PCM — rebuild / replace / upgrade?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
PCM — rebuild / replace / upgrade?
I'm working under the assumption that my PCM is bad, and I suppose the only way to confirm/deny is to replace it.
I'm having a heckuva time finding one locally, as they all seem to have been pulled already from the relevant trucks at the two junkyards I frequent.
Looks like they go for ~$200 "re-manufactured"… my question is, what all is involved in refurbishing these — is it just replacing those 3 capacitors (which I've read about in other threads)? If so, where is the best source? Sounds waaaay cheaper if that is the case.
My second question: I'm running (or hopefully will soon be running) a 5.8 out of a '95 F150 (in a '52 F3) — the donor truck where I also pulled the harness from and this now bad PCM also had an E4OD. I sold that (4x4) E4OD and picked up another E4OD purportedly from a Lightning truck. I see that Rockauto.com lists a separate PCM with a Lightning E4OD designation… would I benefit from using this PCM vs. the standard 5.8/E4OD PCM?
I'm reluctant to spend the $200 (this is a budget build), but after almost 3 years in the works, this is the last piece preventing me from driving it.
Thanks in advance.
I'm having a heckuva time finding one locally, as they all seem to have been pulled already from the relevant trucks at the two junkyards I frequent.
Looks like they go for ~$200 "re-manufactured"… my question is, what all is involved in refurbishing these — is it just replacing those 3 capacitors (which I've read about in other threads)? If so, where is the best source? Sounds waaaay cheaper if that is the case.
My second question: I'm running (or hopefully will soon be running) a 5.8 out of a '95 F150 (in a '52 F3) — the donor truck where I also pulled the harness from and this now bad PCM also had an E4OD. I sold that (4x4) E4OD and picked up another E4OD purportedly from a Lightning truck. I see that Rockauto.com lists a separate PCM with a Lightning E4OD designation… would I benefit from using this PCM vs. the standard 5.8/E4OD PCM?
I'm reluctant to spend the $200 (this is a budget build), but after almost 3 years in the works, this is the last piece preventing me from driving it.
Thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,786
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From: Kentucky
Recalling your previous photo clean the circuit board then inspect carefully. The electrolytic fluid that leaks out is corrosive. Make sure it did not eat through some of the traces.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Easton,Ks
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FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
This from a recent thread on my Mustang's ECM where caps weren't enough to solve the problem:
It arrived shortly before I left town, so I haven't been able to install it.
They are suppose to have tested all functions before shipment.
It's an alternative.
Brief update.
Shipped off ECU to these guys recommended off one of the Mustang forums:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-2004-M...ht_10477wt_758
Just got a call from them & repair made & now paid, shipping today.
Diagnosis was corroded leg on IC near one of the replaced caps.
If all goes well, you might put them in your bookmarks for when the inevitable comes to your computer.
$161.49 or about what you'd pay for an average Cardone replacement.
Shipped off ECU to these guys recommended off one of the Mustang forums:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-2004-M...ht_10477wt_758
Just got a call from them & repair made & now paid, shipping today.
Diagnosis was corroded leg on IC near one of the replaced caps.
If all goes well, you might put them in your bookmarks for when the inevitable comes to your computer.
$161.49 or about what you'd pay for an average Cardone replacement.
It arrived shortly before I left town, so I haven't been able to install it.
They are suppose to have tested all functions before shipment.
It's an alternative.
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Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
interesting
Some Google-research indicates that the code on my PCM means it was for a '95 Bronco… so presumably it was a replacement by the PO of the donor truck? Or were these used interchangeably from the factory between models?
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
Well that is a good point I suppose...
Sounds like I need to just plunk down the coin and get a remanufactured one: who's to say that one from a junkyard wouldn't have the same problem, and as you indicate, if the damage is beyond the DIY capacitor replacement.
Rats.
Sounds like I need to just plunk down the coin and get a remanufactured one: who's to say that one from a junkyard wouldn't have the same problem, and as you indicate, if the damage is beyond the DIY capacitor replacement.
Rats.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
There is some flexibility in swapping out PCM with a dividing line between years 94 & 95.
You can look at Rock auto for the year of your donor & select a PCM that runs a 5.8 & E4OD a be reasonably sure it will run your combo.
