Keeping ECU Compartment Dry

Finally found out that the problems I've been having with the engine warning light coming on and losing all power are due to water coming up through the holes where the cubby box is fitted and down into the compartment under the driver's seat. So, aside from keeping the water out of there and protecting the ECU, I was thinking of buying a small car heater to put in the compartment to ensure it stays nice and dry, particularly in winter when the problem seems to happen most (and kept in a damp garage when not in use).

Would something like this work?

150W 12V CERAMIC CAR FAN HEATER CARAVAN PORTABLE PLUGIN DEMISTER DEICER HOT/COOL | eBay

Any side effects or things to look out for in doing this?

Cheers

Pete

Wouldn't bother just move the whole lot from under the seat into the cubby box. I had to make my own cubby box to accommodate all the electrics and still have my bits and bobs in there. I only had to extend a couple wires to get it to reach.

or put it in a tupperware box and silicon seal where the cables enter

Think a few threads on the subject

Can't you just seal up the holes into the under seat box? Mine stays perfetly dry but if you are saying holes have been drilled in the sides of the seat box, just seal them up.

If it is damp in there how about putting in some of those damp absorbtion crystals like these:

Midi Moisture Absorber Plus Refill Sachet from Homebase.co.uk

I wouldn't really like the idea of a heater permanently on in the box, frstly it will drain your battery and secondly its a fire hazard.

just move the ECU.

get a tdi

DTd5 said:

Can't you just seal up the holes into the under seat box? Mine stays perfetly dry but if you are saying holes have been drilled in the sides of the seat box, just seal them up.

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I think they must be underneath, not managed to locate them yet.

You can get an extended loom to move the ecu high up,handy if you are into deep wading.

I removed the cubby box and had a look underneath and there were a couple of holes, plus the removable panel wasn't sat very flush, so I sealed the lot with silicone. Not sure how often that panel needs to be removed, but the silicone will be easy enough to remove if need be. At least it should be water-tight now!

Dried out both compartments under the seats with a fan, now drying out underneath the matting in both the footwells.

This water is from regular road-usage, not off-roading, hence the need to get it under some sort of control.

PeteJones said:

I removed the cubby box and had a look underneath and there were a couple of holes, plus the removable panel wasn't sat very flush, so I sealed the lot with silicone. Not sure how often that panel needs to be removed, but the silicone will be easy enough to remove if need be. At least it should be water-tight now!

Dried out both compartments under the seats with a fan, now drying out underneath the matting in both the footwells.

This water is from regular road-usage, not off-roading, hence the need to get it under some sort of control.

Click to expand...

Surely holes "under" the cubby box will have nothing to do water getting into the ECU area they are separate in that respect

DTd5 said:

Surely holes "under" the cubby box will have nothing to do water getting into the ECU area they are separate in that respect

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The water was coming up under the cubby box, then sploshing across into the compartments under both seats. I could see this when I took the box and the matting out.

To waterproof the ECU on a TD5 all you really need to do is to unplug it and dry it out and then put a dot of silicon in each screw hole and then screw it back together.

Make sure it is a tiny amount or you wont be able to get it open again if you need to.

Some people say they have moved there ECU into the cubby box but im yet to see photos of how this is possible without an extension. im pretty sure my loom was too short when i last looked.

You need to waterproof the throttle pedal as well. WD40 before you go wading. Same for the relays under the drivers seat. Get waterproof ones if your going wading.

PeteJones said:

The water was coming up under the cubby box, then sploshing across into the compartments under both seats. I could see this when I took the box and the matting out.

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Sploshing around, and this is only from road driving!!

Something doesn't seem right, you are not going to get that much water (if any) coming in through the cubby box fixings.

Are you sure you are not spilling your coffee cups each morning on the way to work

I agree you would only get water in there if you've been wading unless you been pressure washing the underneath

Just condensation in winter is enough to produce problems with the relays in my td5 under the drivers seat

jim1064 said:

Just condensation in winter is enough to produce problems with the relays in my td5 under the drivers seat

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thats not good. Shouldnt be that bad!

have you got heated seats?