With the decrease of manual car systems, everything in the car is controlled by the car’s computer system.
Therefore, looking for Ford F150 PCM failure symptoms is necessary if you usually want your Ford F150 vehicle to work.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) is responsible for controlling and managing the Transmission Control Module (TCM) and the Engine Control Module (ECM).
As this system is the brain of your automatic vehicle, a lousy PCM can cause severe problems and inconvenience.
Therefore, it is necessary to immediately diagnose the problem and provide a solution.
Table of Contents
06 Common Ford F150 PCM failure Symptoms
Although you must always prioritize taking your car to a professional because they have the required equipment to check the error code and determine the issue, you can do it yourself too.
Moreover, it is necessary to get the system checked as a faulty PCM can disturb various features of the car.
Below is the list of some of the most common symptoms that impose you might have a faulty or failed PCM.
1. Check the Engine Light
The check engine light on your car symbolizes the vehicle’s catch-all sign. This light can turn on for anything or any slight malfunction of your car’s features or components.
As the engine light identifies your car’s malfunctioning component or components, you must take your vehicle for the check-up.
Through a thorough check-up, you will be able to detect the malfunctioning part and get it fixed before it gets any worse.
2. Vehicle Starts Roughly or Doesn’t Ignite
If your vehicle is not starting easy and is giving you a tough time, this can be another symptom of a failing PCM.
This ignition hindrance or inconvenience can be due to various reasons. It is possible if there is an abnormal fuel to air ratio, an irregular engine timing, or a spark in the wiring harness.
No matter the reason behind this problem, it is necessary to get it fixed before the car stops starting.
3. Reduced Gas Mileage
One of the primary reasons for reduced gas mileage in the Ford F150 is the malfunctioning PCM.
As PCM manages the ECM and TCM in controlling the fuel to air ratio of the vehicle, failure of any of these systems will drastically decrease the gas mileage.
These systems are also responsible for determining when to shift the gears.
For example, if the engine of your vehicle is not receiving the required might of fuel or is getting too low power, your car will start jerking or will even stop.
And at some point, it can cause severe damage to your vehicle as your vehicle will not receive the required lubricant.
Therefore, if you are experiencing low gas mileage, look for the PCM of your car.
4. Stuttering or Stalling of the Engine
Stuttering and stalling your vehicle’s engine is a prevalent symptom of PCM failure.
It is proof that your car’s computer system or any other mechanical system has stopped working or is malfunctioning.
This issue is mainly connected to the PCM or ECM failure and is an indication that there is a problem with engine timing.
Even though the ECM of your car is responsible for this function, one of the primary reasons behind this malfunctioning is a faulty PCM.
5. Display of PCM-Related Error Code
In case of any failure, you might receive an error code from the PCM as it is the brain of the whole computer system of the vehicle.
You can detect and study this error code with the help of a reader device and fix the problem accordingly. These codes come with the manual provided with the vehicle.
Thus, you can take help from the manual and read the error code. You can also read these codes online.
6. Irregular Shifting
Random or irregular shifting can cause severe problems for the vehicle. This problem occurs due to a bad sensor or any water damage to the circuits present in the PCM or TCM of the car.
Therefore, if you feel a problem with your vehicle’s automatic transmission, you must take your vehicle to the mechanic immediately because it can cause severe problems to the information.
PCM Ford F150: What & How does It Work?
The Powertrain Control Module is, also known as the PCM, is referred to as the brain of a vehicle. It is the computer system of an automatic vehicle that manages various functions.
Some of the car’s parts managed by this system include the engine and the transmission functions.
In addition to these features, it also contains different vehicle methods by determining the information received from various sensors.
The PCM of any vehicle works in a way by receiving signals from different sensors responsible for measuring airflow into the engine and out of the exhaust.
It is also responsible for measuring the coolant temperature and the measure of accelerator pedals. It also measures the speed of each turning wheel and various other parameters.
Moreover, the PCM also manages the transmission of the automatic car along with the ignition of spark plugs and fuel injection.
In conclusion, PCM is the central system of an automated vehicle, and the normal functioning of the car is dependent on it.
If the PCM is malfunctioning, you will see various irregularities in the car, and you will have to read the error code and get the problem fixed immediately before it gets worse.
Solutions for the Ford F150 PCM Failures
As we have discussed various symptoms of PCM failure, it is now time to determine their solutions.
Make sure that if you are not confident enough in dealing with the problem yourself or have little knowledge, you must take your vehicle to a professional.
Going to a mechanic will help you deal with the problem efficiently and in less time. The solutions to some of the PCM failure symptoms are discussed below;
- If your car’s engine light has turned on, detect the reason behind it and get it fixed immediately. After that, you can reset the engine light.
- In case you have problems starting your car’s engine, you must get the issue examined immediately to avoid being stranded on a remote place or road. You will have to replace the unit if the fault is too bad.
