ECM swap question 2005 E150

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Feb 18, 2020 | 01:14 PM

assaultvan

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2020

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

ECM swap question 2005 E150

So I've been thinking about picking up a spare ECM (or PCM whatever Ford is calling it), to have around for a spare/testing purposes. So if I find one that is the same year van, with the same engine and programmed for identical specs, would it be plug and play? I have a work van without PATS, so I don't have to worry about any anti-theft stuff. I know the VIN programmed into the ECM would not match, but if it wouldn't cause any issues I don't really care. I'm just wondering if the VIN not matching, would somehow cause it not to work? My guess is that it should still work fine. But before I waste $25 at the junkyard, I thought I would see if anyone knows... Thanks in advance!

Feb 19, 2020 | 08:41 PM

dziwei

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2017

Posts: 610

Likes: 3

From: Willamette Valley

I have done this and it ran 'just fine'; I got similar gas mileage and no CEL came on, seemed to drive the same as it had BUT the vans did have different gears so the speedo and odometer read fast and racked up more miles than they were supposed to (mileage was calculated factoring in the over reporting). ALSO the donor had cruise and the van it went into did not, that didn't seem to matter.

Feb 20, 2020 | 09:41 AM

assaultvan

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Jan 2020

Posts: 8

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by dziwei

I have done this and it ran 'just fine'; I got similar gas mileage and no CEL came on, seemed to drive the same as it had BUT the vans did had different gears so the speedo and odometer read fast and racked up more miles than they were supposed to (mileage was calculated factoring in the over reporting). ALSO the donor had cruise and the van it went into did not, didn't seem to matter.

Thanks, I managed to grab one from an 06 with all the same specs, even cruise and the same rear gear ratio. I haven't tested it out yet, but I assume it will work okay. I don't think they changed anything from 05 to 06, unless it has a slightly updated program in it. Should still work fine though I'm guessing. It'll be good to have a spare and can't beat the price for $25 bucks. I have been chasing a weird problem with stalling in 2nd shifting into it from park and lugging when coasting into 2nd at low RPM. It also surges when braking and the shifts seem to happen too fast. That was my original intention for buying it to test and see if it made any difference. But I finally figured out that my problem is being caused by worn rubber check ***** in the transmission valve body and it's causing the torque converter to lock up when it shouldn't be. I'm going to replace them with plastic check ***** when my parts get here and hopefully take care of this issue for good.