Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

I bought an ecu from a guy on another car forum, the thing came from Louisiana, and yeah the PC board is covered in ----, I am supposed to chip this thing for a friend and dont want to give it to him like this.

This is a PO6 fyi, anyway, I was told I could use brake cleaner but i'm not to sure about that. I Know there's that film over the pc board and I want to put it back on if It comes off. From what I've found online people say they use silicone spray to coat and seal the pc board. Isnt silicone a conductor? I dont want to spray anything on there that would short two pins together.


Any help would be appreciated, thanks

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

i used alcohol before but it left a nasty hazy look to it. I used brake cleaner after and it looked much better.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

sweet thanks.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Acetone to clean any gunk off then isopropyl alcohol to clean any acetone residue off.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

medium style toothbrush. Try to clean the best you can without doing any major pushing. I actually had an ecu that was a rust machine was a dead ecu. Used 3 tooth brushes on it and about 2 hours of cleaning. Worked like a charm. I would be a little scared of any fluids on there.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Fluids sounds scary but it works. Carb cleaner/brake cleaner works great.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Thanks for the help guys

If some of that protective layer comes off can I spray it with silicone, or is there somthing else that should be used to seal the pc board, or just not worry about it?

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

ive washed them with water and dawn before just so long as they have a day or two to dry before you use them its fine.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

depends on which silicon, yes there isn't an e at the end, that you are talking about. if you are thinking silicon computer parts, yes they do, but they aren't 100% pure, imperfection free silicon parts. there is a science to making it carry electricity how you want it to, and that is what made bill gates rich, along with sparking an entire industry in silicon valley. basically you couldn't understand fully unless you went to grad school, and then i would call you a nerd.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

i also recommend using brake clean. havent had any problems with it

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

haha i did the same thing to a pg7 and it workedtoo i was very very suprised to see it work.
i do the same thing he does but ive used isopropyl alcohol and it dont leave any.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

meh, only use acetone on what you need to clean to socket it, then alcohol to clean the acetone up... the acetone will remove the lacquer, and you dont want to remove ALL the lacquer, just where you need to (de)solder. just air-dust the rest with ~50-psi

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

go to radio shack and look for stuff called board wash, its made for this exact thing. although i am pretty sure it is just some alkene

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

tooth brush or acid brush and cut half the bristles off to make it more sturdy. its probably just flux that never got cleaned off.
sounds like brake cleaner works although ive never tried that. we always use isopropyl alcohol.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

tell me more about this stuff calld board wash?got a link anywhere? ???

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

radio shack niglet do not i repeat do not use brake or carb cleaner it is to harse of a cleaner my old man is a electronics god and he also stated to use board wash or electronic parts cleaner
here is what my dad uses
http://www.mcmelectronics.com/produc...uct_id=20-4480

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

I repeat: carb/brake cleaner works perfectly.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

i wouldnt trust carb/brake cleaner doesnt sound to safe to me,but i will try this stuff called board wash!!! :y

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Brake clean works fine for me when I actually clean a board...afterwards I try and use a small layer of clear coat spray paint to protect the board once Im done soldering.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Thanks thats what i'm looking for.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

;) i was wondering of a good way of resealing it once i was done!to get that clear off the frist time i been useing a small bit of flux and a acid brush,then i take the alcohol with a soft tooth brush and it comes right off.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

Use the same electronic cleaner in a spray can you use to clean dirty audio pots.

Re: Cleaning An ECU, what can I use?
 

That cleaner is basicly naphtha, in some ways a gentle brake cleaner. I'd recommend that. The other alternative is >92% isopropal alcohol. Anything more diluted and you can leave some water behind. FYI if you ever get any electronic board wet, you can use that >92% to 'soak' any hidden water/condensation up.