pcm failures..

[edzy 10+ year member]

Has anyone else had pcm failures since installing audio gear?

My last 2000 dodge van, I had to replace one,

Now im having issues with my newer 2001 dodge van.3.9

The van died while driving, had it in a shop, they replaced 2 pcm's after checking, coils, asd relay, pick up, wire harness for shorts, cam/crank sensors,. The last pcm smoked when installed and tryied to start. They think its just bad pcm's as they are remans from the web.

Ive towed it to a dodge dealer, and they are now doing the same thing. Waiting on my 3rd pcm this week., yes another reman.

If it doesnt work, idk what im going to do. Have another shop look at it?

been almost a month now its been in the shop.

what a pita as I use the van for work.

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[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

never seen one bad from an audio install, where is the dodge dealer getting the pcm? I assume the first is was replaced cause the regulator in it stopped working. If thats the case I would have just put on an external and been done with it.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

I am supplying the pcm...As it it under warranty... But if this 3rd one smokes, then the dealer will not warranty as its my part.

At that point i will let them supply it, ($750) vs my $275..

At this time, i dont care about $, i just need my van back.

Im ready to go buy a new van if they cant sort it this week.

 

[audioatg 10+ year member]

? Is were are you getting the PCM's at. Some crap joint that just throws them out hoping they work. Or are you getting it from a known good place that deals with remans all the time. Asked the dealer if they have remans they sell not just a new one. 750 sounds high for a dealer reman one. Mabye its a brand new one. Also. I dought its your audio system. next time it dies. Tell us what happens when it dies. Have they check all the powers and grounds going into the pcm.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

The auto computer exchange. I believe the pcm is ok, they are just being blown by something shorting. Ive dealt with them before and had np. Also the original one in the van that I had for over a year was one from them.

All power and grounds were checked by both shops. My trusted local, and the dodge dealer it is at now.

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

its a reman pcm for 700 whatever, i looked it up, there isnt a new available, only reman, only thing i really can think of is having a weak ground to the pcm could cause it to heat up, did it actually smoke? Get hot and melt?

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

yes, the new pcm was installed. As soon as the van was tried to be started, it cranked for 5-10 seconds, then the pcm began to smoke from the top, Typicaly the area were the repairs are made on them.

Its ground is made thru the pcm case and the chassis via 3 sheet metal screws. The chassis is bare metal, and I have replaced the factory ground strap with 0/1 about 6" from the pcm mounting.

I still think its a short in the harness, bad transmission shift solinoid, bad ASD relay or wire, something to do with the remote start.. or as all the techs say, just another bad pcm.

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

I have seen bad pcm come in before, it wouldnt suprise me if you would have to get 3 to get a good one

 

[audioatg 10+ year member]

yes, the new pcm was installed. As soon as the van was tried to be started, it cranked for 5-10 seconds, then the pcm began to smoke from the top, Typicaly the area were the repairs are made on them.Its ground is made thru the pcm case and the chassis via 3 sheet metal screws. The chassis is bare metal, and I have replaced the factory ground strap with 0/1 about 6" from the pcm mounting.

I still think its a short in the harness, bad transmission shift solinoid, bad ASD relay or wire, something to do with the remote start.. or as all the techs say, just another bad pcm.

PCM Ground is the screws holding it in place. I Dunno about that one. I havent seen that one before. I would have to look it up. Most PCM's have multiply grounds going into it. What year make model motor is your vehicle.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

yes, ive read that ppl have gone thru 3 as well. Also the dealers one is a reman, but for $750..

These are what i am getting.

http://www.autocomputerexchange.com/Product/130

Im going to go with one of these new ones next if this next new one fails.

http://www.dodgeecu.com/finditfast/default.asp?vmake=DODGE&vmodel=RAM 1500 VAN&vyear=2001&type1=

But its still my belief that some short is taking them out.

 

[audioatg 10+ year member]

Give me that info and a sec I have to do a quick rotate and test drive. I'' be back to look it up. Im suspecting a bad ground mabye a bad power wire. Shorting it.

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

2001 dodge ram van 3.9

 

[plugitin 5,000+ posts]

should be multiple grounds in the harness plug itself i would think?

 

[edzy 10+ year member]

yes, there should be, and both shops have tested and said they were ok. One grounds to the asd and that was operating ok..

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

the pcm itself needs a ground i belive, usaully the way it turns on switches is by sending them ground