Hi everybody. My girlfriends grandma has a 2001 ram pickup, and it just stopped working, took it to pepboys and they said its the computer. I figured we could just find one on ebay and put it in, but she told us this morning she bought it in california, and has extra emissions stuff. Just wondering if that matters, and will any year (94-01) ecu work?

Thanks in advance.

 

I would get one off the same year or close and as close to the same options her truck has. Either way you might have to go to the stealer and have them reprogram it. And do you know the codes that Pepboy's read off of it? And also no you can not use one from a pre 96 /95 . They are OBD1 , hers is OBD2.

 

you need a 'puter with the same:

model year
engine size
manual or auto tranny
and security group (power locks, security system, etc.)

You should not have to get it reprogrammed and the VIN's do not need to match. If you can find all that at the junk yard, go for it!

 

There are 2 96's at a junkyard pretty close by, but I have no idea what size engines those have or anything like that, If it had the same engine it could possibly work correct?. I dont know what the codes were, she just told us that it was the ecm. I've checked ebay as well but a junkyard would be best. I just want to make sure if all else fails the one from ebay will work on the california version if its a non california ecu.

Thanks for the replies so far

 

I don't think California matters, as long as you have the same stuff like Aim said. And I wouldn't count on it being the PCM. Too bad you don't know what the code(s) were.

 

no offense to anyone, but i wouldn't replace the pcm based on the 2nd hand word from pep boys. a pcm will be sort of expensive, probably 100-200-300, and that might not even be the real problem. especially since someone probably drove it to pep boys.... if you can get the diagnostic codes, post them up here for comments, otherwise take it to a mechanic for diagnosis. most places can pretty well diagnose the problem in an hour or less for $50-100.

here's an ebay stores that sells reman'd pcm.
http://stores.ebay.com/AUTO-COMPUTER...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

 

Exactly! That's why I said what I said. :-)

 

Ok well pepboys ran diagnostics for 2 hours her grandma said, and they were actually working on figuring it out whenever she looked out. Apparently with the code reader they could bypass certain things and they got it to start a few times but it would die right away.

Right now on ebay theres one for a 99 4x2 auto just like she has, except a 99 instead of a 01. Will it work?

 

please refer to post 3

I would try something else as well before blaming the PCM. Do you get electrical when you turn over the key? If the PCM were bad you would most like see "no bus" on the digital odometer.

there are three things you need for combustion air, fuel, and spark. have you verified all three are acually making it to the combustion chamber?

 

refer to opening post. I dont actually have the truck, I dont know whats going on with it, I'm trusting several 'mechanics' (if you will) at pepboys that spent a few hours diagnosing the problem. Its my girlfriends grandmas only form of transportation, so we'd like to at least try fixing it. The place wants $1000 bucks to fix it, but theres a used one on ebay for $52 shipped. If it doesn't work we can send it back, but its worth a shot.

Its from a 99 everything else is the same, would it work in an 01?