Any advantage to checking for PCM updates?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
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Any advantage to checking for PCM updates?
I bought a used 1-owner 2004 F-150 SC 4WD a couple of years ago. It now has 210k miles on the original engine, which has the cam phaser/timing chain (?) rattle. It runs good but runs out of breath and sounds like it detonates at high rpms, and sometimes in surges when taking off or driving at a constant speed with the a/c. Not bad, but noticeable to me since I'm in it everyday. I've read where some have benefited from PCM updates. I don't know if my truck has ever been checked for the most recent updates - I really don't even know exactly what that means since PCMs, ECMs, tuners,... intimidates me bc I know nothing about this. Do you think that I need to call a dealer and see if they would check and update the truck, or due to the high miles and phaser issue, should I just drive? Concerning the phasers, I've found every kind of answer on here, from replacing to lockouts to driving it until it gives trouble. At 210k miles, I've decided to drive it so far and replace the engine when it blows, but if I knew that it would go 400k miles, then I would replace the phasers and related. What is you're advice? Thank you.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 24,316
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From: 0,0,1
(FYI, for Ford it's an ECM, Chrysler uses PCM.)
Obviously if the updates were already done then doing them again will yield no benefit. All you can do is check with the dealer to see if any updates are installed and if not will any of them benefit your particular truck.
Obviously if the updates were already done then doing them again will yield no benefit. All you can do is check with the dealer to see if any updates are installed and if not will any of them benefit your particular truck.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,760
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From: St Louis
That's strange, every Ford manual in my collection (1992-2014) for the last 20+ model years explicitly use the term "PCM" to refer to the Powertrain Control Module. Prior to that, IIRC, Ford used the term "ECA" for the engine management computer.
Back to the original question. NO, a PCM re-flash is unlikely to be beneficial. Most likely, your truck is in need of either repair or there's too much ignored maintenance present for it to operate correctly.
Back to the original question. NO, a PCM re-flash is unlikely to be beneficial. Most likely, your truck is in need of either repair or there's too much ignored maintenance present for it to operate correctly.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 248
Likes: 2
Thank you for the responses, except for the "ignored maintenance" part. I have the records from the original owner - he had the regularly scheduled maintenance performed by the dealer, and I've hit the maintenance marks plus some during the 35k miles that I've had it. I'm blaming it on a engine that was trouble-prone with the phaser issue plus time and miles. I do agree in that I think any updates would be minor in benefit compared to a new engine, then updates. Not convinced that phasers and related will do anything other than quieter it down. I'm not reading about much improved performance from this.
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