PCM failure in new truck! Help! - Diesel Forum

dan4x4 · 07-14-2001, 10:06 AM

Need your input everyone.

New truck...stuck 500 miles away from home, towing a trailer, because the truck would not run. I have 4000 miles on the truck (2001 V10 3.73 CC 4x4 auto) and have done nothing aftermarket to it.

After I pull away from a fuel pump, truck dies and won't start. After having it towed to a local dealership and all the diagnostics completed, they say I have a bad PCM. They replaced it and I drove home fine.

What caused this critical component to fail? Is this something I am going to have to worry about as long as I own the truck? Or is this problem as common and analogous as your home PC's harddrive crashing?

How serious an issue is this PCM and its potential repeated failure?

Dan

On a note, the dealer installed a PCM from another truck they had on the lot and mine seems to be more responsive now...quicker acceleration, quicker shifts...what's up with that? ...not that I am complaining about that. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

socalbob · 07-14-2001, 06:06 PM

Dan new PCM might have a different code. Not sure about the gassers, but the diesels have a bunch of different codes.

V10 man · 07-14-2001, 09:32 PM

Dan,

I'd say it is very isolated. I've been reading several message boards for the last 4 yrs and I can't recall anyone having one quit. Even the guys with chips and such. The gassers do have different codes. They should have placed a decal under the hood with the new code so future mechanics will know.

NoMo · 07-15-2001, 12:02 AM

While not common, stuff like that can happen as an isolated incident. However, if it fails again, I'd say there is another problem somewhere else (wiring?).

For the occassional "boost" in performance, try disconnecting the battery for several minutes. For me, this usually results in a TEMPORARY increase in the seat-of-the-pants feel of the truck. That may be what you are experiencing now.

dan4x4 · 07-15-2001, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the info, guys.

It was a real p-sser to be stuck in a new truck that would not start... [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Not to mention how to handle an upset nine year old when he was not sure what was happening, or why, or when he would see his mother again. [img]images/icons/mad.gif[/img]

Thanks for the reminder on the pcm code. I guess I will have to contact the dealer and see what the new code is. I am sure that will come in handy somewhere along the road... [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Dan

outpost22 · 07-15-2001, 10:35 PM

I thought I had a computer failure on my '95 G*C. The dealer thought so too and changed out my "box".....turned out to be a frayed ignition wire.
They do fail, as any manufactured part will. There is a % of expected failures in ANY part built....let's just hope its in the OTHER guys trucks [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

John Z · 07-16-2001, 12:39 AM

I agree with V10man, it sounds like an isolated incident. The improved performance of the new one might also be explained by the possibility that there was something wrong with the old one, or something connected to it, right from the start.

dan4x4 · 07-16-2001, 11:00 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by outpost22:
There is a % of expected failures in ANY part built....let's just hope its in the OTHER guys trucks [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yep. No kidding.
[img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Dan

fredvon4 · 07-16-2001, 05:30 PM

Dan
My factory PCM had not hiccuped yet and I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. When I took her for the 5K service I pointed my finger at the service manager and told him that if his "tech's" touched my computer or in any way changed the code there would be very big trouble [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]
My code is IWG0 and this truck is seat of the pants fun to drive and gets good milage.