Glenn Rules!!
Here's an update. Car got to the dealer Friday night, but didn't hear back
> from them Saturday or today. So I called them just now. Guy says, "Your
> car's ready." I said, "What? What was wrong with it?" He says, "Main
> computer. It's all ready to go." I said, "Do I owe you anything?" He says,
> "Nope. Covered under warranty." So that was easy.
>
> So, once again I need to thank you. If you hadn't told me about the 8/80
> warranty I'd be trying to scrounge together the $1,000 to get it fixed or
> just have my car sit unrepaired. So, thanks again!
>
> Neil
>
>>> I have a 2003 Dodge Caravan SE with a little under 50,000 miles on it. >> Last
>>> night I was driving it and it was fine. After parking the car, the car
>>> wouldn't start again. Had it towed to the shop, and this morning the >>> shop
>>> tells me that the PCM has gone out on the car, and they need to replace >> the
>>> PCM. $1,000.
>>>
>>> They said they were able to start the car after trying it for 5 minutes >> with
>>> the key; but then it died when they went around the block. They said >> there's
>>> no power coming out of the PCM, and they checked everything else >>> (starter,
>>> fuel line, etc.).
>>>
>>> My question is: is there anything else that might be causing the PCM to >> act
>>> this way? It just seems strange that the car only has 50,000 miles on >>> it,
>>> and the PCM just "died." Does anyone have any ideas about what might be
>>> going on besides just that "the PCM is dead"?
>>>
>>> Thanks for any assistance!
>>>
>>> Neil
>>>
>>>
>> Well Neil, That independent shop is trying to take your money. Assuming >> it
>> is a PCM problem and this Vehicle has under 80k miles..... we know it >> isn't
>> 8 years old yet. That part is covered under the 8/80 Federal Emissions >> Law.
>> The independent shop knows this and should have instructed you to take it >> to
>> the dealer. If the shop is just guessing at it and it is not a bad PCM >> the
>> dealer will charge you a diagnostic fee to tell you what is wrong with >> your
>> vehicle. Just curious, were they able to communicate with the PCM thru
>> there scan tool? If so what were the codes.... Always get the fault codes
>> documented on the RO
>>
>> Glenn Beasley
>> Chrysler Tech
>>
>>
>
>