- If the reduced gas mileage is due to the flawed computer system, you will have to get it fixed or replaced immediately before your engine is damaged.
- PCM is responsible for giving instructions to ECM for engine timing. In case of faulty PCM, go to the mechanic and get it fixed to solve the problem.
- If any error code is displayed on the computer system, it is necessary to read the code using the manual and detect the problem. The error code related to PCM failure usually starts with ‘P06’. Check the problem and fix it accordingly.
- If your transmission shifting is not normal, it can impose serious safety issues. Therefore, it is necessary to get the PCM fixed or replaced immediately.
Ford F150 PCM Reset: 5 Steps Process
Once your PCM has started showing any error codes and you have the problem detected and fixed, you will have to reset the PCM as well.
Solving the issue in the system doesn’t reset the PCM automatically. Thus, it requires a minor procedure to get it to reset.
Don’t stress if your mechanic has not done the resetting and you don’t know how to do it yourself, as we have got you all covered.
By following the below-mentioned step-by-step instructions, you can get the task done quickly without any inconvenience.
As it is not a highly complex process, go through the below-mentioned step-by-step instructions and get the task done by yourself;
1. Loosen the Nut
The first step is loosening the lock nut. This nut is located on the negative battery cable connector that possesses a socket and a ratchet.
2. Pull the Connector Off
In the second step, you will have to pull the connector off the battery’s negative terminal.
3. Wait for the Electricity to Bleed Out
Now you will have to wait for almost twenty minutes to drain all the backup power out of the system as the electricity bleeds out of the system.
When all the backup energy is drained out of the system, it will reset automatically.
4. Connect the Negative Battery Connector
After the system is reset automatically, you will connect the negative battery connector back to the battery terminal.
5. Tighten the Lock
At last, tighten the lock that you have to loosen in the first step with the help of a ratchet and a socket.
With this process, you will be able to troubleshoot or detect any problem that might not have caught your attention before.
Moreover, it is necessary to get the reset done if you want to start over with the normal functioning of your vehicle.
FAQs on Ford F150 PCM Failure Symptoms
How do you know if your PCM is terrible?
Some of the symptoms that your PCM has gone bad are listed below;
- Check engine light is turned on
- Loss of fuel economy without any apparent reason
- Stuttering of a car while starting
- The car doesn’t start
- Stalling during idling
What problems can a lousy PCM cause?
A faulty PCM can lead to various problems, including a decreased engine performance, a stalling or misfiring engine, or issues with the engine control unit.
Therefore, it is evident that a poor PCM can have severe effects on a vehicle’s engine and can cause severe damage.
Will a lousy PCM cause no crank?
One of the most common symptoms of a poor PCM is that your vehicle will not start at all.
As all the components managed and controlled by the PCM are responsible for the kicking and running of the engine, a good PCM is necessary.
If any of these components are faulty, the car will not run or even start at all. So, the engine will not crank with a faulty PCM, and even if it does, the engine will not start.
How much does it cost to fix a PCM?
PCM is a computer system; you must know that it can be pretty expensive to fix and replace.
The replacement cost of a PCM might vary depending upon the specifications of your car majorly model and year. Moreover, the labor cost also varies depending upon the region.
Usually, the cost of replacement parts of PCM ranges from $800 to $1500.
At the same time, the labor cost of the PCM replacement can be approximately $75 to $100. Even though this replacement is pretty expensive, you cannot run from it for a long time.
A lousy PCM can cause severe damage to the engine and the vehicle’s engine performance, which makes the replacement inevitable.
Does a lousy PCM throw a code?
If your car has a processor error, an error code will be displayed, usually P0600 and P0606. If the PCM is corrupt and fails, there will be no codes as there will be no sending or receiving signals.
This is a computer system and works entirely like that. The desktop doesn’t display anything once the system is corrupt; PCM will not show a code when corrupt or failed.
Can a car run without a PCM?
Powertrain Control Module, also known as PCM, is the brain of the whole vehicle or the engine. It is a computer system that manages various functions and features of a car.
Therefore, in the case of an automatic vehicle, it will not function or run without a PCM.
PCM is also responsible for the automatic transmission, and it is utterly impossible that a car would run or get started without a PCM, the system’s brain.
Where is the PCM on a Ford F150?
The PCM on a Ford F150 is located under the dashboard present behind the kick panel of the passenger side.
Conclusion
PCM is a central functioning unit of an automatic vehicle, and without it, the car will never start to function correctly.
Therefore, you must know Ford F150 PCM failure symptoms so that you can troubleshoot and fix the problem immediately before it renders more damage to the vehicle.
Although you can detect the issues and get them fixed yourself, you should take the car to an experienced mechanic.
As the mechanics have special equipment and relative experience, they will save you a lot of time and effort.
Although in most cases, treatment or repair is not possible if the PCM goes terrible, and in such cases, the only option is to get it replaced.
So, get a check-up of your vehicle if it is causing you any trouble and get it fixed.