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Dodge Dart PCM, ECM & ECU Replacement
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What the Dodge Dart's Engine Computer Controls, and Why PCM, ECM, and ECU Name One Part
On the Dodge Dart, a single module controls the engine and the automatic transmission at once, and Chrysler's factory name for it is the Powertrain Control Module (PCM). The labels ECM (engine control module) and ECU (engine control unit) point to the same part. Car Computer Exchange remanufactures and VIN-programs Dodge Dart PCM, ECM, and ECU units for every year the Dart was built, 2013 through 2016, keyed to your car's engine. Search any of the three terms and you reach the same box: the computer that runs fuel, spark, and shifting on your Dart.
Which Dodge Dart PCM Fits: 2013-2016 by Engine (1.4L Turbo, 2.0L, 2.4L)
Car Computer Exchange covers the Dodge Dart from 2013 through 2016, matched to one of three four-cylinder engines: the 1.4L MultiAir turbo, the 2.0L, and the 2.4L. The Dart rides on Stellantis's Fiat-derived compact platform, so its computer and configuration differ from Dodge's trucks and V8 cars. Pick the exact unit, like the 2013 Dodge Dart 1.4L PCM, the 2016 Dodge Dart 2.0L PCM, or the 2015 Dodge Dart 2.4L PCM. Dart part numbers fall in the Mopar 68xxx- and Bosch 05150- families, and the trailing letters mark a calibration revision. The broader Dodge PCM and ECM catalog covers the rest of the lineup.
How a Bad Dart PCM Shows Itself, From MultiAir Faults to a Dead Crank
A Dart PCM on its way out announces the trouble two ways: an internal fault that sets a P-code, or a communication dropout that leaves a scan tool reading no PCM at all. The everyday symptoms are a no-start, a check engine light, or stalling. The codes and symptoms to watch:
- P0601 through P0606, the internal memory and processor faults
- P1607 on the 2.4L, a PCM shutdown timer fault
- U0100, lost communication with the ECM
Engine-bay heat dries out the board's capacitors and cracks solder joints over time, setting those internal faults. On the 1.4L MultiAir turbo, the computer also drives the electro-hydraulic valve system, so a module fault can hit both drivability and emissions. Before condemning the PCM, rule out a weak battery, bad grounds, and a mismatched module configuration, since each mimics a dead computer.
VIN-Matched Programming, and Why It Avoids a PROXI Headache
Car Computer Exchange codes every Dart PCM to your exact VIN and loads the current factory calibration before it ships, so most drop straight in with no dealer trip and no add-on programming charge. The Dart splits its configuration between the PCM and the Body Control Module. Fit a used or mismatched unit and the two usually need a PROXI alignment at a shop, which is where odometer and electronic errors creep in. A module keyed to your VIN skips that step, leaving only a short crankshaft position sensor relearn on a drive cycle. The vehicle picker on the Car Computer Exchange homepage matches a module to your Dart from the year, make, and model. Car Computer Exchange programs modules the same way across its Stellantis makes, including the Chrysler PCM modules catalog.
A 13-Point Simulator Test and a Lifetime Warranty on Every Dart Computer
No Dart computer ships until it clears the 13-point quality check. A computer-aided vehicle simulator loads the module and runs its fuel, spark, shift, emissions, and immobilizer functions under the conditions the car creates on the road. The warranty is free and runs for the life of the car: send the old core back within 21 days on the prepaid label, and coverage extends to as many as two replacement units. Should the module fail to fix the Dart inside 60 days, the money-back guarantee covers a refund or exchange. Over 150,000 customers have ordered from Car Computer Exchange since 2011. The same test and lifetime warranty stand behind every module in the catalog, including the Jeep PCM and ECM modules.
FAQs
Is a Dodge Dart ECM the same as a PCM or ECU?
Yes, all three name the same computer. The Dart runs its engine and automatic transmission from a single module, which makes it a Powertrain Control Module by definition. Shops, scan tools, and parts listings also call it an ECM or an ECU. Whichever term you searched, you are looking for the same part, and it has to be programmed to your Dart's VIN to work.
Where is the PCM located on a Dodge Dart?
The Dodge Dart's PCM sits under the hood, mounted next to the battery. Ordering a replacement does not require locating or removing the original. Give the year and engine, and the module ships coded to your VIN, set to install in the original's place. Its power feeds run through engine-bay fuses, so a blown fuse or a bad ground can mimic a dead module.
Can you drive a Dodge Dart with a bad PCM?
Sometimes, but you should not count on it. A failing PCM can drop the Dart into limp mode, stall it in traffic, or leave it dead at a no-start, so a bad module risks stranding you. It can also let the engine run rich or lean, which stresses the catalytic converter. A module flashed to your VIN restores normal running.
Why would a Dodge Dart PCM go bad?
Most Dart PCM failures trace to heat and age. Years of engine-bay temperature swings dry out the board's capacitors and crack the solder under high-current circuits, which sets internal faults like P0601 through P0606. Voltage spikes from a failing alternator or a reversed jump-start can also kill it. On the 1.4L MultiAir turbo, the computer works harder because it runs the electro-hydraulic valve system.
Is it expensive to replace a Dodge Dart PCM?
At a dealer, the invoice stacks the module, shop labor, and a standalone programming step, and that step is a big share of the total. Because a Car Computer Exchange unit shows up coded to your VIN, that charge drops off, and your cost comes down to the module plus your own install time. What you pay tracks the Dart's model year and engine size, so the product listing for your car shows the real number.
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The most common questions related to exchanging your car computer for one that works.
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