PCM Part Replacement

[megnarium]

Hi all

I have a 1998 Mazda b4000 truck. it is as basic as you can get. crank windows, no abs, automatic, rear wheel drive, v6.

the mechanic thinks we need a new PCM and his research showed there was only one in Canada that would fit the truck (used $800; which he says is a ridiculous price). I've been trying to get additional information from him for the last two weeks but he's busy or something. (honestly not sure why he never called back, technically I'm still waiting). So I've been trying to find a PCM myself. I've found articles saying the original part number is ZZT418881A (i have no idea if this is accurate), I've found other articles talking about supersessions and gotten some additional numbers. Currently I'm *almost* sure the alternate numbers listed from this website would work (https://mintt.com/mazda-pcm/b4000-engine-control-module/1998-mazda-b4000-pcm-ecm-ecu-programmed/) the alternate part numbers listed on the website are all variations of this code: 'F87F-12A650-AGA'. Today we pulled the pcm unit out of the truck itself and it looks (to me) like its already an aftermarket unit and it has the following number F87B-14B205-DD. So help me out. what part do we buy??

The F87B-14B205-DD number seems to only be available as a used refurbished unit from ebay sellers and I would much prefer a clean programmed one from the Mintt website (or one similar).

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[franklin2]

Here are the choices for a 1998 B4000 pickup that www.car-part.com gives.

1998 Mazda Pickup-B4000 Engine Computer

Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AJA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AKA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AMA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-APA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-APC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AJC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AKC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AMC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BTA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BUA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BVA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BXA

 

[megnarium]

Here are the choices for a 1998 B4000 pickup that www.car-part.com gives.

1998 Mazda Pickup-B4000 Engine Computer

​ Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AJA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AKA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ALC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AMA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-ANC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-APA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-APC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AGC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHB Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AHC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AJC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AKC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-AMC Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BTA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BUA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BVA Electronic Control Module, (RH rear firewall), ID F87F-BXA

​

Thanks for the reply. How do I know if any of those would work? I don't intend to sound like I'm complaining and I'm not that knowledgeable about vehicles. What is the RH rear firewall? The listed ID's are missing the middle sequence from my post that is some variation of: '14B205' or '12A650'. Based on the listed numbers the part from website I listed in my original post should fit. Can you help me out with any additional details and what the different number sequences mean? Thanks

 

[RonD]

You want a Ford replacement computer(PCM)

Ford uses Part numbers up to 1998 like this

F8 = 1998, F7=1997, F0= 1990
7 = Ranger, or Mazda B-series
F = Department in charge, in this case Electronics Dept

Center number on all Ford PCMs is 12A650 still used today, meaningless as far as looking for replacement, which is why most websites don't include it
You just get the first 4 and then the last 2 or 3
Like F87F-ABC

Last 2 or 3 numbers in this case is the Software/Firmware revision, Ford NEVER released a cross reference for this

The ONLY thing you really need to match is 4.0l engine and automatic transmission on a 1998 Mazda B-series or Ford Ranger
I assume it has an EGR system and a Cam sensor, I think all 1995 and up 4.0ls did

PCM doesn't care about power windows, 2WD or 4x4, trim packages, just engine size and transmission type

As said above try car-part.com

1998
Mazda B4000
"Part" Computer box engine
Your Postal code

Search

The select first one on the list F87F-AGA
Search

Also do the same but use 1998 Ford Ranger probably cost less since there will be way more of them

You want one from an Automatic(AT), not manual(MT)

Usually wrecking yards are 1/2 the price of new/rebuilt, so if new is $200 then its $100 or less

Computer's RARELY fail, so used is a very safe bet
You can't use a 1999 computer(different cam sensor) or a 1997(4R55E trans software maybe)

RH Firewall is the location of the Computer, its located at top of firewall towards the passenger side(RH, right hand)

 

[megnarium]

You want a Ford replacement computer(PCM)

