Archived ECM Failure ?

[FrankJohnson]

Travelling Interstate on cruise control @ 70mph,stopped for 15 min break,allowed EGT's to drop,shut down engine.Restart was normal, eased through the parking area about 30 feet, engine shut down,complete loss of power.Engine did not hesitate.No EVIC alert though dash console displayed CHECK GUAGES.All guages checks are normal when the key is activated.Only abnormality on the console is the SHIFT INDICATOR,it is blank.

Batteries are up everything appears normal,engine temp,etc.Rotate key to the start position,nothing happens,headlights do not dim,no response at all.

Truck was blocking cars forcing us to call a tow truck.The tow co is owned by a Diesel Repair shop.They checked all of the obvious time consuming areas,fuses and anything else that could run up chargable time.They could not get a response from their Scan tool though my batteries are up.Finally they towed it another 30mi to a Dodge Ram dealership.The Diesel Mechanic here states that it is the ECM.No explination as to why it just quit functioning,it just happens.Good thing i was not back on the interstate doing 70mph.
A new ECM will set me bach $2,550.28 and take 4 to 5 days to get one.

This all happened on Sat 6th of july.they will order the part tomorrow if I agree. Do you see this being the ECM, any imput on what caused it to malfunction ? Your imput will be greately appreciated.
Almost forgot, my rtuck is a 2007.5,6.7,3500,dualie,mega cab,short bed.

 

[SWithrow]

Lift Pump, maybe...

 

[JLandry]

Based on the symptoms, ECM failure seems reasonable to me.

A lift pump failure wouldn't cause the scan tool to lose communication ability with the ECM, so that's not it.

Please keep us posted on how things turn out.

Good luck,

John L.

 

[sag2]

The failure rate on Cummins ECM's is very low. Did they try and communicate with generic as well as with the dealer scan tool? Can they talk to any other modules on the truck? Any fault codes in other modules? Year of truck?
So if they say ECM, if the ECM does not fix it, I suggest you make sure they are paying and not you.

 

[RWherley]

We had issues with our 04 5.9 3500 and the dealer want to replace the ECM with out knowing for sure, and didn't want to back it up if that wasn't the issue, we took it to another dealer and they found that the big main plug that goes into the ECM was bad and had loose pins that jump into and out of contact with the ECM depending how many bumps we hit, it turned out to be a $280 repair instead of $2400 I'd have them check the plugs first.

 

[cerberusiam]

You should be able to get a remanned one for less than 1/2 that cost. Might take you 2 or 3 times to get one that all the lights and bells go off. Depends on what the time factor is in relationship to the $$. Make sure you get in writing who is paying if the ECU does not fix the problem or burns up soon after replacing.

 

[FrankJohnson]

Thanks for the input guys.The issue was the ECM,why it failed we have no idea.Before towing to the Dodge Dealer we were towed to a reputable Diesel shop.Their scan tool was unable to communicate with my ECM.The ECM was replaced @ the dealership and we are back on the road roughly $2,500. later . If anyone has an idea relating to failure of the ECM please post it.Thanks Frank