For the second time in three years I believe my ECU is headed south. A few weeks ago the truck didn't want to start. I checked the grid heater and had more than the recommended resistance between the terminals. I had power to the relays with the wait to start light just no power coming out. Fusible links are good.

Now the problem as I understand it is I have 12 volts to the relays with the wait to start light on. When the wait light goes out, I should have zero volts to the relays. I have seven. If I have more than zero it sould be the ECU according to the service manual. I now have IAT sensor voltage codes, fuel calibration error codes, etc.

Now the million dollar question. I bought a used ECU the last time and blew in a program with the smarty. I would like something to last longer than a couple of years. I know people have said to stay away from a re-manfactored ECU. Dodge tells me they only sell a reman ECU's now, nothing new. They go for the tune of $1400.00 not programmed. I have heard ECU's going south after a short time from Dodge. What is the difference between a Dodge re-man and a $800.00 model from a company off the net? I know to stay away from a Cardone. Also, what about these companies like Klien Bottle Computer who give you a lifetime warentee if they rebuild your ECU?

Anyone care to weigh in?

Of course, there are defects in any run of production. I am just trying to educate on how it all works & the specs thereof.

 

Ed

This may not help, but here is my experience with ecm's .Last feb. I was having a problem with my ecm not powering the lift pump once the the engine temp got to 180 degrees.I had the dodge retrofit in tank pump with a relay, so I could jumper relay and get the lift pump to run. I messed around diagnosing it for about a month and finally determined that the ecm was failing when it got warm. I searched around the web and found all kinds of companies that would check my ecm out for 100 bucks, or rebuild it, or sell me a rebuilt one.I sent it to a place in Florida got a call back in a couple of days saying there was nothing wrong with it,got it back ,same as before. So I took it to a diesel shop here in Tucson .I for got to mention that it had codes po1693 po370 p0230 .the shop told me that they determined that the ecm was bad and the vp44 was bad and they'd be glad to fix it for 5000 bucks,and would refund the $200 diagnostic charge if I had the work done there. I talked to the service manager at the Dodge dealership that I knew and trusted and he told m that ecm's were not being made any more and the only ones they could get were rebuilt blank s and that the reprogramed them, he said they were out of them,but cummins had some for $1400. I decided to send my ecm to AES

in JAcksonville FL. .They kept it for 3 weeks ,finally sent it back saying the reason for the delay was the programs for these ecms were hard to get. When I got It back it wouldn't power up (no wait to start light)I sent it back with a threat to dispute the charges on my credit car. When I got it back it did start and seem to run ok, but I didn't have the ecm reflashed,I figured if

it aint broke don't fix it, I did go ahead and replace my VP44 and put in a fass 95 ,drop straw andbig line kit. Thanks to Mike and all the members on this site I was able to do this myself. Sorry about being so long winded.I hope this post helps someone so

they don't go thru what I went Thru.

Edited December 23, 201410 yr by hodag56

Thanks!

The company that claimed it was hard to get the programs flat out lied. In 2 hours, I downloaded every single software revision for our generation of trucks for $35. When I worked auto salvage, we sold every ECM/PCM/module in every car the moment they came in. The companies flat out admitted that they just resell them & hope they work.

 

 

Ed

So what are the differences in the programming over the years?

If I could read hexadecimal, I could tell you...

Ed

After that post I would be willing to let Ed try and rebuild it.

I have not heard good reviews about the place in Florida. I am stuck between Innovei In Texas and Klein Bottle Computer in New York. Klein has good PayPal ratings and I could probably get my money back if need be. That may tip the scales in that direction. I should look at the BBB ratings for each place. I would like to talk to someone on the phone before I pay or send off my ECU.

For as many ECU's as these people say the rebuild there are not many with experience on the forums.

After that post I would be willing to let Ed try and rebuild it.

I have not heard good reviews about the place in Florida. I am stuck between Innovei In Texas and Klein Bottle Computer in New York. Klein has good PayPal ratings and I could probably get my money back if need be. That may tip the scales in that direction. I should look at the BBB ratings for each place. I would like to talk to someone on the phone before I pay or send off my ECU.

For as many ECU's as these people say the rebuild there are not many with experience on the forums.

I called a bunch of them before I finally picked the one I used. They all tell you that they are the best and that they can fix any auto computer. My knowledge of computers is very limited, so most of the stuff I'm  hearing goes over my head.If I had it to do over again I wouid spend the extra money and get one from cummin,and maybe save some head aches

I called a bunch of them before I finally picked the one I used. They all tell you that they are the best and that they can fix any auto computer. My knowledge of computers is very limited, so most of the stuff I'm  hearing goes over my head.If I had it to do over again I wouid spend the extra money and get one from cummin,and maybe save some head aches.If Ed would rebuild it I would sure let him do it. He knows more about our trucks than  anybody.

Edited December 24, 201410 yr by hodag56

I called a bunch of them before I finally picked the one I used. They all tell you that they are the best and that they can fix any auto computer. My knowledge of computers is very limited, so most of the stuff I'm  hearing goes over my head.If I had it to do over again I wouid spend the extra money and get one from cummin,and maybe save some head aches

Who did you use? Any issues after they rebuilt it?

I would like to get a new one but they can't be found. Dodge says they just sell re-man ECU's and Cummins tells me it's a Dodge part.

My ECU has been giving me issues for the last 4-5 months now and finally took the truck to a shop to let them confirm what was the problem. After they did I had them replace the ECU and they said that they would only use original Dodge electrics as they were the only ones that had a guarantee on them. They said it came from the local dealer. 

 

I have about a week on the truck now with the new ECU and no codes and it runs fine but sure was not a cheap fix!  

 

 

I think that you made a good choice ,at least if   it fails you don't have to wait at 3 weeks to get it back.

I really doubt the dealership has a computer shop in the back. I would also wager someone other than Dodge rebuilds the ECU's they are selling. I may be delusional. I also find it interesting that Dodge sells you a non-programmed ECU and wants to charge you 300 something to program it. I had a guy at Cummins tell me they would sell one programmed out the door for 1260. There is about a 400 dollar discrepancy between Dodge and Cummins for the same part.

How does the dealership re program the used or rebuilt ones.

Can it be done with just a DRB3....

Chris

I don't know the answer to either of those questions. I have a recovery file for my Smarty.

Yes, the DRB3 can reprogram them.

 

Ed

How does the dealership re program the used or rebuilt ones.

Can it be done with just a DRB3....

Chris

 

 

Yes, the DRB3 can reprogram them.

 

Ed

 Start studying Chippy !  

Well Larry...

Your truck is not doing much this time of year, might as well take the DRB home and try it out...jus sayn 

Chris