Any tips on changing ABS Pump & ECU Package on 00?

All,

Anyone have any words of wisdom (other than "Don't do it!") or recommendations concerning changing an ABS Pump & ECU package on my 2000 Windstar, which has a bad ABS ECU? I haven't had a chance to check my manual yet to see if it's even in there, but somehow I don't think it is. I imagine I'll have to bleed the living daylight's out of the system once I've made the switch, but I want to make sure there's not more to it, such as priming the system and/or ABS pump package ahead of time. Needless to say, any input on the topic would be appreciated.

Matt

It's been a year or two, but I changed out the electrical controller unit on my '99's ABS. The electrical solenoid part is bolted atop the metal valve part. (I'm not sure where the pump is, upper or lower part). When I ordered the controller, I thought I was getting the whole ABS unit ... based on the cost, ... but the big bucks was for the electrical part only.

The whole thing had to be removed (one elect connector, several metal tube connectors), the electrical controller replaced ... and then the assembled unit reinstalled. A real knuckle buster.

I made no special preparations, other than battery disconnect. Just replaced what little fluid spilled. No bleeding. No reprograming the PCM.

Worked perfectly.

(Just lucky I guess. ... tho if I had been really lucky, the darn thing wouldn't have failed in the first place.)

Thanks for the input! Based on what you went over, it doesn't look too, too bad.

From what the dealer diagnosis said, my units ECU is bad and the pump side is good, so I'm looking at a similar job...although I am having more luck finding the Pump-ECU as a package deal than the ECU alone. So if you don't mind me asking, what were the symptoms that lead to you changing your ECU out? Where they similar to mine--ABS & Trac Control lights on & speedo working at 1/2 speed?

Thanks again...

It's been awhile. I don't remember any speedo concern, but I may just not have noticed. I noticed no functional problem ... just the trac control light .. can't remember if it was flashing or steady.

What I do remember is going to the dealer and having the shop super read the code for me. He then printed out several pages of related "flow chart" type trouble shooting info. Using this, I found the controller to be the culprit. The diagnosis at the dealer cost me nothing ... but I have a good relationship with this particular dealer. I kept the paper for a long while, but no longer have it.

I believe the unit was near $300.

Watch E-bay. I picked up an ECU (with traction control) for $75. Good luck.

Thanks, Guys!

I wasn't so lucky on the dealer visit...it cost me $130 to get the system read.

As for finding the part, I haven't had too much luck on Ebay, but I might be being a little too picky where the part number is concerned. The part number for my 2000 SEL's ECM is YF22-2C353-AA(TC), but I don't know if this is the only part that will work. I assume the "(TC)" refers to the traction contol option, which my van has, but everthing else is pretty much Greek to me. What looks like the part number for the whole unit--or maybe the pump side alone...I can't be sure--is worn and unreadable.

Matt