TCU removal

[speedtrapped]

Got the ECU out, easy- big thank you to Dave for his guidance! He gave direction on removal of the tcu, but he said I have to remove my glovebox. I can't find the 6 bolts/ screws holding it up, anyone have pics? TIA
Stephen

[marklar182]

Care to pass on the removal instruction for the rest of us? :)

[JSRS6]

You don't have to remove the glove box. You remove the pass side kick panel, two screws behind covers. Then unclip the runner along the door that holds the carpet down. Adjust the seat to the rear, and pull the carpet up. You will see the black box right where your feet would be if you were ever the passenger...pull it up off the guide pins and disconnect the plug.

[speedtrapped]

ECU?, located in weather proof plastic box, inside engine bay, next to master cylinder. U need 7mm socket, extension that swivels, also 10mm wrench to remove pos battery cable. Remove cable, pull rubber weather stripping that holds the plastic top shield where ecu box, mc, etc is located. Once stripping is removed the plastic top or shield will slide out, gently lift lip closest to you and pull off. On driver side is a squarish box that 5 7mm bolts head screws, remove them, I was lucky cause the back, hardest to get to was not there. Lift top off and get it out of the way. Ecu in sight, but is held in place by security antitheft shield. On the left hand side top are 2 what look like cap screws but w/o a slot for a screw driver. It's a safety feature when ecu was installed the machine screws were tighten and top head broke off. U must have a dermal with a cutting wheel. Cut a slot into each one, they are locked with a blue locktite, so a big slotted screwdriver worked best. Once removed, the case slides, slide it to passenger side( it won't come off), but exposes 1 pf the 2 harness connections. Pull on the end of the larger harness connector, the cam comes out about 1 inch and it pops out. Then u can slide the shield towards driver side to fully expose smaller harness, pull on end so cam comes out 1 inch, and the 2nd harness will pop out. That's it ecu removed.

[snoopra]

TCU comes out a little easier if you remove the glove, side kick panel, push the pass. seat all the way back then roll up the rug. Don't have any pics but the glove box should be an easy pull, 3 screws on top, 3 on bottom, I think:). Pulled mine yr/yrs ago and I remember it being simple.

[JSRS6]

I pulled mine behind hoppen ms with Joe helping me and we didn't do anything with the glove box. I remember it being pretty easy.

[Elevens]

To me the hardest part was lifting up the Carpet. After removing the passenger kick panel and the carpet molding below the passenger door you have to lift the carpet. Well that carpet is stiff and very well insulated and its a bitch to lift and hold while you remove the TCU. But with a little effort it can be done. Definitely don't have to remove the Glove box..........

[V8weight]

To me the hardest part was lifting up the Carpet. After removing the passenger kick panel and the carpet molding below the passenger door you have to lift the carpet. Well that carpet is stiff and very well insulated and its a bitch to lift and hold while you remove the TCU. But with a little effort it can be done. Definitely don't have to remove the Glove box..........
Ya, the first time I did the tcu R&I, I wedged a wooden block under there to support the carpet while I fiddled with the tcu. Now, it's been in and out so many times that the carpet no longer has any resistance.

[SAF]

ECU?

No, TCU. Nice paragraph though!

[speedtrapped]

Victory!, took glove box out, was easy in the end, but yes the carpet was a bitch, unfortunately I removed engine ecu and battery terminal off, so my seat was back as far as it could go, but managed. Thanks all. Now off to flash, eurocharged and mtm...keep ya all posted.

[marklar182]

Sounds like a couple of us are on the same path right now....

[Aronis]

I did that same access to just see the serial number on the old On-Star box after they replaced it way back when Audi THOUGHT they knew what was wrong with it. NOT...They replaced the module for the On-Star but did not call it in to On-Star to activate the friggen module....bastards...that was the same day I picked up the car with the 'DRC all set' NOT...


Not fun pulling that thick carpet LOL....

Mike

[SAF]

Pulling it back to access and then blow out the condensation drain was no picnic either. (The leaking water just rolled around on the floor and didn't soak through at all - almost like it was solid vinyl with a fuzzy top layer)

[tidus888]

i literally just took out my TCU 5 mins ago! it was actually pretty damn easy!!!

1. move the passenger seat to the back
2. use a flat head and remove the tiny trim cover on the passenger side kick panel
3. use a philips (+) screw driver and take out the two screws on the passenger side kick panel.
4. pull the passenger side kick panel out, remember, where it meets the door sill, there is one clip attached to it... use some effort there.
5. yank out the door sill till the b-pillar (u dun need to take out the whole thing, but make sure u dont accidentally push the seat adjustment buttons)
6. stick your hand in and remove the TCU box from the holder!

didn't have to remove glove box... took me approx 3 mins to take the TCU out!

