have had the ABS/TRAC light on for a while...I know, I know...the motherboard...Midwest ABS offers repair your board, or exchange, with price differential not all that much...advantages to either?...not worried about the dollars so much, just wondering if it's better to keep your 'brain' or exchange it....

Don't forget to check that you don't have a worn ignition switch. I had the same problem with a recently acquired 850 turbo wagon and all I had to do was move the key slightly and the lights went away. Also caused my turn signals and headlights to not work properly and my gear selector interlock.

If you drive the car every day, then ask for a fixed one and send your old one back. If you can wait 3 days, then ship yours in to Midwest.

Remember, take out the 2 screws closest to the fender first. Those are the hardest. And the screws are loooong. Rather than an E5, I found a very small SAE socket that fit perfectly on my 1/4 ratchet.
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Keeping it running is better than buying new

There are cars that would require a software coding (probably a dealer visit for most people) to marry a replacement to the car's software. This isn't one of them. I don't think there is any real reason you can't put a secondary sourced used or rebuilt module from another car in there. I usually prefer having my own stuff repaired/rebuilt. I know where it's been/what it's been through.

I had mine rebuilt 12 years ago and just took it off and bagged and zip tied the HCU while it was away being fixed. You can definitely drive without it.

I recently sent an ABS module in to Module Master in Idaho. Her '09 Jetta is one of those that would require a software coding for a replacement. Unfortunately, those can't be taken out without pulling the entire HCU/module out. So it's down, and my wife has my Volvo as we speak.

thankyou both so much for the info and removal tips....ran down a SnapOn guy, and got the E5 already, but nice to know alternatives exist should I ever need it..

Tom