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Today I put the old pcm back in the truck. I get a p0603 code and the truck runs great! With the new pcm, I get a p1211 and it's a dog. So, what does this code mean? Should I run the old pcm? Or run the new pcm and buy a chip?
Today I put the old pcm back in the truck. I get a p0603 code and the truck runs great! With the new pcm, I get a p1211 and it's a dog. So, what does this code mean? Should I run the old pcm? Or run the new pcm and buy a chip?
I have jacked-up 'jectors and had a chip (with custom tunes to fuel them) connection fail 400 miles from home one time. I had to drive home, with the right pedal acting more like a switch than a throttle. I then spent time and money getting a stock-powered custom tune programmed into the PCM in the event of the chip ever failing again. Since I went through the trouble and expense of doing this myself - that is my advice to you. I suggest doing what it takes to make sure you have a 100% PCM before counting on a chip to cover your ***.
Why is a 80 hp tune good up to 7500 lbs yet a 25 hp tune is good for over 12500 lbs? I'm sure it's been covered but I'm too lazy to search it today.
Although I'm sure there is a more complete answer, the short answer is the need to control your EGT's. Generally towing with say an 80HP performance tune would send your EGT's through the roof.
I'm not a tuner, but I am a pseudo student of the nuances of tuning. A real tuner may chime in and correct what I'm about to share here - or verify it:
In many cases, a tow tune is little more than a change in the limit on how much fuel you can apply - so in theory... just easing up on the testosterone can be considered a "tow tune". Then... there are the real tow tunes that do limit the throttle like the others - but it tinkers with the fueling strategy and with transmission settings on automatics as well.
The factory settings (along with a beefed-up auto transmission or a manual transmission) do a fantastic (and safe) job of towing. With that, there are still those who want a little more oomph on the nasty grades along their route - and I see 25 and 40 HP tunes provided for this purpose (depending on towed weight). The difference between the two tunes is again... max fueling.
I have custom injectors that I specifically bought for optimal towing EGT management and street manners. I can dish up 400 RWHP, but a tow tune throttles me back to about 265-290 RWHP to keep the EGTs in check on those 8 and 9% grades.
Just throwing in my experience. I installed an SCT Tuner on my 2000 F250. (it had 450k miles when installed, 470k now)
I have nothing but good things to say about this tuner. I keep my truck in Performance mode most of the time to keep decent fuel mileage, but can swap it to tow or street mode in less than 5 minutes if I need to haul anything. (I haul a gooseneck horse trailer or a utility trailer with hay on it most of the time)
It's a night and day difference from stock. I would spend the money and get this tuner over a chip any day just because of the versatility of it.
Who to I contact to reflash a PCM? Local diesel shop? Or a chip manufacturer?
I suspect that if you go with just a Dealer reflash it would do nothing for changing shifting points which is a great improvement when towing. Instead I would go for a Tuner. I can only speak for DP because it is the only one I have experience on.
Contact DP tell them what kind of towing and driving habits you have they will suggest tunes for you. Install the chip on the pcm. You can change from tune to tune and back to stock on the fly Love it.
1. stock
2. 30hp tow
3 .Decel
4. 60hp Tow
5. 60hp Econo tune
I placed the Decel tune on my set between 30hp and 60hp tow tunes so I can toggle up or down on the switch for Decel if going down a long grade.
Will having it flashed cause the p0603 code? Do you think I could just send the old one in? It already has the 0603 code. Or just send the new one that has no codes? I appreciate all the input.
If you decide to do a flash by a Dealer I suspect it will be low in the performance scale. If you send the pcm to a Tuner for a one time flash, once it's done it's done. You will have to send the pcm in if you ever want to have it put in stock mode or your parameters changes.
With DP Tuner you would NOT send in the pcm you would get the number off of the pcm, contact DP with that information, choose the tunes you want. DP will program you a chip and send you a chip and switch controller. You will then install the chip and the switch controller.
In your case, the old pcm seems to be suspect so I would get the number off the new pcm and go with that one if you were going the DP route
Why is a 80 hp tune good up to 7500 lbs yet a 25 hp tune is good for over 12500 lbs? I'm sure it's been covered but I'm too lazy to search it today.
Eh, it's more a rule of thumb so Joe Q Public knows the approximate parameters of working their rig.
Just remember, you can have a tune labeled "35hp Daily Driver" that destroys an engine, and on the flip side a tune labeled "95hp Performance" that can pull a 10k lb trailer all day every day.
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