96 F350 "computer"
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96 F350 "computer"
Need some help please. My mother, who lives in Arizona, has a 96 f350 with an auto trans and a 460. A while back the thing just died on her. She tried getting help from friends in the area, but no one could figure out the problem. She finally had someone diagnose the issue as a problem with "the computer", which I can only assume is the ECU. She is now being told that "the computer" can only be replaced at the dealer, at a cost of $3-5000.00. I checked ebay and have found ECUs for her vehicle in the $200 range. She says she is now being told by the dealer that "they have to uninstall programs from the old computer, and install programs with the new computer." I thought these ECUs were preprogrammed for the vehicle you buy them for? This whole story just isn't making sense to me. It's difficult for me because I live 3000 miles away from her, so all of the information I'm getting is second hand. If anyone could help me out I'd appreciate it. My mother is elderly and doesn't have any money, and she needs the truck to haul water to her property, not to mention grocery runs to town and stuff. She is now entirely dependent on the good will of others to help her with her water and stuff. Thanks in advance.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah the dealer is feeding her a massive pile of BS, a '96 F350 uses the old OBD1 EFI system which is not flashable at all so there is no way to remove or add "programs". The PCMs you are finding on eBay are the right thing you just have to determine her vehicles exact requirements, see if she can get a picture of the calibration code to send to you, it's usually on the drivers door frame somewhere.. on the cab portion not on the door itself. That calibration code will tell you what PCMs are exact replacements. I'd wager the truck has an E4OD trans and that is another key thing to know because the PCM also controls the trans.
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Thanks
Thank you very much, I will relay that info to her.
One other question. She's also telling me that no one other than the dealer will touch the truck. Just how complicated of a job is it to swap out the PCM? I thought it was relatively simple. Am I wrong?
Thanks again.
One other question. She's also telling me that no one other than the dealer will touch the truck. Just how complicated of a job is it to swap out the PCM? I thought it was relatively simple. Am I wrong?
Thanks again.
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
Yeah sorry... its brutally complicated. First disconnect the battery, then loosen and backoff the 10mm bolt that attaches the wiring harness to the PCM at the firewall on the drivers side of the engine compartment so that the harness connector can be removed, and then pull the PCM out of it's pocket in the drivers side finder.
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That's what I thought, thanks.
I have no idea why the dealer is telling her this nonsense. She's not going to spend that kind of money on that truck, so what do they have to gain by telling her that? I don't get it.
I have no idea why the dealer is telling her this nonsense. She's not going to spend that kind of money on that truck, so what do they have to gain by telling her that? I don't get it.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 31,930
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
I'd say the parts counter guy or whoever she is talking to has absolutely zero knowledge of these trucks and assumes that because it's a '96 that it is OBD2 and therefore the same as a current vehicle, and he is then quoting the typical shop rate for this work plus a 100% markup for unexpected surprises. Or he is a complete sleaze ball looking to take advantage of someone.
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