1994-1995 are OBD1, 1996 is OBD1/OBD2 hybrid. In 1996 OBD2 became mandatory for most vehicles (note: certain class trucks are or were exempt from OBD2, based on GVWR), 1997 is full OBD2, 1998-2002 are the easiest to tune.

Why were the PCMs hybrid? I can datalink via OBD1 and OBD2 with my 1996 PCM. It's got both connectors. I just had to choose 1995 on the scantool otherwise it wouldn't connect to OBD1. The harness has the OBD1 datalink in the engine bay right above the PCM, ODB2 is in the cab as everyone knows. If I link via OBD2, module info returns it as a JTEC PCM, however all flashin must be done via OBD2 link. OBD1/2 hybrid trucks can be determined USUALLY by having only 1 upstream oxygen sensor.

From what I've found out or reasoned, Dodge had been working on the JTEC since 1994 (why the 1994 copyright on the JTEC PCM board used in 1996?), and when OBD2 emissions came out it was just a good excuse, or rather a necessary one, to use the JTEC PCM, but they didn't have their OBD2 internals finished entirely yet so they just made a OBD2 interface to be compliant. They used a different processor (when I say processor, I mean either hardware variation or software variation or both of the CPU) in the 1996 hybrids as compared to the full OBD2 1996, and compared to the 1997, 1998, etc. Btw OBD2 development started back in 1994, but was only mandatory starting in 1996. Ford had some OBD2 vehicles as early as 1994.

If anyone can get their dealer or someone else to flash Mopar performance PCMs, there's a guy here whos got a pile of them, basically all of them work. $100 each last I knew...

 

97 pcm and under don't need to be flashed/programed or the like plug it in and go. 98+ thats a different story.

Incomplete list of Mopar performance pcm's

**P5249548 Engine Controller (1994–95 8.0L ATX Ram)

**P5249955 Engine Controller (1996 5.2L ATX Ram)

**P5007105 Engine Controller (1999 5.9L 4x4 ATX Federal Ram)

**P5249516 Engine Controller (1992–93 5.2L Dakota)

**P5007205 Engine Controller (2000 5.9L 4x2 ATX Federal Dakota)

**P5007111 Engine Controller (1999 5.9L 4x4 ATX Federal Durango)

**P5249545 Engine Controller (1994–95 5.2L ATX Ram and Dakota)

**P5007107 Engine Controller (1999 5.9L 4x2 ATX Federal Dakota)

**P5249546 Engine Controller (1994–95 5.9L ATX Ram)

**P5249935 Engine Controller (1996 5.9L ATX Ram)

**P5249518 Engine Controller (1993-94 5.2L 4x4 ATX Grand Cherokee)

**P5249702 Engine Controller (1995 5.2L Grand Cherokee 4x4 ATX)

**P4876898 Engine Controller (ATX 1998 5.9L 4x4 Federal Grand Cherokee)