manureman

I have been going around on this problem for months now! Really fed up with it. Lost A/c, cruise, tach, speedo, on my 96 5 speed. Checked everything. Have a guy helping me with it now that is really good at electrical. Put new ESS on it, still nothing. Showing very little charge from alternator. Alternator checks out good also. PCM is getting 12 V input, put only 0.8 V to ESS. Went through all grounds on the truck and everything is good. It almost has to be the PCM! Priced a new one at the dealer...OUCH! Anybody suggest where to order one from? Even Napa & O'reilly's want a premium for a reman one. Can't find one in the junkyard either. Anyone have an extra one sitting around they want to part with? I'm starting to go crazy here!

Thanks

Mike

blackimpala

There is a place in Fla. that sells rebuilt computers with lifetime warranty. Got one for my daughter van. It came flashed for her car. Around $200 still working good. I am on the road for the next month so I can't give you a link to them.

95black2615

What year truck and transmission do you have?

rebal

Ebay had some on a while back

02ctd4now

the place blackimpala is talking about is prbubly "accomputer exchange". They have listings on ebay as well. Check ebay also. Ijust whent through it with mine, but ecm. Ebay has a bunch of pcms on there. Just type in "dodge ram computer" You will get more listings them typing in pcm.

infidel

My experience is more often than not a new PCM doesn't correct the problems.
It's usually bad connections at the PCM.
If possible swap with a known good PCM.
Make sure to try out your PCM on the donor truck.

manureman

The truck was fine until I had to do some welding on it. I unhooked both batteries before I did the welding, + & - cables on both. I don;t know of anyone around swith a 96 5 spped truck I could swap a PCM with to see if it is the problem.

infidel

You can swap with any auto or manual truck from '94 to '97 and most but not all functions will work.
It will be enough to tell you if the PCM is indeed the problem.

RPegram

Does anyone know if one off a '96 1500 gasser will work? I bought a junk truck to get body and interior parts off of. It runs, but trans lost all forward motion. The PCM looks the same, but I don't know.

infidel

With a gasser PCM some but not all functions will work.

Lil Dog

If the Tach didn't improve with the ESS replacment, I would start digging into the harness. They typically can rub through at the top of the head where the wires can contact the head and short out. Also trace the harness connections along the way to the firewall.