For my truck that is !!

The computer brain on my 1988 F-250 351W has gone out and I was told that the Ford people no longer make these brains and nobody makes a reproduction.

I was told I would have to ship the old one to Pennsylvania and have it rebuilt.
Anybody else dealt with this problem ???

 

I think you can pick one up from your local parts house, but they're typically not very good.

Rebuild or salvage yard are your best bets. You need to make sure you get one that matches your engine and transmission combo.

 

take a look at fordfuelinjection.com if you look at there truck computer information they give you everything you need to know to go junk yard picking for a new computer.

 

Why do you think your ECM is bad?

 

Just going by what my mechanic has said,

The truck just up and died on me about a month back and he has checked everything
that would cause it not to start and has narrowed it to this.

 

Ford told me the same thing in Pa. (about discontinued) I went to 5 different places before NAPA had all my numbers correct. I was getting - BM1, BMA, BMB , I needed BM1B. maybe you should keep looking around a little more you might get lucky, as did I. good luck
and that post sure left you wide open - ha ha

 

Lots of mechanics are either unfamiliar with Ford's EFI, lazy, or just incompetent. They check a few simple things, and when none of them work out, they say, "It must be the computer."

ECM's rarely go bad. I would be darn sure that it's the computer before spending a lot of time and $200 tracking the right one down.

An engine needs spark, fuel, and air to run. When present in the right quantities, the engine will run. Air is a given, so do you have fuel and spark?

 

I know for sure we have fuel and spark on it.

He has run every test possible and narrowed it to this.

This why he has had the truck so long.....and I told him to keep it as long as necessary.
Thought it might save me some $$$$$

 

If it has fuel and spark, then it's probably not the computer.

 

Now that I think about it, he took the main fuel pump off and tested it that way.

Not sure about the spark.

He had just replaced the Ignition Control Module, let the truck idle for about an hour to check for the surging problem.
He then drove it about a mile with no problems, pulled it back into the garage and let it set for about an hour and it as not started since then.

 

Are you mechanically inclined and want to work with us to see what your problem is?
Do you have a test light?
You may also have to check the fuel pressure with a gauge.

 

IF your mechanic drove the truck, the PCM (power-train control module) (brain) is working. Even if it drives poorly, the PCM is working. I have had half a dozen cars with PCMs without one failing. There are no moving parts to wear out.

With electronics, a solder joint may crack. Then you would have an intermittent problem that would be temperature related. Most electronics have a high infant mortality rate. Most failures will happen when the item is new.

Get an inexpensive multimeter and a Haynes or Chilton book. The folks here are very good with troubleshooting. Heck, even I could help you a bit with that.

My '89 302 hard an idle surging problem a bit back that I traced back electrically to the bad component.

-Lance

p.s. from the "Wizard of Oz" by Arlen & Harburg 1939

I could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers
Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin' while
my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle for any individ'le,
In trouble or in pain.
With the thoughts you'll be thinkin'
you could be another Lincoln
If you only had a brain.
Oh, I could tell you why The ocean's near the shore.
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit, and think some more.
I would not be just a nothin' my head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,
If I only had a brain.

 

Which pretty much proves your mechanic doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

Like Bill says, your PCM is working fine. It would be a big waste of time and money to replace it.

You either need to get it to a competent mechanic or let us help you fix it. We'll help you, and there are some people on here who really know their stuff.