PCM Reflash Self-Debate. Need some advice

[danman132x]

I've been researching on getting my PCM reflashed. I have read good and bad stories about it, and I'm debating on whether I want to spend $70 to get it done.

Bad stories:
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=15 ... cm+reflash
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=14 ... cm+reflash

My car, each and every single morning starts hard. I have to hold the key in start and it stumbles sometimes. One morning I didn't hold it in start long enough and it took about 5 seconds to start it after that. I also have the "bump when AC kicks in" problem. If I'm keeping a constant speed in 1st/2nd/3rd gear and the AC compressor turns on, the whole car jutters when the AC kicks in. And I also have the last problem, stumble on throttle. The stumble on throttle is very noticable, especially when crusing and I want to give more gas. It hesitates sometimes and the car jerks, then it speeds up. When it does this, I noticed it helps to let go off the gas, then re-apply and it works better.

Do you think I should cough up the 70 dollars to get it re-flashed? I just worry about having engine light problems, etc after I get it done.

[latief]

I'm not sure why my car acts like this after the PCM reflash........every time i think i found the problem it comes back.....
it still has the problem until this moment....... but i guess it could be specific to my car, and not necessarily for all PCM reflashes........

you have an NGC car so i guess it could be different .........

[jonnymopar]

I don't really see too much bad on either of those stories. I never really noticed before I had mine reflashed, but my check engine light stays on until I start the car. It still functions fine because if I have a code, it doesn't shut off and I get a single "ding" once the car is running.

Alot of the 2nd gear bog went away when I had mine done. It's still there, but not as bad as it was. I have the 3.55 final drive and I've found that the ratio change between 1st and 2nd on these cars is a little much for my taste (these are economy cars). The 3.94 final drive seems to cover that up. Moxhair claims that the bog was eliminated on his car and he had the same car as you. I would definitely talk to him.

[underway]

CEL is suppose to stay on when u have the key in the fuel pump on position.... its so when u get your car smaogged they know that the bilb still works..... also the airbags and i think a couple others come on

[DJ CptnCrnch]

i took mine in for warranty and the stealership wanted to charge me...assholes

[Neonisti2000]

I've been researching on getting my PCM reflashed. I have read good and bad stories about it, and I'm debating on whether I want to spend $70 to get it done.

Bad stories:
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=15 ... cm+reflash
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=14 ... cm+reflash

My car, each and every single morning starts hard. I have to hold the key in start and it stumbles sometimes. One morning I didn't hold it in start long enough and it took about 5 seconds to start it after that. I also have the "bump when AC kicks in" problem. If I'm keeping a constant speed in 1st/2nd/3rd gear and the AC compressor turns on, the whole car jutters when the AC kicks in. And I also have the last problem, stumble on throttle. The stumble on throttle is very noticable, especially when crusing and I want to give more gas. It hesitates sometimes and the car jerks, then it speeds up. When it does this, I noticed it helps to let go off the gas, then re-apply and it works better.

Do you think I should cough up the 70 dollars to get it re-flashed? I just worry about having engine light problems, etc after I get it done.

That sounds just like my car in its present condition. All the symptoms/faults are same.

Little update to my experience about the re-flash...:
I took the car to dealer in January -07 and they had it in for 2 days. They made all kind of tests such as electronic measurements, scanning etc.
And nothing.
Well, they did found that my camshaft sensor was cracked and it was leaking a bit.
They changed it (180€=about 250$..) but it didn't have any effect on my car performance...
And when I talked to the servicemanager, he just said that there's nothing more to do. He figured that the new program, that they uploaded, just wasn't 100% compatible with my car's pcm...
Sounds convincing, I know...

And the update didn't improve A/C kicks and hesitation like I thought it might do.
So for me, the update was really just a waste of money.
If anything, my car's performance decreased after that...
Meaning that odd starting problem which I now have in every first start on mornings. (car starts, stutters and seems to shutdown for a second or two and then suddenly goes back to normal (900-1000rpms).

Wierd.

About the CEL light...
Mine used to turn on normally when in ON position and turn off after test sequence like it's supposed to do.
After PCM reflash, it will stay turned on until I start the car...
Another wierd thing...

But that's just me.

[MoxHair]

Do the Reflash.. one of the best things you can do to an 03 R/T

[danman132x]

Well I brought my car to the dealer today to get it re-flashed. I paid the $93 to have it done. So far the car feels better already. No bump when the AC kicks in and good throttle response. I'll have to wait till the morning to see if I still have the hard start condition, but I'll be sure to post. While the PCM was hooked up, I told them to follow some instuctions to activate my alarm. Now when I lock my car with the key fob, my red light comes on, then starts flashing. Alarm works

They also put this ugly sticker near my radiator


Do I need to keep this there? I know the writing will come off when I wash the car though since I wipe down the engine bay

[OverDrive418]

I'd peel it off and put it with your paperwork and in your records because like you said, after the first wash its gone.
I think it's required by law if I remember correctly but if you keep it with your records it should be no problem.