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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2008
17:11:59
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 Subject: Significant problem
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Last Sunday we're towing the race car back from Hastings, to COlorado SPrings. Truck was running just great, no problems at all. 2001 Dakota QC, 5.9, 4x4. It has never left us stranded anywhere. It's never been towed - ever. Never even had a flat tire. It's been rock solid dependable for over 100,000 miles.
We stopped for good steak dinner in Burlington, CO. As we were leaving the parking lot, the engine stumbled a bit. RPM's dropped, felt like it was going to stall. Popped it in neutral, worked the throttle a bit, and it came back. Idled smooth as silk. I drove around town for about 20 minutes, just to see if it would do it again. Ran smooth as silk. So we hit the highway again.
12 miles out of Burlington the engine rapidly loses power, back fires a couple of times, and we roll to a stop. I look under the hood, and the cats are glowing cherry red. Engine turns over easily, but won't start. I'm thinking lean condition, probably the fuel pump.
We have the truck and trailer towed back to Burlington. No Dodge dealer there, so drop it off at a local shop. Take the car out of the trailer, and drive it home (slicks and rain are a fun combo)
I spoke with the repair shop. It appears to be the ECU. OK, so put another one in. It's a dealer item - I expected as much. BUT, only the dealer can install and program it. Great, so now we have to get the truck to a dodge dealer.
But wait.... it gets better. The ECU is on nation wide back order. None available anywhere in the country. No word from Dodge when they might be produced. I'm hosed.
So, the first trick will be to get it back home. I guess I'll rent a u-haul and tow it the 150 miles back to the local dealership. No big deal, I suppose.
The second trick will be to find a new computer. I'll check with a local truck salvage yard. If it's in the system, they'll be able to find it.
If anybody has one lying around and wants to sell it, let me know.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2008
17:18:34
| RE: Significant problem
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sorry to hear about your misfortune but don't forget to try www.car-part.com. or maybe a parts house could find a reman unit.
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Chuck
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2008
19:24:42
| RE: Significant problem
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As much as that ECU is gonna cost you from the dealer, you might as well pay the comparitively paltry dealership diagnostics fee, and have them verify the fault.
If it turns out not to be the ECU, you will have saved $,$$$.ΒΆΒΆ.
You could try a boneyard ECU off a model and year exactly like yours, but you will most likely get a Check Engine Light for having the wrong VIN in the ECU.
Speaking of Check Engine Lights, do the ignition switch ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON trick and tell us all the codes you see in the odometer display. PDONE means end of list.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2008
22:45:37
| RE: Significant problem
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I checked with a couple of parts stores - Autozone, Checker, Pep Boys. Dealer only part.
I'm going to call some bone yards and see what they can scare up.
I might even consider the Dodge performance computer. Probably not worth the money. But if it's all I can get.......
I can't check for codes, the truck is 150 miles away. But the shop is using their scan tools to figure this out.
I think what I'll end up doing is renting a truck and tow dolly from Penske and draggin it back to the local dealership. I'll let them do the diagnosis, and we'll take it from there.
A new truck is looking better all the time.
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Forseti
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2008
11:18:37
| RE: Significant problem
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First problem i see for you are the cats ..... they should NOT be cherry red .... sounds like they are blocked up and not allowing exhaust to flow killing the engine .. and if it is the cat.. do what i did ,,, gut it .. lol
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Steven
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2008
19:09:37
| RE: Significant problem
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Oh yeah. New cats are way cheaper than a new engine computer.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2008
21:57:50
| RE: Significant problem
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I think the glowing cats are a symptom of another problem - like a lean condition. Two cats don't get plugged up all of a sudden. The slowly get clogged and performance starts to suffer. Before that the truck was running perfect.
I'v found a couple of companies around the US that rebuild factory computers. Their list price is about $200 shipped. Cheaper than new cats.
I called Penske and U-Haul this morning. Their trailers and tow dollies are too small for a truck. I had to call a local towing company to drag it back to the dodge dealer. Cost me almost $500. Ouch.
