Re: Chip install

["T J Rossmann" <trossmann@sprint.ca>]

I haven't personally even seen my ECU, but I would have someone trusted do
this for you.  If it is a multilayer board and you lift a pad or trace,
you've guaranteed an expensive repair.

Typically, your local electronics repair shop does not deal with
particularly complex or high quality circuit boards.  Actually the vast
majority of consumer electronics looks like it was assembled and soldered by
five year olds.

You do find higher quality (harder to service) circuit boards in computers
though.  So, if you can find a computer repair shop that is comfortable with
servicing those types of circuit boards (multilayer).  They will probably be
able to do a better job & your ECU will have a better chance of surviving.

While they are at it, get them to put in a socket, ZIF (zero insertion
force) is best if it will fit.  That way you can whip your chips in & out
without damaging anything.

P.S. I would not recommend using a heat gun on your PCB, you risk
burning/warping the board itself, or anything else that is in the way.
Unless it is a surface mount technology soldering tool that you know how to
use.


Troy Rossmann
Biomedical Electronics Engineering Technologist
Clinical Engineering
University of Alberta Hospital





----- Original Message -----
From: Naresh H. Singh <nhs1681@is4.nyu.edu>
To: JettaGLX list <jettaglx@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 1999 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: Chip install


>
> I've heard that a heat gun works well, it heats up all the pins on the
> chip at the same time making it easier to remove.
>
> That being said, I'd probably take it to a good local electronics shop and
> have them socket the board. It will make things easier if you ever have to
> have the car serviced at the dealer.
>
> Hope this helped,
> -Naresh
>
> '95 Jetta GL- Black
>
>
>
> On Thu, 29 Jul 1999, Big Jim wrote:
>
> > Hey, folks.
> >
> >     Finally got it - the G-Chip. It was purchased for me at Waterfest
> > this year. Only problem? I've not got a socketed ECU. It's soldered. I
> > suppose that I could make the attempt on my own, since I really can't
> > afford to be without the car for long ... but, then again, attempting it
> > on my own could end up forcing me to be without the car for even longer
> > (waiting for a new ECU because I screwed it up on my own!). And we can't
> > have that happen.
> >    Thus, I ask if anybody has any info. Any fool-proof (or, at least,
> > reasonably-dexterous-and-mechanically-inclined-person-proof)
instructions
> > or advice on installing the chip by myself? Or, failing that, a
> > trustworthy place to send the ECU to be socketed that doesn't take
> > 6-8weeks?
> >    Any info and advice will be appreciated.
> >
> > -T
> > '95GLX
> >
> > Zip-zap ... zip-zap ... it's Tom ... Tom Boyer ... cyng@lamere.net!
> >          ... who cares?
> >
>