when my 5.2 locked up, i replaced it with a 5.9
i bought a 2000 r/t ecu and expected it to be plug and play. but it won't do anything. i suspect that i have a bad ecu, but i'm not sure. all my dash lights and gauges work, the engine just won't run. any one have any ideas? does it need to be flashed? do i have a bad ecu?
the motor runs fine witht he 5.2 computer so i know there's nothing wrong with the engine... i just can't get my new ecu to work with it.

 

If it runs fine with the 5.2L PCM then why worry about it?

IndyD

 

well it doesn't really run "fine" with it, i said to indicate that the engine ran with no other issues. i have to keep disconnecting the computer to reset it to get any power out of it. after the "learning period" is over the computer tries to run it like it's a 5.2 and it sucks.

 

can anyone at least tell me if the rt computer is supposed to be plug and play?

 

Nope it has to be flashed with the VIN.

 

if the rt gets flashed with my vin won't it just revert back to the 5.2 parameters?

 

it may be possible that there are other electronic sensors and devices on your D whether that may be certain engine components to interior components that may not be compatible with the 5.2 pcm?

 

Doesn't the engine have a VIN stamped on the block? I've never swapped an engine before, but I thought they were stamped... The engine's VIN would be the VIN that needs to be programmed into the computer.

 

unless it is the exact same pcm used in both engines I don't see why it would and if that's the case you could always get your old pcm flashed with the VIN that the engine came out of or however it ends up working out...

 

the engine came from a 5 speed 99 dodge ram. same engine, but vastly different computers. (auto vs manual)
i found out that the r/t's used a distributorless ignition (true?) and that's probably why that didn't work on my 5.9...
so my search is on for a 2000 durango non r/t 5.9 ecm. since the dealership won't program my ecu with anyother vin other than my original one for the 5.2.