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Dakota Performance
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4X4Tony
Dodge Dakota
 Email

7/27/2001
15:21:07

Subject: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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I was following a thread from a while back and read several stories of dealers overwriting those $500 custom PCM flash jobs with the stock program. Just like that - $500 all gone and your back to square one. So that gets me to thinking, what's special about the MP PCM other than the programming? Is there really a hardware difference, or is it just an expensive way to distribute the "performance" software? And then, most important, can the Tech slip up and overwrite the MP program with the stock one?

This has really been bugging me.




kota4bye
Dodge Dakota
 Email

7/27/2001
15:50:42

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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Tony,
A $500 re-flash is done your stock PCM by somebody like Mike Leach, certainly not your local Dodge Dealer. He can flash exactly what you need, to accomadate a SC for instance. You will be without a PCM for a few days during the process. The Mopar Performance PCM is Dodge's high performance PCM. You get a whole new computer and get to keep your stock one "just in case" it should run around $300 plus $50 to have you VIN flashed into it by the dealer.

The last choice is the TSB reflash for pinging that will be done by your dealer to retard your timing to fix the pining. It will lessen the performance of your truck from my understanding. Is the Mopar PCM worth it? Yes, I'll be able to give you numbers on it and the QuickD TB tomorrow evening. I'll be dynoing these new additions manana!





4X4Tony
Dodge Dakota
 Email

7/30/2001
08:39:45

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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I understand that the $500 flash is done by a tuner, not the dealer.

My questions are:

What's so special about the Mopar PCM other than the software?

Why do they make you buy new hardware?

And, most importantly, can a service tech accidentally hit a button on their little Tech Device and remove the "performance" from the Mopar Performance PCM (turn it into a stock PCM)?

I'm asking this because I have an MP PCM, the dealer - who was not very familiar with it - had a hard time writing the VIN to it, and I don't think it improved performance one bit over stock. I keep reading lots of posts about how noticeable the power increase from the MP PCM is - well I don't see it, so I'm wondering if my dealer screwed it up. Is that possible, or is the “performance” safely locked away in the new hardware?




RTjohn
Dodge Dakota


7/30/2001
23:56:22

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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It takes about 20 miles for the computer to learn somewhat and you will feel some differences like the shift point. after 200 miles it really is noticable. The 6,000 rpm rev limiter is sweet for manual 1-2 shifts! Just give it some time to re-learn itself. If after 200 miles you feel no diferences return it. I believe that it has a 30 day warrenty.


Rtjohn



brad
Dodge Dakota
 Email

7/31/2001
22:01:29

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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I don't think the dealer can overwrite the
Performance Module.

I bought the Mopar PCM and had it flashed last
week. The technician came back and said "For some
reason I can't get it to take the reprogramming."

He didn't realize all he had to do was put the
VIN and mileage in. Jeeeez!!!

It was kinda hard to notice any difference in the PCM. There was no difference in tone, idle, anything. I only noticed a difference at WOT. It
should rev up a little faster and a little higher.

I have been using a G-tec to measure all of the modifications I've done to the truck. With the
recent addition of headers, Mopar PCM, and new
wires and plugs my 4x4 5.2l picked up about .4 to
.6 in the 1/4 mile.

Hope this helps,

Brad




4X4Tony
Dodge Dakota
 Email

8/01/2001
17:41:07

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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Message:
COOL!!

Thanks Brad.

My tech was also confused, and that's why I got concerned. Lot's of dinkin' around until they figured out that they needed to "introduce" the new PCM to the ABS module - then all the warning lights went out.

I posted the whole long story in another thread, but the short of it is that everything is now working right and running strong.

Thanks again - this was bugging me.





dk1
Dodge Dakota


8/01/2001
17:58:05

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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Message:
Hey , while were on the subject I had the flash done for my rough ldle it totally killed my performance does anyone know if there's a custom flash to just put it back to normal or maybe a (little) better than normal. by the way mine is a 4x4 and I do tow a boat so I relize I can't take advantage of a MP PCM.



Curtis
Dodge Dakota


8/01/2001
21:11:40

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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Message:
Hey dk1 ... You could still use the performance PCM if you also install a MSD ignition retard control.....



dk1
Dodge Dakota


8/02/2001
23:19:02

RE: What's the deal with the MP PCM???
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Message:
Sorry, I failed to mention I have a 4.7 not a 5.2 (if that matters).



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