For the love of God help me. Need to replace my ECM. Anyone have a place they've bought from with good results. Every company I've researched has some bad recent reviews on the BBB. Also, preprogrammed vs going to the dealership. How much would they charge for programming if I get the part from a 3rd party? Any info is helpful.

Thanks

 

The PCM (gas) ECM (diesel) I recommend going to an auto parts store that way if there is any problems you talk to a human (HeyYou even recommends it). Now if you bought a junkyard one when I worked at a dealership it ran anywhere from $150 to $200 to progrsm it

 

The big 3 auto parts stores (auto zone, O'Reilly, advance) don't carry them, I tried that thinking the same thing. And I know its like a $600-800 to go to the dealership for it. Looked at local junk yards as well, naturally they've all been pulled already.

 

What is the info on the truck?

 

2001 1500 5.2l v8, pretty sure its a Laramie not sure if that matters

 

Did you try NAPA their website says they sell them

 

Where are you located? You should be able to find a used PCM for that truck. You should have a part number on the PCM. If you can match the part number with the part number of a used PCM, it should work. The dealer will need to update the VIN in the PCM that you install for that year truck, but I'm not sure if that will keep the truck from running. I swap in a used PCM on my '96 Ram 2500 and had no issues.

 

The older ones all you need to do is match the part # and you are good. The newer ones i'm not sure about but i would think if you match engine/trans/year you might at lease be able to drive it. Another thing i noticed if you actually go looking for them(online) most of the places don't list anything past 2000(or newer).

 

Your local parts store should have a supplier for ecms/pcms.... and they even come already flashed to your VIN.

 

I'm in Florida, near the space center. My PCM's sticker is faded beyond legibility(naturally). I've tried local junk yards for a used one and they're all gone already. I guess the VIN would have to be used to get the part #? I'll call Napa and see what they say. I see companies like FS1, and others that "specialize" in these particular parts and advertise that they preprogram for "plug and play". But, in looking at the BBB reviews, there seems to be a lot of complaints about them not working and trying to get refunded is a nightmare.