Ford uses Part numbers up to 1998 like this

F8 = 1998, F7=1997, F0= 1990
7 = Ranger, or Mazda B-series
F = Department in charge, in this case Electronics Dept

Center number on all Ford PCMs is 12A650 still used today, meaningless as far as looking for replacement, which is why most websites don't include it
You just get the first 4 and then the last 2 or 3
Like F87F-ABC

Last 2 or 3 numbers in this case is the Software/Firmware revision, Ford NEVER released a cross reference for this

The ONLY thing you really need to match is 4.0l engine and automatic transmission on a 1998 Mazda B-series or Ford Ranger
I assume it has an EGR system and a Cam sensor, I think all 1995 and up 4.0ls did

PCM doesn't care about power windows, 2WD or 4x4, trim packages, just engine size and transmission type

As said above try car-part.com

1998
Mazda B4000
"Part" Computer box engine
Your Postal code

Search

The select first one on the list F87F-AGA
Search

Also do the same but use 1998 Ford Ranger probably cost less since there will be way more of them

You want one from an Automatic(AT), not manual(MT)

Usually wrecking yards are 1/2 the price of new/rebuilt, so if new is $200 then its $100 or less

Computer's RARELY fail, so used is a very safe bet
You can't use a 1999 computer(different cam sensor) or a 1997(4R55E trans software maybe)

RH Firewall is the location of the Computer, its located at top of firewall towards the passenger side(RH, right hand)

Wow, thank you so much for the information, I followed all of that. haha.

Off to continue the search!

 

[megnarium]

You want a Ford replacement computer(PCM)

Ford uses Part numbers up to 1998 like this

F8 = 1998, F7=1997, F0= 1990
7 = Ranger, or Mazda B-series
F = Department in charge, in this case Electronics Dept

Center number on all Ford PCMs is 12A650 still used today, meaningless as far as looking for replacement, which is why most websites don't include it
You just get the first 4 and then the last 2 or 3
Like F87F-ABC

Last 2 or 3 numbers in this case is the Software/Firmware revision, Ford NEVER released a cross reference for this

The ONLY thing you really need to match is 4.0l engine and automatic transmission on a 1998 Mazda B-series or Ford Ranger
I assume it has an EGR system and a Cam sensor, I think all 1995 and up 4.0ls did

PCM doesn't care about power windows, 2WD or 4x4, trim packages, just engine size and transmission type

As said above try car-part.com

1998
Mazda B4000
"Part" Computer box engine
Your Postal code

Search

The select first one on the list F87F-AGA
Search

Also do the same but use 1998 Ford Ranger probably cost less since there will be way more of them

You want one from an Automatic(AT), not manual(MT)

Usually wrecking yards are 1/2 the price of new/rebuilt, so if new is $200 then its $100 or less

Computer's RARELY fail, so used is a very safe bet
You can't use a 1999 computer(different cam sensor) or a 1997(4R55E trans software maybe)

RH Firewall is the location of the Computer, its located at top of firewall towards the passenger side(RH, right hand)

Thank you again for the information. I came up with another question. The places selling new/rebuilt all say they flash them to our trucks VIN. How does that figure into one from the auto wrecker?

 

[franklin2]

Thank you again for the information. I came up with another question. The places selling new/rebuilt all say they flash them to our trucks VIN. How does that figure into one from the auto wrecker?

You may have to take it to the dealer to get it flashed if your truck has the security system on it that wont let it start. They had different versions of all that, I am not up on what year and model has what security system on it.

 

[RonD]

Your VIN tells the re-seller the Emissions Level, Federal or Calif.(CARB), Engine Model(4.0l OHV) also Manual or Automatic transmission
And that's it

You can get that by just looking at a Ranger/Mazda in wrecking yard
4.0l engine
Manual or automatic trans

Fed. or CARB emissions had more to do with the Cat Converters in 1998, as most engines had to have EGR systems by that time, so not really an issue either way, and not likely to find a Ranger/Mazda from Calif. in a Canadian wrecking yard