Truck computor

I have a 2003 Dakota truck with the 4.7, auto 4 wheel and 4 door cab. Garage has come up with I need a different computor, Only model that supposenly fits. Have heard that computor will need programming. Does that need to be done and how is it done? Do you have to have installed or not, If has to be would have to have truck hauled from local garage to I suppose a Chrysler dealer? Have heard some computors have like a card you can just move from one to a different one. This does not have anything like that. Tuesday plan on a long road trip to get one parts yard says they have. From a 2 door truck supposedly will not work

If the "garage" knows enough to tell you you need to "come up with I need a different computor" they should surely know what needs to be done to program it?

Typically, an independent shop with a high-dollar scan tool with a vehicle software subscription should be able to program it, otherwise a trip to the dealer, but better ask before you start this quest what they will charge to do it!

Downside of this, is there any warranty on the used PCM when it leaves the boneyard, much less after it's installed and programmed?

How much will you be "out" if the PCM doesn't work after installation and programming, or if the "garage" is wrong and the computer isn't the problem in the first place?

What is or isn't the truck doing now that indicates computer failure?

Id be like what they say when you develope a severe medical problem ,second opinion

2003 is eons? ago and the tools required to relearn even a used unit to your truck are old and outdated already.

That said if your device has failed chances are a junkyard part can be put in it's place and with a mechanics scantool relearned all it needs to move forward for another perhaps 15-20 years.

It is suggested that you have the work done by a reputable repair technician that can back his diagnostics and make it work. There are so many variables that can trigger a bad this or that on a scan tool and mislead.

Don't waste your time going to get a used computer. Chrysler computers have the VIN programmed into them, that VIN is permanent. So Chrysler computers will only work in the vehicle it was originally installed. The VIN can only be changed by an authorized rebuilder, even dealers can't change it. There is a place I have used I found on the internet, but the name escapes me at the moment. They ship pre-programmed and ready to run, they just need the number off the old one, your VIN, and mileage. Google Dodge reman computers.

Have you checked ebay? I bought a rebuilt computer for a 93 f350 for about $100 with a warranty. Very possible one of the rebuilders selling there would have something to fit your truck or even be able to fix yours.

While not impossible it is not very common for those computers to fail.

What exactly is the problem that they believe the computer is bad?


A PCM for your truck on ebay is $200 programmed to your VIN ready to install with warranty.

The difference from 2 door-4 door, 2wd-4wd etc is usually just in the programming.

I taught automotive shop for 35 years at a post high school tech school and cannot recall a failed computer in the shop. Lot's of "failed computer" due to poor, and ignorant diagnosis though. I'd chase around for more than 1 opinion from knowledgeable folks before I spent another nickel or another minute thinking of a replacement computer. My 2 bits - Larry

Thr garage says they have exausted every thing they can think of to check. I have had this truck around 3 years now. To start it would not make contact to turn starter, Different mechanic before he could get out to try to figure things out it started right off for him, was OK for about 6 months till it acted up again, same thing set a half a day and would start rite up. Started doing the acting up more often, Sometimes set 5 minutes other times half hour or overnight. Finally realised that when it would not do anything everything on dash was working except gas guage and starter, same as not having a battery in the truck. And battery is good. When acting up tried with a fully charged jump start, still same thing. The radio did not work when I got the truck but that did not bother me. Traced in to radio blowing fuses as fast as they could put them in. I got a different radio and it is now working. What is left that they might not have thought of to check, tried everything they can think of. Last time no start I had deiven it and shut of and restarted several times shut off at gas pump and as soon as done filling with gas nothing. Ended up having wrecker pull it into garage. Only other thing they can possibly think of is something inside the tranney and untill they had dash out and put back the shift quadrent in lighting up is doing some flashing back and forth that it had never done. And say to try to check that possible inside tranny would have to pull tranny and that is more than the shop can now handle. So that leaves the computor the only possible thing that they can possibly think of. And that shift quadrent light flashing did not start untill they had tried everything they could think of except replacing the computor. And some are saying the computor cannot be programed for my truck, others are saying any garage should be able to do that and others are saying it does not need to br reprogramed. So what is correct? Truck has around 275,000 and not used a lot but it and my 2001 Dakota regular cab 6 cylinder is all I have to drive and at times that 6 does not have enough oomph or not enough cab room.

Without having your vehicle here to look at the first thing that comes to mind is the ignition switch.

Now I can't say for sure this is your problem but I can say there is a reason that most parts stores usually have a half a dozen of them in stock.

Computers by nature tend to work or not work, if the problem is intermittent then sensors, controls and wiring with a big emphasis on good grounds would be the place I would start looking.

I have repaired many Dodge vehicles with intermittent no start issues and as I already mentioned most parts stores always have Dodge ignition switches in stock.

Have them check the gear position sensor.
Also, have you tried to start the truck in Neutral when it broke?
BillL

I have seen a computer fail. On a Ford. Pretty much the same symptoms as you describe. Owner said that sometimes I wouldn't crank for a week or so then would start and run fine. No codes either. We had it in the shop when it did the "no start" bit. Problem was that not even the Ford Dealer had the ability to test the computer. But they assured us and the owner that with the symptoms that the no codes was the key. So the owner found a used computer and we install that. Car ran fine after that until his son totaled it about a year or so later.

I'm not a huge fan of used electrical parts. You may get something that will last forever and you may get something that won't last 10 days. I'd look for refurbished/reman or new.

Rick

Think it was tried in every possible position.