That makes sense. Sometimes people tell me I'm weird.

 

I haven't read most of this thread but I would say if its a code that doesn't cause any problems just ignore it If your charging problem is fixed.

 

Well, that only would work until it's time to get emissions done. That is, if OP's state does emissions.

 

My state does not do emissions. But I am planning on selling it once this is resolved. Having a check-engine light on will affect the selling price, no matter what my explanation is, so I'd rather get it fixed.

Other updates:
1) Flagship One issued a full refund, and Discover decided in my favor. So I suspect Flagship One issuing a refund was because Discover twisted their arm.

2) UPS says I'll get the ECU back from Solo today, which hopefully will fix everything...

3) My neighbor (an auto tech) told me he thought the vin reprogramming was not necessary for it run properly. He thinks if I got an ECU from salvage and plugged the only issue would be that the vins wouldn't match between the ECU and the truck (which would cause it to fail emissions, but since we don't have emissions, it likely wouldn't be a problem for me).

I don't want to spend any more money on this, but I would like to get the check engine light cleared so I can sell it for more.

 

could a dealership reprogram it to match your model without loosing the warrantee on the PCM?

Yes more money

 

Most dealerships don't have a DRB3 or a tech that knows how to use it anymore.

The WiTech has a DRB emulator mode, but it is for diagnostic only, not programming. All programming still requires a DRB3.

 

I think its finally done guys. The latest attempt came today, and there is no check engine light after a test drive.

 

That's pathetic most autos are so computer reliant with multiple modules a good tech that understands these problems is a must these days.

Yes our Dakotas are old but still need service.

 

Us that live out west tend to keep autos way longer no rust problems so these services are still needed.

But I know obtaining oem parts has become a problem NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

 

No rust here in the south either. I'm not surprised by the lack of availability of certain parts. I guess that's the way of capitalism. As far as they're concerned, we're driving around machines that reached the end of their service life long ago and sit outside their profitability window. Heck, they stopped making them almost a decade ago.

I plan on driving mine till the wheels fall off. I know it's true worth, how reliable it is after the work I've done and I feel that it has MANY more miles left to go. I've driven late model trucks with low miles that felt less substantial, slower and and less well planted than my Dak. Besides, what would I get selling a now defunct truck with over 300K? Probably a big goose egg.