QuestionQUESTION: I had my check engine light come on a few months ago it showed po306 misfire. i replaced the ignition coil(which seemed to be arching) and replaced all the spark plugs.
I has been running great. my check engine light came on again and now the error code is po601 which indicates a problem with my PCM. I am out of emissions warranty and am wary of taking it to a dealer. I cant reset the error code which sort of verifies the PCM problem. do you think i need to replace the pcm? is there anything else i can try before i am at the mercy of the dealer?
ANSWER: Hi Nick,
I have checked an '01 and '03 powertrain manual and both very simply state that there is an internal checksum error between processors inside the pcm and the only solution suggested is replacement. This is about as clear a statement to me that there is nothing else to try.
Roland
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QUESTION:
Thanks Roland.
how much should i expect to pay at a dealer for this?
AnswerHi Nick,
I haven't had any experience with replacing the PCM at a dealer. You might ask the other expert, Kevin, who works at a dealer.
As an alternative if you can find a wreck of the same year, model, engine, and equipment that share the digital communication system, so that you have compatibility (ideally the same part number) then that would be a less expensive than a new part. Either way you go, a dealer does have to to program in the VIN of the car and the mileage reading of the odometer doing what is called a 'verification' using the diagnostic readout box. Comparison shopping in any case would be adviseable as I suspect the bottom line can be minimized with a bit of research.
Roland
