Originally posted by jd28: I was just thinking too. loose solder joint in the PCM, about 75% of electronic repair I did was solder joints. Should of suggested tapping on PCM while cranking.. Poo
Its very likely that a loose solder joint could be the casue but the internal circuitry of the PCM is almost certainly potted with epoxy for environmental and vibration protection and if so even being able to see any part of the PCM would be next to impossible.
They just want you to spring for a new PCM so this way they can be certain that the PCM is good. Then they will go from there to locate the fault or faults in the harness if there are any. I have heard several stories where Contours suddenly stop running and there are all sorts of indications on the test equipment of what it wrong. They replace the PCM and everything is fine.
If there is a problem with the harness itself it may actually be less expensive to just all out replace the entire harness rather than pay for the labor rerquired to individually test each wire to find the one that is faulty. If the PCM is the fault, I agree that $800 is a very expensive shot in the dark and if taking a shot in the dark is the plan then maybe using a second hand PCM from a salvage yard might be the way to go since there is no guarantee that it will be the cure-all solution.
Perhaps you can meet with the service manager and see if you can reason with them. Tell that you agree that replacing the PCM is a viable way to speed the troubleshooting process and that one unit may be the lone source of the probelm. But express that you are not willing to open you wallet for an $800 shot in the dark. Its worth seeing if they will make a WRITTEN deal with you that if replacing the PCM solves the problem you will pay for it and if it is not the problem then they pay for it. If they are not willing to cooperate with you then you'll need to explore other options.
From my point of view, for $800 you can go into the newspaper and find some beater that might have a smell in the interior and aybe burns a little oil, but it gets you back on the road for a year or maybe more. Plus while you own it you can do a few odds and ends and then when you decide to you can resell it for $500 and basically break even on the deal.
I feel sorry for the people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, thats the best they're going to feel all day - former President Lyndon B. Johnson
