My son was driving our van wher it sputtered and died at a traffic light. It tried to catch once, but now just turns over. Plenty of gas. We brought it to a dealership wher they diagnosed coil failure ($54 part). That would do it, but they're telling me that 90% of the time coil failure takes the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with it (a > $700 part!!!). Is this true? I haven't seen anything online about it. I told them to replace the coil and call me if they think the PCM went too. It sounds lke they're trying to sell me a "bill of goods"...

 

Absolutely not, pure baloney. Coils go all the time and people just replace them and go on their merry way.

Now depending on the reputation of the shop, they might havefried your PCM and are trying to blame it on the bad coil.

 

It's actually a Dodge dealership... They're replacing the coil tomorrow morning...and the service guy (Brian) is going to call me about the PCM...

 

I hope the Dodge Dealership is honest with you. I have never heard of the coil pack failure destroying the PCM.

In my opinion the most common PCM failures is the heat they endure being above the engine. Why Dodge change the way they mounted the PCM and removed the cooling air when they redesigned the units I do not know.

Most of the time it is recommended to disconnect the battery when working on electronic/electrical componets.

 

It doesn't get as much heat as you might think.

 

I got the same 2001 B2500 with 5.2L and the coil has been replaced twice in the last few years. Not once did I ever have issues with the PCM and the coil affecting it.

Don't get suckered in by the dealer on this job.

The coil can be had at the part store for as little as $24. Take the passenger front wheel off, easily change the coil ( one bolt and coil wire), put the wheel back on and you're driving down the road. The great thing is, the "dog-house" never needs to be touched on this job.