Protokiller

My mother just got an 06 Mustang GT and after paying a local Ford dealership a nice amount of cash they have determined it needs a new PCM as this one does not send out correct signals 100% of the time.

They want $1100 for the part and $200 for labor.

I see PCM/ECU's for these cars all over ebay for less than $100, what is stopping us from buying one of these and having the dealer program it or whatever?

Or are PCM's tied to one car for life or something?

Why does the Ford dealership want so much for the part?

hootie_john

It's likely a new Ford part, and you're going to pay full retail from them. Get the part number and check with Tousley (sp?) Ford. They are the ticket for parts.

I would also check a salvage yard, the classifieds are various forums, as well as the eBay stuff.

Mr.Ski

Nothing is stopping you from buying a used one. Just make sure you get the same one as you have (same 4 letter/number code) and swap it out and have it remarried. You will need to take it to the dealer to have it "remarried" to the car, so i would suggest changing it at the dealership, because once you change the pcm, it will not restart until it is remarried.

Nuke

On another note, what caused it to malfunction? There is a TSB on what is dubbed as the "Chronic Water Leak" which was very common on 05's and 06's (and on some later years) which wreaked havoc with the Smart Junction Box in the front passenger kick panel, causing all sorts of electrical gremlins. What were the symptoms that led you to believe that the dealership knows what they're telling you?