When a shop suspects a bad 2nd gen Ram and early 3rd gen ram ECM, they check for power, grounds, ASD, fuel and spark, then compare the live data stream PIDs to o-scope and multi meter readings from the crank and cam sensors. If anything is missing (power, grounds, ASD, fuel and spark) and/or the readings at the sensors are different than the PIDs in the live data stream, the ECU is done. Also if there is power and grounds to the ECM yet it has no ability to communicate or do a check cycle (turn on the engine check light with the other lights, before turning off when the engine starts), the ECM is done. Simple as that.

 

I hope after 10+ years they got the issue resolved