Recycling yard.

 

What do you do about the programing with one from a Yard?

 

For used ones, you have to make sure it had the same options/equipment and know if it had security or not. If your van has security, you can use either kind of BCM; if your van does NOT have security, you canNOT use a BCM that has security enabled/learned. Once the BCM learns security, it cannot be unlearned. I believe it also stores the odometer reading of the vehicle it came from, so installing a used one will introduce a potential odometer discrepancy if one hooks a scan tool to the van and reads data.

 

Look online and ask Dr. Google.

 

If you can find one at a wrecking yard, make sure you get the vehicle VIN# too. You can order parts online from wrecking yard networks that have members all over North America.
Assuming you find one and need to program it, I would buy a Carly OBDII reader/programmer that is pre-programmed for the donor vehicle make/model/year. Carly uses your phone and a sophisticated App to do reading and programming that were previously only possible with very expensive gear.

 

I got lucky and a local mechanic just left my house an hour ago. He confirmed a bad bcm. tomorrow he will send me an estimate and hopefully the dealer that sold me the van will pay.

Wow this is good to know, Incase I don't like the estimate and the dealer backs out from paying,

I will post a link to the carly reader programmer,

Buy Carly OBD - More than an OBD-scanner

Carly OBD Scanner is an electronic device that allows a computer to access vehicle’s data.

www.mycarly.com

Thank you,
Bob

 

FCA RAM

fcacommunity.force.com

This website is a lifesaver. Punch in the vin number of a van, it will spit out the full build sheet.

I'm not an expert on 4th gen vans, I know a lot more about 3rd gen vans. I would guess that 2001-2003 vans are similar electrically to 3rd gens, in which case you need to ensure that the donor BCM

• Has or doesn't have a security system, it needs to be what you have.
• Is the same trim level as yours. This would be a number in the 6th digit of the Vin Number.

 

Great Share,
Thank you

 

Double post.

Here's the 2002 repair manual info.

Next page

Next page

Source: 2002 Chrysler RS/RG Platform Factory Service Manual; 02RGE.pdf; Property of Chrysler Corporation


That last page confirms the important part, same as 3rd gen vans. There are Low Line, Mid Line, and High Line vans.

I'm a little confused though. Contrary to what I thought, it appears that the Mid or High lines are capable of self learning the security system, and unlike the third gen, it might not matter if the donor vehicle is similarly equipped as your van.


Going one step further, here is the Parts Catalog listing for your 2002. It lists three BCMs, which correspond with the info in the Factory Service Manual.

• Low Line - Base model van
• Mid Line - Power Door Lock equipped van
• High Line -Power lift gate equipped van (also has power door locks)

Source: 2002 Chrysler RS Platform Parts Catalog; 02RS.pdf; Property of Chrysler Corporation

There's also a mention of the trim level on the Body Code Plate inside the engine compartment.

 

Carly won't let you reprogram or even change vin and mileage on Chrysler BCM, it only supports basic scanner features:

Whoever does change the BCM needs to make sure the module in your van has your van's VIN and Mileage - NJ is an OBD emissions testing state and if you have a mismatch in VIN you'll likely have problems (likewise a mileage mismatch will go in the 'system' and at a minimum diminish van's value)

 

That VIN decoder has an error. The 5th character denotes drivetrain type, either P for front wheel drive, or T for all wheel drive. It's the same for 3rd and 4th gen vans. Like my van is a 2004 AWD, so it starts out as 2C8GT.

 

Thank you very much

 

I got the estimate from the mechanic and it is on the high side. He put down the part number for the bcm as
4727072AE and cost of $977. When I look up that number I think it is for a van with a security system. I would assume that if it was new it is not programmed and I could use it. I found them for in the $600 dollar range on various sites. Can I use this BCM or is there a different number.

I am not opposed to trying a used BCM in the future but at this time I am negotiating with the seller still.

Thank you

 

Beware of so-called refurbished or reconditioned BCM units. I bought half a dozen for my 1991 Dodge Grand Caravan LE from O'Reilly Auto Parts at around $300. I returned every one for a different one. When I opened them up some had leaking capaci tors and melted PCB traces. They were allegedly repaired in Mexico. They exhibited various problems like the wipers running all the time or the door locks playing a random drum solo. I could tell from the component date codes that some were from later model years and none of the components had been replaced.
When I visit a wrecking yard and see vintage Chrysler vans, I grab the BCM from some of the early 1990's models. I try them in my van which has an overhead display, to see if they work. Most don't work as well as my crippled BCM. Mine randomly turns on the wipers and sometimes the radio won't work. Usually I can get it to work by doing an on-off, on-off, on Ignition Switch sequence. Periodically, the overhead display will work for a while. I have been unable to find equipment that can work with this proprietary OBDI system. I'm not sure what programming is needed on these early models.

 

That could be the reason that I can't find a refurbished one because they are too hard to make work right and companies have to make money.

Thank you