Knowledgebase: General
When To Replace Your PCM (And When Not To)
Posted by Alex (Im) E. on 31 January 2013 09:49 PM

The onboard computer is the brains of the engine control system, so when the brain isn't functioning correctly neither is the engine or anything else that the microprocessor controls - which may include the charging system, transmission, various emission controls and communications with other onboard control modules. Once a diagnosis has been made — then and only then should the PCM be replaced.

All too often, the blame falls on what is least understood. If an engine isn’t running right and the cause isn’t obvious, blame the computer. Throwing parts at a problem in an attempt to solve it may be good for the parts business, but attempting to return a replacement PCM because it didn’t fix the problem isn’t good for anyone. Warranty returns on complicated and expensive components like powertrain control modules can be tricky and are a no-win situation for everyone.

 

UNNECESSARY RETURNS

Over 50 percent of PCMs that are returned under warranty have nothing wrong with them! So it’s obvious a lot of people are swapping computers to see if a different PCM will fix their problem.

The trouble with returns is if the PCM has been on the car, you have no way of knowing if it is still "good" or not. Somebody may have crossed up some wires, zapped the PCM with too much voltage or who knows what? The computer needs to be tested and verified before it can go back on the shelf and be sold to somebody else.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way of doing that in a parts store. The PCM has to be hooked up to a sophisticated simulator that exercises all of the computer’s input and output circuits to make sure it works correctly - which means the PCM has to go back to the supplier, be retested, and if no fault is found, repackaged and put back into stock. You can understand then why many parts stores have a policy of "no returns or refunds on electronic components."

So - don't even think about replacing that PCM until you're confident that you've properly diagnosed the problem.

 

WHY DID IT DIE?

One way to reduce the risk of PCM warranty problems is to find out why the old PCM died. Determining the cause of death may not always be possible, but it may be essential to prevent the same thing from damaging the replacement PCM in some cases.

PCMs typically fail for one of two reasons: voltage overloads (often due to a short in a solenoid or actuator circuit) or environmental factors (corrosion, thermal stress or vibration). If the shorted solenoid or actuator isn’t found and repaired, the voltage overload it creates may damage the replacement PCM, too.

As for environmental factors, water is the main thing to avoid. If water gets inside a PCM, it can short circuits and set up irreversible corrosion that ruins electronic connections. Most remanufacturers won’t even attempt to repair a PCM if the vehicle it came out of was submerged in a flood. Replacement is the only option. Thermal stress and vibration can form microcracks in circuit boards (which are repairable). This often has more to due with the ruggedness of the circuit design than operation factors in the vehicle itself.

 

ACCURATE IDENTIFICATION

Because there are so many different PCMs, accurate identification of the PCM and its correct replacement is absolutely essential to prevent unnecessary returns. Many PCMs appear to be exactly the same on the outside (same sized box and connectors) but may be wired or calibrated differently inside. If the wrong PCM is installed in a vehicle, it may run but probably won’t run well. Close enough isn’t good enough when it comes to replacing PCMs. It must be the correct replacement for the application.

Accurately identifying the PCM requires not only the vehicle year, make, model and engine size, but also the OEM part number on the PCM itself. Most supplier’s catalogs list replacement PCMs both ways. So if in doubt, always refer to the OEM number on the PCM and look it up in the suppliers cross reference index to find their replacement part number.

The calibration chip and PROM contains the programming instructions for the vehicle application. That’s why it usually doesn’t come with the replacement PCM. There are too many different possibilities. On many newer vehicles, flash memory or "EEPROMs" (Electronically Erasable Program Read Only Memory) are used. If the replacement PROM is not properly programmed for the application, it must be reprogrammed after it has been installed.

Unfortunately, the ability to do this type of reprogramming is not readily available to the aftermarket. The car makers don’t want aftermarket technicians messing around with the calibration of their onboard computers because they’re afraid doing so may alter emissions or performance. But that’s another issue. One such example is Chrysler transmission modules. They must be reset with the factory DRB scan tool and dealer codes to set the "pinion factor," which controls the operation of the speedometer.

 

REMAN PCMs

Because PCMs are fairly expensive, almost all aftermarket replacement PCMs are "remanufactured" units. PCMs are not rebuilt in the same way that alternators and water pumps because there are no mechanical parts that wear out. Remanufacturing in this case usually means testing the computer, isolating and repairing any faults that may be found, then retesting the computer to make sure everything works correctly.

Remanufactured PCMs are typically sold one of two ways: on an exchange basis from stock, or on a custom rebuild basis. If a particular PCM is not in stock or is unavailable, you can often send the old PCM to a remanufacturer for repair. Turn around time is typically a few days and the cost is the same as selling him an exchange unit from stock (except there’s no core charge). Some PCMs, though, may not be repairable. As we said earlier, most remanufacturers will not even touch a PCM if it came out of a flooded vehicle.

 

REPLACEMENT TIPS

Replacing a PCM is essentially a matter of swapping boxes. Accessibility can be a problem on some vehicles because the PCM is often buried under or behind other components in the instrument panel, climate control system or console. Some are located under a seat and require removing the seat.

Regardless of the PCM’s location, though, one thing every installer should do (but many don’t) prior to removing the old PCM and installing the replacement PCM is disconnect the battery.

Once the PCM has been installed and reconnected, the battery can be reconnected, too. But the job isn’t done yet. Many PCMs have to undergo a "relearning" procedure after they’ve been installed or if they’ve been disconnected from the battery.

On some applications, there may be a specific procedure for establishing the base idle speed. On others, it may be necessary to take the vehicle for a short test drive so the computer can adjust itself. The exact requirements will be spelled out in the vehicle’s service manual, but that doesn’t mean the installer has access to a manual or will use it. So the best advice here is to test drive the vehicle after the computer has been installed. A short drive cycle that includes going over 35 mph will usually reset most computers so they run properly.

Most PCMs will also continue to learn and make small adjustments to the fuel mixture and other functions over time as the vehicle accumulates miles. If the PCM also controls the transmission, it may take awhile to relearn the driver’s habits so the transmission may not shift exactly the same as before until this occurs.

Finally, if the Malfunction Indicator or Check Engine light comes back on after the PCM has been replaced, it means there’s still a problem with the vehicle - not the PCM (assuming the code is not one for an internal PCM fault, in which case the PCM would be saying it is faulty). The presence of fault codes means something else is wrong that needs to be diagnosed and repaired. So until the real problem is found and fixed, the PCM may not function normally.

If the engine control system is not going into closed loop, chances are the coolant sensor or oxygen sensor are not working properly. If spark timing seems to be over advanced or retarded, the problem may be a faulty MAP sensor, misadjusted throttle position sensor or overly sensitive knock sensor. And if nothing seems to work right, low charging voltage due to a weak alternator or poor battery connections may be the fault.

Remember, the PCM needs all its sensor inputs, proper battery voltage, a good ground and the ability to send out control signals to function normally.

 

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