I have 2002 Chrysler Sebring and have intermittent condition "would not crank" per dealer technician. I towed it to the dealer. It started right away. They shut it off. Tried again and would not start. Tech did not give me any code. Next day it started again. Technician tapped on the PCM and engine died. Dealer told me that I have a short in PCM and need to replace costing $1200. I tried again at the shop and started the engine right away. I have been driving it for last 3 weeks without any problems. Do I need a new PCM? Should I risk driving it to long distance? Please help.

 

since your pcm wasnt completely tested and simply tapped on by the tech I would unplug every connector going to it and then reconnect them to rule out thats its simply a connection problem, unplug them all , make sure they are all unplugged and then plug them all back in making sure theres no dirt or bent pins anywhere. this will perform two tasks... it will eliminate the possibility that its just a bad connection AND will reset the PCM since all power going to it has been disconnected and then reconnected.

Drive it for awhile but dont go on a long trip and see how it does...if it does it again then change the pcm but dont go the 1200$ route....take the numbers off your old PCM and call around to scrap yards or look on ebay for the replacement, you'll save 1000$ as they run in the 200$ range and can be easily replaced by yourself in less than 10 minutes

 

There are services on the internet (and eBay) that will sell you a refurbished computer on an exchange basis for about $200. You send them your VIN and mileage, they program the computer and send it to you. You send your old one back in the same container pre-paid. You can't just plop a junkyard computer in there. It needs to be programmed for the car.

I'd be a little leery of that dealer's "diagnosis by percussion". Dealers like to replace parts and seem to always want to start with the most expensive thing.

 

Thanks for both replies. Yes, I agree that dealers always try to make money in replacing new expensive parts. By researching on this this thread, it is obvious that they should have given me the error code. Well, its working fine so I will keep it going. I will disconnect all the connectors and see what happens. You think dealer would have disconnected all connectors to troubleshoot and by default, the computer is rest and hence I don't have the issue?