Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Foor fuel mileage after computer flash

[TFlesner]

What happened to my fuel milage? Went down from 17 in town to 11-1/2 and highway 21 to 17 after dealer flashed the computer. Should I get reflashed from the dealer. I have heard of others in our town that have had the same problem. Is there any ideas what I should do to get back where it should be. The dodge is a 1999 with a automatic transmition. I live In AZ. were it gets up to 120 + deg. in the summer.

 

[JKinney]

Welcome, Why did you take it to the dealer to get flashed? Where are you located? If your up north and it was flashed is the high idle engaged? (would like to know if the dealer knew what they were doing). Dealers cant deflash or unflash. However someone with a smarty could reflash maybe there was an error... .

 

[DiTrani]

Hand-calculated or as read from the overhead console? Your new, lower set of numbers sound more realistic, is why I ask.

 

[RMantey]

computer flash?

what is a "computer flash" & what is it suppose to do? do I need it on my 01 auto 2x2?

 

[EGaskamp]

Hand-calculated or as read from the overhead console? Your new, lower set of numbers sound more realistic, is why I ask.

17 and 21 sound about right to me. I know a lot of people running those numbers and they are hand calculated.

 

[Bob4x4]

what is a "computer flash" & what is it suppose to do? do I need it on my 01 auto 2x2?

Since these trucks are computor controlled when a problem is found that is software related it can be repaired by new software. The procedure is a "flash"



Bob

 

[isb360]

There are also occasional software "upgrades" that become available and if you have it in at the dealer, they will reflash the ECM. Mine was done twice, once not long after I bought the truck in 1998 when it was reflashed to close some emissions loophole that Cummins (and Volvo, Mack, Detroit, & Cat) had exploited. That first flash was designed to reduce emissions, but it also knocked me back about 2mpg.



The second flash I had done... oh wait, and the third... was supposed to enable high idle feature... but neither one "took"... it wasn't until Smarty that I finally have high idle.



But that's off the subject. Bottom line is there are several versions of ECM code out there and some of them may result in mileage loss in name of emissions reduction.



Tim

 

[TFlesner]

Hello Tim: I was wandering if there are different code # for the ECM codes. Do you think if one would buy a new computer for my 99, it would be as the orig.

Thanks Todd

 

[johncameron]

Find a member in your area with a SMARTY and they can give you the "best" updated stock program with the high idle enabled.



John

 

[Bob4x4]

Hello Tim: I was wandering if there are different code # for the ECM codes. Do you think if one would buy a new computer for my 99, it would be as the orig.

Thanks Todd

Most Ecm's are coming in empty,so the software has to be loaded at the dealer level.



Bob