Why dont we use a seperate ECM when we want to add chips to avoid VOIDing warrantee

[BigDan]

After reading all of these stories about dealers voiding warrentee's I was thinking about buying a seperate ecm and using that one for bombing. I know its possible since people used to buy seperate ones and ship them to marco and he would then turn them into MADecm's on 2nd gen's.



Don't all electronic power adders (downloaders, programers) leave an imprint or change stock settings on ecm's even when you return it "back to stock" have it be # of starts, over boost, ect. that can be detected buy someone who knows what to look for if trying to void a warranty.



I already realize I already voided my entire truck's warrantee buy adding fog lights and Peak antifreeze.



As for all of you "gotta pay to play" and "you are your own warranty station" SAVE IT !!!





Does this sound like it could work for us who only want the added power to be able to tow 55mph up a grade w/o being at WOT at 2800rpm's



Thanks

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Probably not that many guys wanting to spring for the $250 or more to buy a spare...

 

[cerberusiam]

Probably not that many guys wanting to spring for the $250 or more to buy a spare...

Thats a big part of it. However, I would spend the $250 if I knew for sure that blamed thing would work correctly and I had access to the updates to make sure it worked with my truck.





C'mon Marco!!! We're just dyin' for a solution for this TQ management crap! :-laf :-laf

 

[BigDan]

Who wouldnt spend an extra $250 to insure your warranty... .

 

[DBoggs]

Aren't the ecm's VIN# or engine# specific? Wouldn't it also look strange if you put your old ecm back in and it only showed 100 key cycles and the truck is a year or two old?

FWIW. . I asked the service manager and lead tech at the dealer I just bought my 06 at the other day about this very thing. They both said that most of the boxes, TST, Edge, etc... don't leave an electronic footprint but there are other physical clues they look for and that the downloaders will leave an electronic print.



Duane

 

[john3976]

Probably not that many guys wanting to spring for the $250 or more to buy a spare...

I will gladly buy a spare just for the piece of mind of knowing if my current one gives me trouble while on the road I can replace it on the side of the road and keep on going.



Sign me up for that reason alone.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Aren't the ecm's VIN# or engine# specific? Wouldn't it also look strange if you put your old ecm back in and it only showed 100 key cycles and the truck is a year or two old?

FWIW. . I asked the service manager and lead tech at the dealer I just bought my 06 at the other day about this very thing. They both said that most of the boxes, TST, Edge, etc... don't leave an electronic footprint but there are other physical clues they look for and that the downloaders will leave an electronic print.



Duane

There are a good handful of people on this forum that had 10,000 or less miles on their 2 or 3 year old truck. I bet that could be close to 100 key starts if all they do is long trips towing, and nothing else.



But I see your point.



The only footprint that my edge box would leave would be one of 2 things. One, the velcro on the fues box (easly replaceable, or barrowed). And the EGT probe hole.



As for the EGT probe, I would go buy an autometer EGT and a single pod, they can not deny your claim if you have an EGT guage in the truck. Tho, I would "try" this if I had major damage, I mean, why not try. My job is to try to cheat the system, theirs it to provide evidience that I am.

 

[JasonCzerak]

After reading all of these stories about dealers voiding warrentee's I was thinking about buying a seperate ecm and using that one for bombing. I know its possible since people used to buy seperate ones and ship them to marco and he would then turn them into MADecm's on 2nd gen's.



...

From what I understand, The cummins ECU is controled party by a dodge computer or ecm or pcm. In the second gens, there was just one ECM for the motor. So both would have to be replaced, reprogrammed... Do not quote me on this, this i was something i heared. but there is that one computer bolted to the motor, Im sure thats not the only one.

 

[BigDan]

They both said that most of the boxes, TST, Edge, etc... don't leave an electronic footprint but there are other physical clues they look for and that the downloaders will leave an electronic print.



Duane

I'm confused



What physical clue do they leave behind if they dont leave an electronic footprint, but will leave a electronic print?????



X5

 

[BigDan]

From what I understand, The cummins ECU is controled party by a dodge computer or ecm or pcm. In the second gens, there was just one ECM for the motor. So both would have to be replaced, reprogrammed... Do not quote me on this, this i was something i heared. but there is that one computer bolted to the motor, Im sure thats not the only one.

