Bad ECU

[Fabian_7s]

Hey guys today i just found out the ecu on my car is bad and isn't sending a signal to the fans to turn on when it's hot. I was wondering if i can get a used ECU same year and model from a junk yard or something and just plug it in or if i have to get it flashed :( :(

[03Alerosil]

Salvage yard ECU's never work out right. Gotta go new. My fans have issues to so i just run defrost or A/C year round. Problem solved.

[zzyzzx]

Salvage yard ECU's never work out right.

I'd trust a junkyard ECU. It's not like it has moving parts.

[03Alerosil]

The VIN numbers have to match exactly as well as the set parameters inside the ECU and no 2 cars are exactly the same.

[zzyzzx]

The VIN numbers have to match exactly as well as the set parameters inside the ECU and no 2 cars are exactly the same.

How so?

[03Alerosil]

I've seen it myself. You can take the ECU out of an exactly identical vehicle but because 1 VIn number is different, it won't work. I swapped an engine out of a 2002 Durango into a 2003 Durango and the PCM was different. Damnest thing. Even the security wouldn't work right.

[AleroB888]

I have used a few different Junkyard PCMs, some have worked after adaption routines, some have not. Many can be re-used after a complete rewrite, but that requires programming capability for the original and replacement PCM. I have a stockpile of them right now, in fact.

[zzyzzx]

I've seen it myself. You can take the ECU out of an exactly identical vehicle but because 1 VIn number is different, it won't work. I swapped an engine out of a 2002 Durango into a 2003 Durango and the PCM was different. Damnest thing. Even the security wouldn't work right.

I would only get that type of thing from a donor vehicle the same year, same engine, same transmission. And yes I would expect it to work just fine with no extra work.