Tomorrow the dealer will do another diagnostic and see what they find. Sigh.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/17/2008
00:54:54
| RE: Significant problem
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I got the truck and trailer towed back here. That was expensive.
Got a call from the dealership. Definatly the ECU. The parts guy managed to find one. $500 + $30 shipping.
There are three companies that rebuild factory ECU's, and ship them pre-programmed with your VIN and mileage. They advertise on e-bay, and have their own web sites. I sent messages through e-bay and through their own web sites yesterday. So far, no answer.
If I don't hear from them by Monday afternoon, that tells me they're probably not a company I want to do business with. I'll bite the bullet and buy through the dealership.
I had also used a Hypertech programmer a few years ago. Excellent improvement, IMO. I'm going to visit my truck tomorrow. I'll see if I can suck the program out of the ECU, so I can use it in the new one. If not, I'll have to buy another one.
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Forseti
Dodge Dakota
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8/17/2008
11:58:49
| RE: Significant problem
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If you cant get the Hypertech unlocked because your PCM is dead let me know ... I might buy it from you .... I could use a couple of chips from inside it for a project I'm working on ....
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/23/2008
01:35:40
| RE: Significant problem
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Update:
By Monday morning, all three companies had contacted me via e-mail.
I called a company called Solo Automotive Electronics last Monday morning. Yes, they have the computer on the shelf. They would program it for my truck, and send it out by two day FedEx. We all know two day really means three day.
Thursday afternoon I call them again. Havn't seen the package, what's the tracking number? Oh, we're sorry. We had trouble programming the computer. And we don't have another one. And we can't get another one.
Gee, a phone call or e-mail would have been nice. How long would they have waited to call me? I canceled the order. I don't want to do business with a company who can't dial a phone.
Right after that I spoke with Auto Computer Exchange. Yes, they have one in stock. We'll program it and send it out two day FedEx. AND... we'll send you an e-mail with the tracking number.
Friday morning (this morning) I get an e-mail with the invoice. I'm supposed to sign it, send it back, and THEN they'll ship it out. So, I do that NLT 0900 this AM.
Have not recieved any confirmation. No reply. Nothing. Did they get the invoice? Did they ship the computer? I have no idea. Based on past experiance, I won't hear anything until Monday morning. Sigh. Another week to wait.
In the mean time, an 2500 Ram diesel is looking pretty good to me.
On the bright side. I'm dealing with Rusty at Colorado Springs Dodge service department. That's where I bought the truck back in 2000. They are babysitting my truck and my trailer. They are great to deal with, understanding, and very helpfull. They have been more than accomodating for me. I'd recommend the dealership to anyone. I'm going to have to bring Rusty something special when this is all done.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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8/30/2008
23:48:44
| RE: Significant problem
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Friday I happened to be home for lunch - not a common occurance. UPS drops a package off, and it's my new ECU from Auto Computer Exchange.
They jerked me around a little. And it took 9 days to get it, which includes overnight shipping. Not a really pleasant buying experiance. But it saved me $250 over dealer cost.
I dropped it of at the dealership on my way back to work. They installed it, and did a diagnostice check, and programmed the correct mileage into it. The VIN was programmed before I bought it.
I picked up the truck after work. It runs just fine. Started up easy, towed my empty trailer home without a hiccup. Nice to have it back.
I have to send the old computer back to them on Monday. Once they get it, the 1 yr warrenty starts on the new one. After that, I'll plug in the Hypertech tuner and see what happens.
The service dept at Colorado Springs Dodge was excellent. I can't say enough good things about them. They stored my truck and trailer for two weeks without complaint. They worked with me and the towing company to get the truck. And they allowed the truck to sit there while I searched for a ECU. Good guys, there.
I gave Rusty some fresh salmon steaks I brought back from Alaska.
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Bucket
GenII
9/01/2008
13:54:32
| RE: Significant problem
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WOW !! that was one of the best posts i have read in months,that was really interesting boB.glad everything panned out.
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