IIRC The 2nd gens have both a ECM and PCM. What does dodge look at when they are trying to get out of a warrantee claim (ecm, ecu, pcm)???



What ever one they look at that is the one we need to swap out.



As far as vin #'s goes the dealer would only seem my orignal ecm.



I realize this isnt ideal for new owners but is perfect for me and us older owners who still have virgin ecm's

 

[RMalone]

Where do you get a third gen ecm for 275 bucks?? I priced a lousy rail pressure relief valve and they are $375.

 

[TCDiesel]

Simply stated it will not Work, DC will not flash/Program TWO ECM"s with Same VIN. Once Tech support/Star/Dc Does the Flash on the original, they expect to see the same one on every flash. If you bought new and install it in the vehicle,Tech support would flash current mileage and it would be recorded,when you install the original the Mileage would be a give away,Also if you to any updates to the second one this would make the Original worthless.

 

[cojhl2]

It's cheating and dishonest!!

 

[BigDan]

It's cheating and dishonest!!

SAVE IT !!!!

 

[BigDan]

Simply stated it will not Work, DC will not flash/Program TWO ECM"s with Same VIN. Once Tech support/Star/Dc Does the Flash on the original, they expect to see the same one on every flash. If you bought new and install it in the vehicle,Tech support would flash current mileage and it would be recorded,when you install the original the Mileage would be a give away,Also if you to any updates to the second one this would make the Original worthless.

Ok let me get this straight... Your saying if I find a ecm from a similar truck it wouldnt work properly in my truck and I would have to get it reflashed by DC. In doing that it would put 45Kmiles and orignal info on it, I still dont see the problem.



If the spare ecm works the dealer would never see my new spare ecm, like I said before the spare is only used for bombing, and if a problem should arise I would put my orignal ecm back in. Who would know????



If im wrong please correct me

 

[MCrossley]

Ok let me get this straight... Your saying if I find a ecm from a similar truck it wouldnt work properly in my truck and I would have to get it reflashed by DC. In doing that it would put 45Kmiles and orignal info on it, I still dont see the problem.



If the spare ecm works the dealer would never see my new spare ecm, like I said before the spare is only used for bombing, and if a problem should arise I would put my orignal ecm back in. Who would know????



If im wrong please correct me

In short no it WILL NOT work there is much more to it than you think especially on the 3rd gens the 2nd gens were easy to do. The problem is the Cluster computer and the ECM have to match VIN millage and also the two look for installed components so if you have electronic 4x4 as an example and put a non 4x4 ecm you wil screw up the computers on the compnents rememvber you have to talk to the FCM, ECM, MIC, FCM, TCM, Transfer Case module, HVAC module, Enterntainment modules (NAV, Radio etc. ) so like I said no it is not that simle to swap them. Also forgett about going and buying a spare they are blank when they arrive and have to be flashed.

 

[nickleinonen]

Also forgett about going and buying a spare they are blank when they arrive and have to be flashed.

can be programed at home as long as you have 2 original keys. .

 

[GFrance]

Big Dan

just wait until Marco gets the Smarty out for the 3rd gens. It's not supposed to be detectable.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I will gladly buy a spare just for the piece of mind of knowing if my current one gives me trouble while on the road I can replace it on the side of the road and keep on going.



Sign me up for that reason alone.

OH, I totally agree - and am on the lookout right now for a known good spare ECM for my truck...



But purely as a spare in case the original fails - I've long since voided any drivetrain related warranties... :-laf

 

[RMalone]

Everything else aside, if the ecm stores start-ups/hours on motor/ milage/ etc. It would be very obvious if you put 50k miles on the bombed ecm and went to the dealer with an ecm that had 10k miles logged.



Yeah this idea is dishonest, so are the dealers. But like many have said, I don't believe it would work. As far as Marcos new smarty (I want one) it won't be undetectable for long. You can bet Star is well aware of Marco, and will do what they can to protect themselves from any type of fraud, besides they can void your warranty if they "think" you bombed, it may not be legal but how many guys are going to spend 15k on lawyer fees and countless hours to get DC to cover a 10k engine.