Can any one send me a picture of were the ECU is located and what it looks like? New at this thanks.

 

It's located right next to the battery...

 

The ECU is located inside the rectangular plastic box that is adjacent to the battery. This box houses all of the modules. The ECU is a computer board with lots of different chipsets attached to it... Explain which chip you want to identify and I'll post the diagram...

 

 

Great information intenseblu. I think this should be a sticky.

Thanks, I know it will come in handy for me.

 

Also ..., if we happen to find a Crossfire in the junk yard, are all ECU's created equal?

'04?, '05?, '06? - Base, Limited, SRT?

This could lead to a "stock" ECU for factory repairs, and an ECU to "play" with.

 

First, the limited / base software is different than the SRT6... Second, the automatic vs manual transmission software is different... Third, the ECU's are programmed VIN specific so I doubt it would function correctly... You could find a junked ECU and have the factory / dealer reprogram it for your vehicle, if they will do it, and they can figure out how to do it.

 

You would want to have someone copy the software from your original ECU/PCM to the 'used' one you get from the salvage yard as they are VIN specific in the software.

Although, you could play with the one from the salvage yard, you wouldn't be able to go to a dealer with it installed in your car as it wouldn't read with the correct VIN.

 

I should have been a little more detailed. If the "hardware" is physically the same ..., it's just a matter of programming the correct "software" to run the systems ..., correct? I'm talking about finding a junk-yard ECU, and seeing if the programmers out there can match up their performance upgraded ECU to work in another vehicle.

My programmer for my other vehicles just needs the chunk of hardware, then burns in the new data for whatever set-up you have (heads/cam, exhaust, tire sizes, tranny, etc.), even your VIN.

The idea being able to swap out the stock ECU if you need a dealer visit

Is that possible on these ECUs?

Thanks for all the info ...

 

I don't see why not.

 

This is exactly what I'm trying to do, so I don't have to go to the dealer with a modified ECU. Are you the one bidding against me on e-bay?

 

No sir ..., not me! I've been a junk yard rat in the past and was just gathering information in case I find one in my junk yard travels. I'm always interested in what is considered a "treasure" on whatever I'm driving at the time. My current list is minor ...

- ECU
- check for illuminated door sills
- intake (if I find an SRT)

(anyone think of any other "gold nuggets")...

 

For future reference of those wishing to purchase the "Power Control Module" (ECU) it can be purchased through chryslerpartsdirect.com part #5179831AB cost retail is $1,399 with core return... If you want to purchase without core return, add $500...

I can get it wholesale without core return for $1,599...

Keep in mind that this is not programmed and needs to be, otherwise it's useless...

 

In the first picture which INTENSEBLU posted...
#2 The Power Control Module = the ECU (which gets reprogrammed).
What is #6 Body Control Module - what does that do?

 

The BCM processes the info for peripheral systems and accessories that do not have a direct affect on engine / drivetrain operation. Every aspect of this car is monitored / manipulated by one module or another... ECU FMU (engine & fuel) PCM (drivetrain) BCM (body parts & accessories).

With regards to the original post... The real engine management is handled by a small EPROM chip that is soldered onto the mother board. This contains the operating software... Removing the original EPROM from the motherboard is what takes place when you send the ECU to a "tuner" to get it flashed... The reason it must be removed is because it circumvents the OEM security measures that are built-in to prevent manipulation of the software... It's a tedious task that should not be attempted unless you have experience removing them from mother boards... That being said, instead of purchasing a new ECU (mother board) I can get you a new EPROM chip and install an "old school" clip device that allows you to pop the chip in-and-out with a pair of needle nose pliers... Then we can copy your OEM software onto the second EPROM and you can mess with the maps with the security of knowing you have the OEM operating system backed-up.

 

This is something I wasn't going to mention too much about yet, but since HDDP as brought it up I might as well. I have been setting up for a while now in order to offer an ECU reprogramming service. Its not much help to you guys in the US but I can remove your ECU EEPROM backup your OEM software and store it on my server for later use. What may be of more interest is a mod to the ECU to add a port to allow you to connect to the internet and upload modified files. I am still working on the difficult part which is to locate all the maps and checksums so that and write some code to allow the user to relatively safely alter the maps themselves to suit whatever other mods have been done. This is all hard fought information gained from hours spent trawling through and reverse engineering the code, so those that have already done it, quite understandably, don't give it away freely. This has meant me doing it myself and I still have away to go as I have to use my car daily and cant afford for it to be out of action for any length of time. I will post up some pics of the ECU 'surgery' when I get the ECU back out of the car later next week. In the meantime here is the EEPROM:



and this is the sort of ZIF socket fitted in its place (pic is actually the through hole type off my programmer but the SMT version looks the same).

 

I hope I didn't rain on your parade Woody... I didn't know you were doing the same thing... Let's take the rest of this conversation off the board...

 

Right, that sounds like an EXCELLENT idea, but I'd still need the second ECU to eliminate downtime on a daily driver. I'll still search for a junk-yard ECU ..., and if I find one, I may contact you about your "mod" to offer EPROM changeability.

If I understand your post correctly, the "Tuners" out there un-solder the EPROM, pop it into their EPROM "burner", shoot a new program into it, then re-solder it back to the board and return it to you? Wow, not your average shadetree mechanic stuff here. I wonder if they'd offer a labor discount to "just" burn the EPROM for us to pop into this modded ECU clip you propose. This could start something big in that business (or all new business)!

Thanks for all the "enlightenment ..."

 

yup, that's exactly what they do.

 

No problem Derek, I use all the kit to do this on a daily basis so it is an obvious step for me and a possible exit route from my current job. The hardware stuff is second nature to me but the ECU code will take more time given my need to keep my car on the road. I'll PM you to discuss.