sure which would be the right one to buy ? And what's the go with it, do I open up the ECU up and just coat everything in it with the stuff and that's it ?