Chrysler Repair: PCM update and more on 2004 Chrysler, gods green earth, chrysler service

Question
Roland, I was told today that I needed the following work done immediately on my car:

PCM Update
New Wires
New Plugs
Rotors, & Brake Pads
Sway Bars and Bushings

and a complete tune-up totalling $1500,  the car is a 2004 Town and Chrysler, with 39k miles on it.

Can this be possible already? And what in gods green earth is a PCM Update...if they sell you a program that needs updating, should'nt they pay for it?

Please help!

Thank you,
Valerie

Answer
Hi Valerie,
Some of these sound very suspicious. The PCM update is simply replacing some of the data in the original PCM and should not be an excessively expensive charge. In fact you might check with the regional Chrysler service representative to see if it is covered by your warranty and if not what is the typical charge for that. Ask the dealer for the name and contact number for this person.
New wires and plugs on many (if not all) contemporary engines are not recommended until you have gone 100,000 miles. So you might check your owners manual or if it doesn't mention this recommendation ask the dealer if this in fact is not the case and to show you the manual to verify a change at 39,000 or so is recommended.
Brake pads could be worn to the point or replacement depending upon whether you do or don't drive a lot in the city with frequent stops. The rotors shouldn't need replacing unless the rotors are warped (pulsation in the brake pedal while your are braking would be the symptom) or grooved/scored due to the pads being driven beyond the limit. There is a specification for minimum rotor thickness and you should ask them to show you the measured thickness and how that compares to the spec unless they claim the rotors are scored to the point where they can't be simply machined rather than replaced. Even then it might be worth getting a second opinion on the need for rotors at a brake shop as the dealer sounds like they are 'padding' this diagnosis and repair recommendation. Pads alone are not that expensive, but rotors add greatly to the repair cost.
I cannot imagine how the sway bushings (much less the sway bars) need replacement unless you are doing some kind of off-road driving competitions in the van. This is really premature wear if true. Again I would ignore it or if it concerns you get a second opinion. This is usually not a safety issue, but a noise issue or an excessive swaying on turns question. It would seem to me that this should be a warranty repair in any case, for free.
So you are very wise to raise all these questions. I would only get the update and brake pads without further corroboration. This situation smacks of feather-bedding to me.
Roland