gasser76

Hi there,

Well it appears that the source of my rough idle is coming from the ECM. According to all the troubleshooting guides my mechanic and I have done, it all leads to the ECM. All the injectors have been replaced and re-tested, injector harness plugs changed, various other wiring plugs tested OK. I believe this will also solve my wacked out console computer readings (I wish that I could believe it when it tells me that I am getting 36.5MPG ).

I am about to change it out myself and I have been told that the ECM for the '06 doesn't need to be reprogrammed - ie. that it will it 'figure itself out' when it gets hooked up to all the various and countless sensors.

Is that true? I have my hands on another ECM .. matches one-for-one except that it came from an automatic.

Thanks all.

cbrahs

the manual ecm won't work unless its reprogrammed. there are some ECM's out there that are aftermarket that come "programmed" but we have not had much luck at our shop with those.

gasser76

You mean, the Automatic ECM won't work in my Manual truck unless it has been reprogrammed? Just want to clarify.

cbrahs

OH YA. sorry. got mind twisted up. keep thinking of the manual conversion i was going to do on my mega before i sold it

gasser76

Could the truck be somewhat driveable with the automatic ECM in it? Or because of the difference in the programming, that the truck won't function right?

I am trying to determine how much involvement I need to have the mechanic in with this? Also, who can re-program the ECM? Is there a service that I can send both ECMs to have "details" from one be transferred over to the other?

Thanks in advance ...

cbrahs

best to start from scratch with a fresh flash. needs to be hooked up into the truck to flash it. dealer. should only be about $60-$100 to do a flash. last one we did, we installed it onto the truck and pulled it over on the trailer, tech came out and flashed it while still on the trailer

gasser76

10-4. Thanks ...

Zeppe807

Where is the best/cheapest place to get an ECM?

Apparently, mine is in need of replacement too? When it is reflashed, will it wipe out the 'high idle' and 'Fog light' programing?

Can a 'Smarty' re-flash?

Thanks,
Joe

gasser76

Hi Joe,

I can't answer specifically if it will wipe out your programming - I am thinking yes. I don't have any mods on my truck.

I got a used ECM from a junk yard. It was only $200. I am hoping that I will have some time this week to get swap it out and tow it over to the dealer for the programming (different transmission).

There is a few other places that you can purchase a refurb'd ECM ... these folks look on the up and up. Pricing seems to be relatively low too.

http://www.dodgeautocomputers.com/

Maybe other folks here have used them before. If you don't mind me asking, why do you think your ECM needs to be changed out? After spending about $4k on new injectors and various other little ****, the ECM is the last thing the mechanic said that will clear up my bad idle.

gasser76

Nevermind, I see your other post. Yeah, your definitely in the same boat as me ...

Hvytrkmech

Did you try tapping the ecm with a soft mallet with the engine running to see if it duplicates the drivability concern?

gasser76

No - I havent thought about actually hitting the ECM. But my gut is telling me however that if that actually fixes it - it would only be temporary and the ECM would stil have to be replaced. Yes?

Zeppe807

yep

It has been in the shop for two months, and we/they have been trying everything but changing out the ECM.

So I think that is the next logical, unfortunately $$$$, step.

I will have to look into that link that you have listed.

I just hope that the ECM will fix it, and I can just get though this.


Thanks,
Joe

Hvytrkmech

It won't fix it, it will just verify that it is faulty. If the engine is acting up then you tap the ecm and it smooths out, or if it is running smooth then tap it and it starts running poorly the issue is most likely the ecm.

gasser76

I see what you are getting at - thinking that maybe something is loose and hitting it would let the electrons to get going. Possibly.

However, I am thinking that it the ECM can still have issues without physically making any changes to it(i.e. wearing itself out or being banged around one-too-many times). It's in the worse location too.

I tried the soft-mallet approach, didn't make any difference at all. Still a rough idle and at around 1,700 - 2,000 RPM. Anywhere else in the RPM spectrum, it's fine.

Thanks for the suggestion however, much appreciated.