Stage 1 Questions for the Rookie

[SDTurbo]

The PCM is what stores the mileage for your car. They have to have that to keep your odometer accurate.

[Cal Cruzer]

So if i put the Stage 1 in and run it for 2 years then take it out it and put the stock PCM back in it will roll my miles back to 2 years earlier? ...COOL

[brngrhd]

no it will not but when they go in with the drb and read it they will not mach

[ceaesq]

The mileage was only needed because of the type of ordering system Mopar set up for the Stage 1. Only the VIN was preloaded onto the Stage 1 PCM; it was able to obtain the correct mileage from the instument cluster when installed.

I recently removed my Stage 1 and replaced it with the original PCM for warranty work -- the odometer mileage remained the same and that PCM had been off for about 9,000 miles. The dealer used the DRB to check codes and did not mention anything about a mileage mismatch.

[Mean Green]

quote:Originally posted by ceaesq

The mileage was only needed because of the type of ordering system Mopar set up for the Stage 1. Only the VIN was preloaded onto the Stage 1 PCM; it was able to obtain the correct mileage from the instument cluster when installed.

I recently removed my Stage 1 and replaced it with the original PCM for warranty work -- the odometer mileage remained the same and that PCM had been off for about 9,000 miles. The dealer used the DRB to check codes and did not mention anything about a mileage mismatch.

Why did you remove the Stage 1 pcm? Do you have a bad dealer that would give you grief? I've kept my Stage 1 pcm on when I've gone in for both warranty work and oil changes. The service guys always tease me about getting tickets (which I haven't gotten).

[ceaesq]

The issue was a sudden rough idle, out of the blue. The code I retrieved on the Stage 1 PCM was P2302, having to do with the coil. But since changing the plugs, and switching to the Mopar performance plug wires and Screamin Demon coil (which I had been thinking about doing anyway) didn't help, I wanted to be sure it wasn't the Stage 1 PCM causing it, so I changed it (problem still there) and left it that way for the dealer work. Interestingly, the OEM PCM showed a different code P0351 (still relating to the coil).

The dealer said it was running on just 2 cylinders and were able to obtain a second code from the DRB - P0108 ("MAP Sensor High"). They replaced the coil, which they said partly helped, but replacing the MAP sensor is what appeared to cure the problem. The dealer doesn't know I have Stage 1 at this point (got it from Wycloff and installed it myself) and I didn't think this was the right time for them to find out!

I'll switch back to the Stage 1 PCM, Mopar performance plug wires, Screamin Demon coil and 3032 Champion plugs, in order, to verify that they all weren't part of the problem and work good together.

Thanks again to MX-5 for his off-line guidance in troubleshooting the problem.

[turbojim]

... The dealer doesn't know I have Stage 1 at this point (got it from Wycloff and installed it myself) ...

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I have been trying to get as much up front info as possible about the Stage 1 upgrade from local sources. It hasn't been easy. I find this forum thread very interesting as it corroborates some of the things I've been told.

Mike-in-Orange ... you said the '04 upgrade is just the PCM. That agrees with what my dealer said. He also said the 577 cc/min (or 527 depending on Mopar source) injectors come standard on the '04 GT. That's good. But my dealer also said that in addition to the VIN and mileage he would need an additional $500 core charge if I did the install myself until I returned the original PCM. That's not so good.

According to Ceaesq if I get the upgrade from Wyckoff Chrysler I can save some money and still keep my original PCM "just in case".

I have also read elsewhere and been told locally that if I bought the upgrade on-line or from a source other than Chrysler/Mopar, the PCM would not be programmed correctly and I would still have to bring it to a dealer for set-up by the dealer computer. This does not appear to be the truth.

So, it does appear that a Stage 1 upgrade to an '04 GT / manual transmission can be easily done at home and you can hang on to your original PCM.

Is this what other '04 GT owners have determined?

[Mean Green]

turbojim, I have an '03 GT and I bought my Stage 1 through my dealer and had them install it. I asked for and got the stock pcm and injectors back from them.

[Mike-in-Orange]

turbojim, I bought my Stage 1 from a dealer out of state because my dealer ended up not knowing what they were talking about! They continued to insist that the '04 upgrade included the injectors, but even Mopar's installation instructions for '04 Stage 1 make no mention of injectors like the instructions for '03s do. I did not pay a core charge to the out of state dealer, and even my dingbat local guys said I could keep my original.

I still have my stock, albeit Turbo Lite, PCM after doing the install myself.

[turbojim]

Thanks Mean & Mike. I did push back with two local dealers on being able to keep my original PCM. They insist Chrysler wants it back. No big deal, just as long as I know that is their policy here. So I will go elsewhere in order to keep my original one.

I can afford to wait awhile to see what's going to happen with the Stage 2 kit anyway. I most likely will go with the Stage 1 since it appears to be truly a plug-&-go. But we'll see.

Hey, another question I meant to ask before... When I go with a stage kit I probably want to have the Mopar BOV add-on kit in place first, right?