Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Where is the best place to get an ECM now?

[PToombs]

My buddy has an '01 with an AirDog and a new VP 44 last summer. He drove it some and discovered the LP wasn't working. I checked it and had no ground from the relay, so I ran a wire to the battery for ground. Power and ground come from the ECM, the AD harness is activated thru the original LP plug. In February it started acting up with a code and no throttle. We bought an FSM, checked codes, and started checking into it. It also then had an intermittent starting issue, sometimes the AD would go on and off rapidly and the dash lights would flash. If it was doing this it wouldn't start, if the AD came on it would start great. I then dug into the harness and discovered we had no ground from the ECM, but had power into it and out to the IP and LP. We checked all the grounds and cleaned them and found the big one on the block by the original LP was rotted off. I repaired it and the truck started and ran normal. He started it several times, drove it around the yard and the codes cleared themselves. Then it did the no start thing again. He got a guy in with a scanner who checked it thru and said it wasn't getting power out of the ECM when it wouldn't power the AD or start. So we've come to the conclusion that it burned up the ECM, probably because of the bad ground.



I've read all thru the posts about replacing the ECM, and most are from '09 and '10. Where is the best place to get an ECM now? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks guys!

 

[JLandry]

The lowest risk (not the lowest cost) option would be to buy a remanufactured ECM directly from a Dodge dealer. Several sell ECM's through eBay and they carry a 12 month warranty.



John L.

 

[PToombs]

Thanks John L. I read most of your older posts and saw you recommended the Auto Computer Exchange a lot, and I wondered if that had changed. I'll pass it on to my buddy.

 

[JLandry]

Unfortunately, ACE now has countless complaints against them (just do a Google search) and a solid "F" rating with the BBB.



John L.

 

[cerberusiam]

The "best" route is a Cummins reman ECM. Not the cheapest but a lot less problems than most of the rebuilders. If you go with a rebuilder just figure you might have to swap it twice to get a good one.