New PCM in The Truck today. First thing I noticed is it idles better... didn't really expect any difference, because there was no difference between the old PCM working and dead.
I've read where the PCM will now learn my driving habits or somesuch. What does this mean, in practical terms?
For the first tens of miles, up to about 100 miles, of driving, the engine sensor outputs are recorded. This will be the baseline for the computer to consider your normal requirement of throttle response, shift points, and loads on the drivetrain.
If you baby it, then the system will perform to that level.
If you are very aggressive in your driving during this period, but, you normally are a smooth operator, the vehicle will be more aggressive in it's response, after that aggressive baseline is established.
If you share driving the vehicle with someone at the opposite end of the pendulum then one of you will be a bit unhappy driving it.
OK..very basic terms.. We just replaced the battery in our 99 Ram.. For the first 5 or 6 starts, it wouldn't idle and stumbled on hard acceleration.. After several short trips, the truck ran and idles as before..
My '99 RAM Van acts exactly the same way whenever the battery is pulled. It refuses to idle and I have to hold the pedal down to keep it from stalling. I let the pedal off gently and goose it when it starts to stutter. After 2 or 3 minutes of this it "re-learns" how to idle and runs fine hot or cold until the next time the battery needs to be disconnected.
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