As far a the letters, they usually indicate a later production/designed part than say one with earlier letters.
A "YB" would in most cases be older than a ZB, but also could be a completely different computer for a completely different engine trans combination.
When I get home, I'll post an additional list or link to some PCM # that you could look for & use.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,182
Likes: 15
From: Somewhere n North America
Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
This may help with your research.
"Select Part' = "Engine Computer"
Look up your donor, review list.
Select one, then review the availability list.
This may help with your research.
"Select Part' = "Engine Computer"
Look up your donor, review list.
Select one, then review the availability list.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
The donor was a '95, but I bought a chassis — so no doors to check! 
I don't even know what model (XL, XLT, Bauer, etc.) it was. It was a 4x4 truck, so I actually sold the E4OD that came with it and found this RWD E4OD which was listed as from a Lightning truck. That's why I'm wondering if I should go ahead and get a Lightning PCM? I do know the trannys were geared a little different, but I don't know what (if any) differences were in the motor? Either way, this one (now freshly built) is now running higher compression flattop pistons and is bored .030 over.
Rockauto is actually where I found the YB model listed under the Bronco (and not the F150).
Thanks.
I don't even know what model (XL, XLT, Bauer, etc.) it was. It was a 4x4 truck, so I actually sold the E4OD that came with it and found this RWD E4OD which was listed as from a Lightning truck. That's why I'm wondering if I should go ahead and get a Lightning PCM? I do know the trannys were geared a little different, but I don't know what (if any) differences were in the motor? Either way, this one (now freshly built) is now running higher compression flattop pistons and is bored .030 over.
Rockauto is actually where I found the YB model listed under the Bronco (and not the F150).
Thanks.
I can't remember what your donor was (95?), but on the door would have had a calibration sticker with a code that would translate to the exact PCM it needed.
There is some flexibility in swapping out PCM with a dividing line between years 94 & 95.
You can look at Rock auto for the year of your donor & select a PCM that runs a 5.8 & E4OD a be reasonably sure it will run your combo.
As far a the letters, they usually indicate a later production/designed part than say one with earlier letters.
A "YB" would in most cases be older than a ZB, but also could be a completely different computer for a completely different engine trans combination.
When I get home, I'll post an additional list or link to some PCM # that you could look for & use.
There is some flexibility in swapping out PCM with a dividing line between years 94 & 95.
You can look at Rock auto for the year of your donor & select a PCM that runs a 5.8 & E4OD a be reasonably sure it will run your combo.
As far a the letters, they usually indicate a later production/designed part than say one with earlier letters.
A "YB" would in most cases be older than a ZB, but also could be a completely different computer for a completely different engine trans combination.
When I get home, I'll post an additional list or link to some PCM # that you could look for & use.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 826
Likes: 21
From: Golden, CO
Interesting. Hadn't seen that site before.
I may have to call a couple of those places tomorrow, but I suspect they're all "as-is" used and not rebuilt at those prices, so probably not worth gambling that I don't buy one with leaky capacitors. They do, however, include the YB model in the F150 listings...
I may have to call a couple of those places tomorrow, but I suspect they're all "as-is" used and not rebuilt at those prices, so probably not worth gambling that I don't buy one with leaky capacitors. They do, however, include the YB model in the F150 listings...
Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
This may help with your research.
"Select Part' = "Engine Computer"
Look up your donor, review list.
Select one, then review the availability list.
This may help with your research.
"Select Part' = "Engine Computer"
Look up your donor, review list.
Select one, then review the availability list.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 12,338
Likes: 1,314
From: Central Mississippi
Updated my linked thread & all is good with outcome.
Here's a primer on program codes. I thought the 5.8 section (towards bottom) had more program codes to go with listed engineering numbers, but no.
Kinda' hard to find computers by program codes in a retail setting, but sometimes you get lucky.
Don't know how long this link will last, they come & go:
Fuel Injection Technical Library » EEC Program Codes
Here's a primer on program codes. I thought the 5.8 section (towards bottom) had more program codes to go with listed engineering numbers, but no.
Kinda' hard to find computers by program codes in a retail setting, but sometimes you get lucky.
Don't know how long this link will last, they come & go:
Fuel Injection Technical Library » EEC Program Codes