Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Mounting location for ECM

[Gordon Maney]

As I have been working in my 2001 Dodge, I wonder why engineers decided to locate the ECM on the side of the cylinder block. That seems the absolutely worst possible place from a heat and vibration perspective.

Do people ever relocate them? I imagine proper connections at lengthened leads would be the tripping point.

 

[MAllen1]

I haven't had a problem out of my 99 in 257k. I wouldn't know why they put it on the side of the engine block unless a matter of ease for Cummins in the installation process.

 

[Gordon Maney]

I haven't had a problem out of my 99 in 257k. I wouldn't know why they put it on the side of the engine block unless a matter of ease for Cummins in the installation process.

One slant on that is it allows the engine to be a self contained assembly, with the ECM attached.

 

[SPearson]

One slant on that is it allows the engine to be a self contained assembly, with the ECM attached.

We have the same scenario on turbine powered helicopters. The brains are frequently mounted on the engine subject to heat and vibration when it could easily be relocated to the airframe and kept cool and dry. Problem is the engine maker has to sell a complete package that can be used in several different helicopters, adapted to airplanes, tanks, motorcycles (i. e. Jay Leno's turbine powered bike), used on generators, even to power the doors on locks/dams on rivers! Has to be a self contained universal package. The Cummins is used in Dodge pickups, on delivery trucks, buses, motorhomes, etc. It would make sense to relocate it for reliability, but that costs the truck builder (Dodge in this case) extra money per truck in adapter harnesses, mount design/manufacture, and labor to relocate it. Then there is the whole "planned obsolescence" issue. Make more money by selling parts (more ECMs). Nearly all business decisions are based on money (profit) in the end instead of "how can we build a BETTER widget?" Just my 2 cents worth...

Stuart