Flash or replace PCM
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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Flash or replace PCM
My vehicle is an 2008 E4 50 shuttle bus with the V 10, It runs great but won’t pass smog because of an error code relating to the PCM unit. [since the first respondent asked, I am adding in the code was P1639]
I am aware it can be re-flashed, I had a few questions/concerns about whether that was a good idea.
The first was, if it’s needing to be re-flashed, what are the odds it will just start working perfectly after I do that. In other words, why did it need to be re-flashed begin with?
The second is, is there a chance that the reflash process, if it is a defective PCM, will disable what is currently a running vehicle?
Does anyone have any experience with a PCM that needed re-flashing and that fix the problem completely? Does anyone have any experience with trying to reflash a PCM and a vehicle that worked at in the process disable to vehicle?
Thanks in advance for any advice you might have on addressing this issue…
I am aware it can be re-flashed, I had a few questions/concerns about whether that was a good idea.
The first was, if it’s needing to be re-flashed, what are the odds it will just start working perfectly after I do that. In other words, why did it need to be re-flashed begin with?
The second is, is there a chance that the reflash process, if it is a defective PCM, will disable what is currently a running vehicle?
Does anyone have any experience with a PCM that needed re-flashing and that fix the problem completely? Does anyone have any experience with trying to reflash a PCM and a vehicle that worked at in the process disable to vehicle?
Thanks in advance for any advice you might have on addressing this issue…
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,730
Likes: 2,658
From: SE Florida
What code was set? Once we know the code we can help direct you on how to fix this instead of taking wild guesses as to what's wrong.
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2019
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P1639 FORD Possible Causes
- Reprogram Module ("Flashing")
- New Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Needs programming
- Incorrect Vehicle Identification (VID) configuration
There was a pretty complex (lots of buttons and led’s) idle control unit installed when I bought the bus that didn’t seem to function maybe the pcm is expecting something to be there that isn’t? What’s the difference between flashing and reprogramming?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 661
Likes: 8
From: Ontario , Canada
Your vehicle ID block is corrupted...basically the truck as forgotten it's name to put it simply. Take it to the Ford dealer and have them flash it with as built data.
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Elder User
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2019
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Now I’m in trouble
I took it down to the dealership to have the unit flashed.
They told me $150. Seemed reasonable.
Then they cane came back and said it was gonna be $300 because it was an aftermarket replacement and it wasn’t taking the programming easily.
Then they came back and said that that it wouldn’t program at all, and I need a new one. They found one on the easy coast for about $850.
Now it doesn’t run and needs well over $1000 worth of work (which I don’t t have).
I see places online shere where I can get a refurbished one for around $550 but I have no idea if those are reliable, in the long term or even if I can count on it working at all.
They told me $150. Seemed reasonable.
Then they cane came back and said it was gonna be $300 because it was an aftermarket replacement and it wasn’t taking the programming easily.
Then they came back and said that that it wouldn’t program at all, and I need a new one. They found one on the easy coast for about $850.
Now it doesn’t run and needs well over $1000 worth of work (which I don’t t have).
I see places online shere where I can get a refurbished one for around $550 but I have no idea if those are reliable, in the long term or even if I can count on it working at all.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 661
Likes: 8
From: Ontario , Canada
I took it down to the dealership to have the unit flashed.
They told me $150. Seemed reasonable.
Then they cane came back and said it was gonna be $300 because it was an aftermarket replacement and it wasn’t taking the programming easily.
Then they came back and said that that it wouldn’t program at all, and I need a new one. They found one on the easy coast for about $850.
Now it doesn’t run and needs well over $1000 worth of work (which I don’t t have).
I see places online shere where I can get a refurbished one for around $550 but I have no idea if those are reliable, in the long term or even if I can count on it working at all.
They told me $150. Seemed reasonable.
Then they cane came back and said it was gonna be $300 because it was an aftermarket replacement and it wasn’t taking the programming easily.
Then they came back and said that that it wouldn’t program at all, and I need a new one. They found one on the easy coast for about $850.
Now it doesn’t run and needs well over $1000 worth of work (which I don’t t have).
I see places online shere where I can get a refurbished one for around $550 but I have no idea if those are reliable, in the long term or even if I can count on it working at all.
Wow...that sucks..sorry man...Can't say I've ever heard/read of that happening before
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Trailering
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18
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The previous owner probably slapped something in there that didn’t belong.
its also possible the dealership just doesn’t know how to deal with it (but it could be fixed), I’m gonna find out today if it has the name of a brand on it I can call up.
its also possible the dealership just doesn’t know how to deal with it (but it could be fixed), I’m gonna find out today if it has the name of a brand on it I can call up.
Scope Wizard
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,530
Likes: 25
I don't know much about the PCM you need but I would go to Pull-A-Part for a used one.. cost ya less than 50 bux and could probably get an Original that the FORD IDS can program.... as far as I know Forscan cannot program the VIN into the PCM it can only be done with IDS.
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