[toddc]

i literally just took out my TCU 5 mins ago! it was actually pretty damn easy!!!

1. move the passenger seat to the back
2. use a flat head and remove the tiny trim cover on the passenger side kick panel
3. use a philips (+) screw driver and take out the two screws on the passenger side kick panel.
4. pull the passenger side kick panel out, remember, where it meets the door sill, there is one clip attached to it... use some effort there.
5. yank out the door sill till the b-pillar (u dun need to take out the whole thing, but make sure u dont accidentally push the seat adjustment buttons)
6. stick your hand in and remove the TCU box from the holder!

didn't have to remove glove box... took me approx 3 mins to take the TCU out!

What about the 2 phillips headed screws that hold the TCU to the box? Gonna need a stubby or right angle screwdriver to remove them:)

-Todd

[tidus888]

What about the 2 phillips headed screws that hold the TCU to the box? Gonna need a stubby or right angle screwdriver to remove them:)

-Todd

oh fail.. i forgot to mention that part... hey...


but i think it should be common sense on that part!!!! LOL

if someone attempts to just ripe the TCU out of the box with the two screws....then... thats just sad

[nistah]

i literally just took out my TCU 5 mins ago! it was actually pretty damn easy!!!

1. move the passenger seat to the back
2. use a flat head and remove the tiny trim cover on the passenger side kick panel
3. use a philips (+) screw driver and take out the two screws on the passenger side kick panel.
4. pull the passenger side kick panel out, remember, where it meets the door sill, there is one clip attached to it... use some effort there.
5. yank out the door sill till the b-pillar (u dun need to take out the whole thing, but make sure u dont accidentally push the seat adjustment buttons)
6. stick your hand in and remove the TCU box from the holder!

didn't have to remove glove box... took me approx 3 mins to take 12280the TCU out!

Adding photos to help this thread...also fairly obvious but wanted to mention the croc clasp12279 that holds the TCU to the connector pin its somewhat intuitive but no one made mention of it don't thinkso anyway12278

[nistah]

Adding photos to help this thread...also fairly obvious but wanted to mention the croc clasp12279 that holds the TCU to the connector pin12278


I just got my TCU Back and tried but could not figure out how to get the Clasp and connector pins back together can someone advise if possible, I don't wanna break this thing after sending it all the way to Canada to get the MTM. Insight appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

[1uglymug]

I used this thread to get my TCU out and off to Francois Beaumont at Horchaus - Performance Tuning in Montreal. I thought I would post pictures of my endeavor and try out my new photo bucket account. :jlol:


http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2247_zps90329a86.jpg
The TCU sits where my key is in this picture. Under the passengers floor board.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2245_zpsac5198cf.jpg
Remove two screws and gently pull the lower A-pillar trim away.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2243_zpsf20059fe.jpg
This is what it will look like without it.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2242_zps6b361388.jpg
Next pop off the sill trim.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2232_zps64ec3236.jpg
Reach in and pull the TCU box out. This is where its helpful to have a block of wood as suggested by others. The carpet is very stiff.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2240_zps3ab8c42c.jpg

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2238_zps86837b35.jpg
The box opens easily.

No glove box removal needed for this.

[1uglymug]

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2239_zps1eeb592b.jpg
Unscrew these two screws.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2237_zps6906dc82.jpg

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2233_zps63b98fca.jpg
Release this clamp.

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2234_zps01070f61.jpg

http://i1160.photobucket.com/albums/q497/robgraessle/RS6%20TCU%20swap/IMG_2228_zps34b6d8c1.jpg
I sent this off to Montreal in one piece. After reading others stories, I wish now that I would not of. I should have opened the box and looked at what was in there. Maybe I had an aftermarket TCU already?!?!? It would have been nice to know. It does drive better. And for the price, you can not beat it! But its not the drastic difference described by others. Makes me wonder. :vhmmm:

It took about 7-10 days to get my TCU back even though I shipped it overnight. I was sweating the entire time thinking it would get lost in Customs or some other disaster.

A side note: The car does drive without a TCU. It just will not go out of 1st gear. I should NOT know this! I sent it off before leaving for vacation. I did not tell my wife. She love the RS6 and drives it whenever she can. She unknowingly took it out without the TCU when we got back from vacation. She came back and said, your car is driving funny. Luckily she did not go far. :doh: Scary!

[Jimmy]

Great job with the pix...they tell it all.

Good to know the car can be at least moved w/o the TCU installed...I'd should remove the TCU when I travel for work so the wife doesn't go out with MY car with her friends !