Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I don't want to hurt my truck.

I just received a Mopar PCM for my '96 5.9 Ram. I know where it goes... 3 screws, and 3 plugs.
Do I just discconnect the battery, and plug it in? Negative battery cable only?
Anything else I need to do, or be aware of?

Thanks.

 

You have to run PREMIUM fuel with that PCM. So make sure your tank is low before installing it and then fill-up with PREMIUM (93).

Other than that, just disconnect the battery and swap it out.

 

Thanks.
I started running premium already, so the truck would be ready for it.
I'm going to pop it in first thing in the morning.[sm=gears.gif]

 

Just be careful not to break the clips the that connect the wires to the PCM. And on mine, there was a grounding wire that attached to one of the 3 screws. If you have that, just make sure you put it back like it was. Lastly, don't be alarmed if the truck runs kinda poorly at first, or doesn't have the performance you might have expected. The new PCM needs time to adjust to your truck as it gets inputs from your various sensors. Took mine about a week or about 200 miles before I felt like it was really starting to perform good.

Post back how it goes.

 

Well, I don't really feel any difference 'off the line'. It shifts at ~4750 rpm, where it shifted at ~4500 before (factory tach). The upper rpm power, and shifting seems improved. Actually, I was starting to think something might be wrong with my trans, because of the long, sloppy shift. I wish I had a way to test more accurately. Track is 50+ miles away. I do have a 'baseline' at the track in pure stock trim.

Silver, I'll give it some time, as you suggest.

QUESTION:
This PCM was installed in another truck for awhile. Will it have stored what it "learned" in that truck, or will have reset itself, and be at "new" specs? Also, what if I ever swap between this and my factory unit? Will they need to "relearn", or will they be just like when removed? And, since it's been used, should I 'reset' this unit?

Thanks for all the help.

 

not sure if it would automatically run your truck from the last trucks last learning cycle, but it wouldnt hurt to do a reset and have it learn all over again.

your factory unit should still be learned to your truck so a relaern on that unit shouldnt be necessary... and again this is only if the comptuer has some time of ram in it where it stores the data from the latest learning cycle.. not sure if it does or not.. wouldnt hurt to realern anyway though