Hi,
The Chrysler started acting up about a month ago, symptoms being coughing, hard to start and cutting out as you drove.
Initially thought it was a fuel problem as my driveway is on a slight angle and there was a small pool of fuel near the rear drivers side wheel.
Replaced the o-ring on the fuel tank that side but no change apart from no fuel leaks.
Checked the codes and found P2506 which related to the ecm/pcm and after a search found there were a few possibilities so I started chasing them down.
One was the battery and sure enough it was tested to be faulty and replaced but no change.

So here is the current situation,
Try to start the car and most times it starts then cuts out, next attempt to start results in nothing just a click. This will happen several times before another attempt to start will happen with the car failing to start.
Persevere and eventually it will go and rev up but left on idle it might just die again.
Weirdly it was off but ignition on while i was checking things on the code reader and then the radiator fans turned on and were going fast. Turn off the ignition and then turn on and the problem had gone.

Looking for hints as what else I could check before biting the bullet and taking it to a Jeep dealer as they are the only ones left who almost care about Chryslers.
I have checked and there are no ecm's in Australia and it will take awhile to get and then there's the $5k price tag.
I have seen wreckers advertising them for around $500 dollars and wonder if they just plug and play or if they need to be reset by a dealer.
This all come straight after spending a fortune on a 2014 Jeep GC and a 2006 Jeep GC.

Thanks in advance

 

BTW, any recommendations for a mechanic in the western suburbs of Melbourne.

 

Update,
If you buy a 2nd hand ecu you will need the vin number from the vehicle it came off apparently or it's a waste of money. (now i find out )
Jeep dealerships are not interested in Chrysler's, well in Melbourne anyway, but I managed to find a mechanic that's switched on.
Was looking at getting a bcm and ecu pre-programmed from the US but that's on hold as he found a wiring loom between the turbo and firewall that has the outer cover melted and some of the wires as well. I have no idea what the wires are for.
Am hoping that is the problem that's causing all the mayhem. And when I say mayhem I mean it, while my autel scanner and his only found the P2506 error , his you beaut snapon tools one lit up like a xmas tree with 31 faults.

As this has been going on for months I got close to calling a wreckers and taking a handful of $'s and cutting my losses, but Ive decided to keep throwing $'s at it until its fixed, then get the clear coat fixed and make her pretty again.
When we find the fault I will post it in case anyone else suffers a similar problem.

 

Do keep us posted Amused. Just because you've not received any responses doesn't mean we aren't interested and supportive..

 

Update:
After 3 weeks the mechanic was unable to find the problem so it came home on a tow truck *sigh*
Caroline Springs Jeep suggested an auto locksmith, auto locksmiths kept saying no and referring me on, their reasoning was security issues wouldn't allow it to run more than a few seconds.
Anyway once it got home it got worse just sitting in the driveway. Drivers window wouldn't go up and none of the others worked either, then doors stopped locking, boot wouldn't unlock, radio kept flashing something about it being locked until the ignition was turned on.
And of course the old reliable " turn on the ignition and the cooling fans on the motor would start" even thought its a cold day and the engine hadn't run for weeks.

Googled the bcm and there was a site suggesting how to reset to factory defaults.
Instructions said you needed to be able to drain it completely by turning the headlights on perhaps.. but mine don't work now like everything else electrical.
Anyway the steps were disconnect the battery and hold positive and negative cables together BUT not connected to a battery and that will discharge the capacitors.

Well nothing was working, as stated so had to get in passenger side via key, unlock back door and climb into the boot to release it to access the battery.
Did that and followed the instructions and nothing, pretty much the same nothing i had with the only thing that will work is the clock if you press and hold the hand will go around.

A possible ray of light is the last locksmith put me onto a company called Injectronics, located south west of Melbourne in Keysborough who are able to check ecm/bcm modules.
Now i know where the ecm is and can get to that so i can send them the details to see if we can progress but the bcm apparently is hidden somewhere on the left/passenger side behind the kickboard? under the dash?
Anyone know for sure where it is and maybe how hard it is to access/remove.

I did make a commitment to keep throwing money at it rather than wreck and get a another vehicle, but my wallet is starting to look like a rescue greyhound and some days my feeling for this car are similar to those I have for my ex wife.

Something needs to break soon.

 

I posted a long update, got a message that a moderator had to review my post first.. that was days ago and nothing has happened.
Made a post about why would a moderator need to check my post and nothing.
I think I will stop wasting my time and apparently yours.

 

Update;
My Auto Electrician also teaches at TAFE and has a friend who is an experienced ex Chrysler tech. They were able to get it started reprogramming a 2nd hand ECU but it was in limp mode due to the TCM being faulty as well. There were also problems with the FCM and fuse box.
Can't get one new (TCM) and if you could find a dealer with one it was going to be thousands of $. Having already thrown several thousands of $ at it , on their advice to let it go, I accepted $800 from a Chrysler wreckers and it has now gone.
The only time Chrysler (USA) have been helpful was supplying the codes for the ECU and even that took me supplying the Auto elec with my details so they could prove ownership.

Chrysler and their ex Aussie dealerships total lack of interest didn't impress me, especially when I can still get parts for older Holdens and Fords.
My concern now is I have a 2006 JGC with the same motor and gearbox and wonder if the best thing to do is sell it in case it goes down the same path.
I will miss it especially as I had intended to keep it forever and eventually put it on club rego. Even contemplated buying another one, but with the Hemi engine.
Instead I purchased a 2nd hand Triumph Rocket 3 Touring with low k's.
So thanks for all the help over the years and good luck with your Chryslers.

Steve