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Slowlaine86
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2023
- Messages
- 4
- City
- Norcal
- Vehicle Year
- 2001
- Engine
- 4.0 V6
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Tire Size
- 31.10.5
The title sounds kind of funny. I have read multiple threads on this but would like to try and get some solid info together in one spot.
I have a 2001 4.0 4x4 automatic. I love the truck, had the transmission rebuilt 2 years ago and for the first few months we had a ton of issues, I will attribute that to bad quality parts. Since then, it has been fine until I started getting codes for turbine speed sensor along with some interesting shifts and we all know that means the 5r is coming out for the 4th time since it's rebuild. Now that we have other vehicles to drive, I don't mind diving into what is really a somewhat simple project of swapping the automatic for a manual, in fact I know I will enjoy the truck 100 times more with a stick. I recently found a 4x4 transmission, PCM, wiring harness, pedal assembly, etc all from a 2001 4.0 for 400$. Could not pass it up.
Here is where it gets interesting, the PCM. Getting keys programmed for the manual PCM seems simple enough, my locksmith is confident it won't be an issue, and he has dealt with PATS. This being a 01 V6, I understand that it is the type E system, so it just uses the transmitter halo deal on the ignition switch and the PCM. Hopefully I'm right on that. My main issue is California. I need the vin on the PCM to match the vin on the truck AND it needs to not appear as a modified PCM or else it will fail the test immediately, and I have an unregistrable truck. I guess I am concerned that if I take it into the dealer to get the manual PCM updated to my VIN, that it will re-write the strategy back to automatic. I haven't been able to find any info on if that is even how that works. Ford service is worthless when it comes to that type of thing, they hear 2001 and don't listen to anything I say after that. I just need to make sure before I go down this road that I can actually get this truck to pass smog by changing the Vin on the "new" PCM.
I have a 2001 4.0 4x4 automatic. I love the truck, had the transmission rebuilt 2 years ago and for the first few months we had a ton of issues, I will attribute that to bad quality parts. Since then, it has been fine until I started getting codes for turbine speed sensor along with some interesting shifts and we all know that means the 5r is coming out for the 4th time since it's rebuild. Now that we have other vehicles to drive, I don't mind diving into what is really a somewhat simple project of swapping the automatic for a manual, in fact I know I will enjoy the truck 100 times more with a stick. I recently found a 4x4 transmission, PCM, wiring harness, pedal assembly, etc all from a 2001 4.0 for 400$. Could not pass it up.
Here is where it gets interesting, the PCM. Getting keys programmed for the manual PCM seems simple enough, my locksmith is confident it won't be an issue, and he has dealt with PATS. This being a 01 V6, I understand that it is the type E system, so it just uses the transmitter halo deal on the ignition switch and the PCM. Hopefully I'm right on that. My main issue is California. I need the vin on the PCM to match the vin on the truck AND it needs to not appear as a modified PCM or else it will fail the test immediately, and I have an unregistrable truck. I guess I am concerned that if I take it into the dealer to get the manual PCM updated to my VIN, that it will re-write the strategy back to automatic. I haven't been able to find any info on if that is even how that works. Ford service is worthless when it comes to that type of thing, they hear 2001 and don't listen to anything I say after that. I just need to make sure before I go down this road that I can actually get this truck to pass smog by changing the Vin on the "new" PCM.
