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ECU Spacer Installed

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14K views 23 replies 12 participants last post by  woowar  
#1 ·
Since I had to disconnect the airbox to replace my upper radiator hose, I figured it was a good time to install the ECU spacer that I pulled off my old V50. If you don't know what these are about, it is a spacer that Ford used on the European Focus RS that had the Volvo 5-banger turbo engine. It goes between the airbox and ECU to move the ECU out to reduce how much the cooling fins impinge on air flow. Cooling of the ECU is still good as they are still in the flow with the present spacer thickness. There is a guy on C30Crew Market Place (http://www.c30crew.com/forum/showthread.php?3605-FS-ECU-Spacers-for-T5&highlight=spacer) that fabricates these or there are some on ebay. Some thicker ones are available but I am not sure about ECU cooling. Obviously if you are running a CAI this is not necessary.

The only down sides is that it can make the airbox more difficult to remove for repairs and you have to modify the plastic ECU cover for it to fit.

As with my previous car, the benefit is in the throttle response. The benefit seems greater with this car with the manual tranny though. This will not increase boost as that is governed by the computer. It only allows better flow to achieve boost more rapidly.

Airbox with ECU removed:
Image


Spacer sitting on ECU showing cooling fins:
Image


ECU reinstalled with spacer:
Image
 
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V
#2 ·
I'm happy with my GoVo spacer. I still wish I didn't have that big airbox though:mad:
 
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#4 · (Edited)
Extra Cooling and more Fresh Air - nice move ..:beer:

I really don't see anything too wrong with the Stream Fording - Snorkel . . it has the Snow intrusion Breather , and the
Excessive Rain Exit ..:beer:
 
owns 2009 VOLVO V70 3.2S
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W
#5 ·
I didn't really understand the need for such cooling of the ECU anyway. VW/Audi uses very similar Bosch ECU's and they don't have huge heatsinks or anything. Just a thin metal case, stuffed in a plastic box up by the windshield. Basically no airflow. I'm not sure what's different that makes the Volvo ECU require this special treatment. Can anyone enlighten?
 
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G
#6 ·
It's for redundancy - a fence around a fence. In in the off-chance the engine bay gets too hot the cooling is always there for the ECU. I'm not sure this would actually happen unless you ran out of coolant or were living in Death Valley. Plenty of people that ditch the stock airbox have zero issues. As an aside I'd take a spacer any day over ditching the stock box.
 
W
#7 ·
Ah, that makes sense. I suppose the location is a bit challenging, taking hot air from the radiator directly to the face all the time. Certainly not my first choice for ECU placement in any case.
 
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T
#12 ·
I think mine is a 10mm spacer and the cover fits. It is snug against the ECU but it fit with no real modification.
 
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#13 · (Edited)
It didn't change the sound. The cover does not fit yet. On my old V50, I was able to shave the plastic stiffeners down and force the cover on. It is very tight but it worked. I am wondering if a deeper cover was used and available from the Focus that used the Volvo engine. Some versions had the same airbox.
 
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J
#14 ·
i couldn't get my cover back on after installing the ecu spacer... or i could with some plastic shaving?dremelling but it'd pop off after a few miles. so i zip-tied it in place at the bottom and that worked.

but after i had my car in for service (timing belt) and they had to replace the fan too (had CEL), now the ecu cover fits. the way they put things back together must've created just enough space. now i know why some folks say "cover fits fine" and other require shenanigans with shaving, zip ties, etc.
 
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S
#15 ·
Hey guys, Sanatarium from GoVo here, glad you are enjoying your spacer kits! We have had conflicting reports for sure on the ECU cover fitting back on, I have installed two kits on local vehicles, as well as two of our test vehicles, and three covers went on with some finagling and pressure in just the right places, one of them, a later model, there was a slightly different configuration on the ribs on the inside of the cover and we were able to shave the rib and get it to fit. Just depends on what cover you have, it seems they changed the cover features in the injection mold a few different times with no correlation to year or model unfortunately!

Thanks!
 
T
#16 ·
When i installed my GoVo spacer in my 04 V50 i couldn't put the cover back.
Made a nice adjustment so it still fits now and i'm happy with the spacer
Image
 
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#17 ·
Nice work. I may try that if shaving the ribs doesn't work.
 
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M
#19 ·
Like many of you, I couldn't get my ecu cover to fit over the spacer. To me, that's unacceptable for a stock-looking t5 motor. So, I propose to either swap someone my 14mm spacer for their 10mm spacer, or someone buys my spacer off me. Once mounted, never used. Send me a PM if anyone is interested.
 
#20 ·
I was able to shave the ribs off the cover and get it to fit back in place, very tight fit.
 
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#23 ·
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