EFI 460 PCMs?
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Annapolis, MD
EFI 460 PCMs?
I run a site for owners of the Airstream B190s like mine (see sig), which are based on the Ford F53 chassis.
In the last few weeks, I've heard about three B190s that were dead on the road because their PCMs were toast and could not be reflashed. One person said the board had degraded. All three were 1994 models with the 460. Worse, Ford doesn't seem to make the PCM for it any more, and no dealers seem to have any in stock, so the people in this situation have a major problem - one ended up getting one from Airstream (I don't know why they'd have it, but they did) for $800+.
Is this just a coincidence, or is this a common problem? If it is a common problem, does it affect only 1994s for some odd reason or are other years involved?
I'm trying to get some background on the issue for other owners, and I and the other owners would very much appreciate any light you can shed on the situation. Thanks!
One couple was on their way home from buying the camper when the PCM died on them. They were the ones that had to spend $800+ to get it back on the road. Their '94 was garage kept and had low miles, too.
In the last few weeks, I've heard about three B190s that were dead on the road because their PCMs were toast and could not be reflashed. One person said the board had degraded. All three were 1994 models with the 460. Worse, Ford doesn't seem to make the PCM for it any more, and no dealers seem to have any in stock, so the people in this situation have a major problem - one ended up getting one from Airstream (I don't know why they'd have it, but they did) for $800+.
Is this just a coincidence, or is this a common problem? If it is a common problem, does it affect only 1994s for some odd reason or are other years involved?
I'm trying to get some background on the issue for other owners, and I and the other owners would very much appreciate any light you can shed on the situation. Thanks!
One couple was on their way home from buying the camper when the PCM died on them. They were the ones that had to spend $800+ to get it back on the road. Their '94 was garage kept and had low miles, too.
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i have a 92 f53 460 efi,,there was a recall#94b37 for a new pcm and catalytic(91-92 models only),mine qualifies but i don't trust that so called new pcm,probably programmed TO fail,i'll stick with the original,,suppose to run cleaner for emissions with this new pcm,,i called the 1-800 ford# for motorhomes they checked my vin#s and they said to take mine in everything is free,no thanks,,hey thanks for posting this info this just confirms what i thought that the new pcm WAS programmed to fail,,,,if anything id convert the bitch to carb if it happened to me,lots of guys converting the efi to carb with an adapter plate,,would have to work around that e4od,,get a c6 tranny id say, ,or hunt down a another ecm would be my first choice i suppose,but to pay 800 thats crazy
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From: Annapolis, MD
It turned out the one from Airstream wasn't the right part.
I don't know how you can make the assumption that this PCM was "designed to fail". I can think of 5 or 6 good reasons that idea doesn't make any sense, not the least of which is that they are different years, and I've yet to hear anything about a '91 or '92 suffering the same failure (and there are more '91s and '92s out there than there are '94s).
I don't know how you can make the assumption that this PCM was "designed to fail". I can think of 5 or 6 good reasons that idea doesn't make any sense, not the least of which is that they are different years, and I've yet to hear anything about a '91 or '92 suffering the same failure (and there are more '91s and '92s out there than there are '94s).
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all in know is that the 89-92 efis run a bit richer with the original ecm that rolled out the factory,,so ford wanted you to change to a newer ecm so it will run leaner,,also not good risks burning valves running richer is always safer,,,,anyways this not the first i have heard from other rv460 efi owners that had the recall done got this new ecm and it failed went into open loop mode,,,most ecms on newer cars are designed to fail they want you back at the dealer crying for mercy they need to pay their employees and you are the man with the dough,,***** even the ecms controls voltage in the alternator now in some cars,gee i wonder why they did that simple so you can't fix it, todays cars are designed to be disposable,not like the good old cast iron headed fords from the past,all my cars have cast irons heads yeah all my autos are oldies,my favorite is my 69 MACH1
yeah not even the new plastic copycat mustangs come close
yeah not even the new plastic copycat mustangs come close
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Portage Twp, PA
Much of a conspiracy theorist, mustangman? Think that Lee Harvey Oswald killed JFK and that there's DEFINITELY something fishy going on at Area 51?
Think about it...if Ford (or ANY other manufacturer of just about ANYTHING) were to deliberately sabotage a part, the notoriety they would gain would be very detrimental to business. Could possibly even lead to a government inquiry into bad business practices, which, of course, would lead to more notoriety. I personally prefer blaming incompetent engineers for most problems.
I, too, am certainly not a big fan of computer controls on motor vehicles. But there's something kinda nice about being able to jump in my truck on a -15º morning and having it fire right up rather than cranking the battery to death! Therefore, I chose to adapt to my situation, and I keep my computer-controlled vehicles as well-maintained as I possibly can.
To everyone else, sorry I don't have anything worthy to contribute to this post...
Pat
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From: Annapolis, MD
I have some more information on this. One of the users with this problem found (via a helpful Ford parts guy) a company called Autocomp, Inc. makes a rebuilt PCM for the '94 460s. They told him that the 1994's PCM is not interchangeable with other years, which is why they're so rare. Apparently they sell rebuilt PCMs for $250-$350, and there is a core charge. He got his via the Ford parts guy rather than directly.
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