I have an 08 Laramie 4x4 with 201,000 miles. I bought it new. I was literally in the process of advertising it to sell (This is my 2nd Dodge Diesel, I sell them at 200,000) when I had a problem.

Driving to works like normal. Engine dies on the freeway like you turned the key off. "Check Gauges" light went on as I was heading to the side of the road. When I stopped, with the trans in park the engine would not crank when I turned the key. Got out checked the battery, belts.etc. Still wouldn't crank. I called AAA to get it towed, as I was on the phone with AAA the water in fuel light went on and started dinging also. I turned the key and the engine would crank but wouldn't start. After a minute or 2 the fuel filter light went off. I turned the key and it fired up.

Drove it to local repair place, no chek engine lights or anything. the guy says maybe it was a loose battery connection or something intermittant and suggests that I drive it and see if it does it again. The rest of the day (approx. 20 miles) it was ok.

The next day in the same place on the freeway it did it again. This time I waited and it started just like the prevous day but would only go 100yards before dying again. after the 3rd time I had it towed to the repair facility.

Yesterday they after spending a couple hours diagnosing, they were positive it was the key reader. After replacing it, they road tested it and it died again. They towed it back to the shop and now it won't start at all.

Now they are telling me it's the Engine PCM. It's $1800 and it's on national back order (at least 2 weeks out). Keep in mind this is a pretty reputable shop so I don't think they are the problem.

My question is, I've herd of these guys you can send you're broken ECM to and they can fix it for a couple hundred $. Anyone herd of this or am I destined to pay $2500 just to get my truck back to sell it?

Please Help

 

I don't really have an answer for you but I would ask (if you haven't yet) what EXACTLY are they basing this information on? What did they troubleshoot with? What are those parameters supposed to be and what came back during testing?

I used to work for a very reputable shop years ago when the ECM's were not so complex and one tech that didn't last long always pushed "Bad ECM" and that was not the real problem but it was good money for commission

Not saying this is the case but it always makes me ask many questions if the problem they "Find" doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

Good point. I never thought about comission mechanics. I'll ask more questions.

 

May want to call your local cummins and see if they have a test ECM to put on it.

 

Or just see if they will bench test yours.

 

There are a couple of places around the country that sell rebuilt ECM's on an exchange basis. Some advertise on E-bay. I bought one from a company in FL about 5-6 years ago. It came already coded with the proper VIN and mileage. I simply pulled the old one out, plugged the new one in, and drove away. Cost was about 1/2 dealer cost.

 

Turns out the ECM was bad. I ended up sending it to www.ecmdepot.com and they rebuilt it for $595. I should have it tomorrow.

I'm not hugely impressed with ecmdepot.com. They calimed a 3 day turn around. From the time they got it to the time they sent it back was a solid 7 days. I don't think they even looked at it until day 6.

 

Hate to see the price tag but if it gets the truck back to correct I guess it is worth it. Post up when you get it running again!!