Mechanic says computer module bad?

I'm seriously stressing right now jeez. Yeah he told me he has the old part and he will show me what he did etc etc. I seriously think he changed the part and just thought the battery needed a jump, but in fact he didn't know it was the cable that was the issue it was not starting. If he shows me the old part and work done, do you think i should have him reverse what he did etc? What a headache i tell ya. Sorry to bother you guys with a problem that was due to my own stupidity.
 
I agree, the place is obviously a scam shop.

The only way I would pay them anything is to give them a test.

1. Ask them what PCM code was the computer? (He would have to know which one to order.)
2. Have them produce a bonafide invoice for the purchase and call the vendor to verify. (The invoice should explicitly state the part number.)
3. Demand them to produce the old part. (It should match.)

Odds are they fail all 3. Shops like this one give a bad name to the auto-repair industry. At the very minimum, call your local BBB and register a complaint.
 
Take a 10mm socket and ratchet with you. Tell him to give you your bad computer back and then swap it back in yourself. If it starts when you connect the battery back, I'd then ask him why is it running. I wouldn't stress it at all or pay him anything because your computer wasn't bad. He might make it bad before you go back if you say what you're gonna do. Catch him off guard with the self swap.
 
NoLimit yeah i'm gonna do that bro sounds good lol. It is a bitch to get to that part omg, i can't wait lol.

driller yeah i'm gonna do that aswell if i have to pay the piper, especially because i bet this part is cheaper then what he said, he originally said the dealer wanted 700$ and he has a place for $280 and 1yr warranty. I want to see they ACTUALLY charged him that amount. I can't wait to get there tomorrow to sort this out.
 
driller said:
I agree, the place is obviously a scam shop.

The only way I would pay them anything is to give them a test.

1. Ask them what PCM code was the computer? (He would have to know which one to order.)
2. Have them produce a bonafide invoice for the purchase and call the vendor to verify. (The invoice should explicitly state the part number.)
3. Demand them to produce the old part. (It should match.)

Odds are they fail all 3. Shops like this one give a bad name to the auto-repair industry. At the very minimum, call your local BBB and register a complaint.
Click to expand...

What he said! I'd follow drillers advice step by step on this because he is absolutely, positively right! That mechanic is trying to take you for a ride. Don't go back unless he can tell you what your computer code is.
 
driller said:
I agree, the place is obviously a scam shop.

The only way I would pay them anything is to give them a test.

1. Ask them what PCM code was the computer? (He would have to know which one to order.)
2. Have them produce a bonafide invoice for the purchase and call the vendor to verify. (The invoice should explicitly state the part number.)
3. Demand them to produce the old part. (It should match.)

Odds are they fail all 3. Shops like this one give a bad name to the auto-repair industry. At the very minimum, call your local BBB and register a complaint.
Click to expand...

2 and 3 will be a fail for sure. I'd do exactly what Driller is saying because he isn't going to have the same PCM code that you have. #2 is where he will most likely be busted and if needed, threaten to get the BBB involved. I bet he'll shut up about it and let you roll.
 
4 digit code on the pcm...

chipzoom.jpg
 
Don't get that confused with the part number. "catch code" is what you want him to match up. Just like you see above in the circle. Problem is, do you know what your catch code was? I doubt that code will be on the receipt. You might have to call Lincoln and let them run your VIN# to find out what your catch code was when new. He may have changed out PCM's but it wasn't needed. If the old one he has goes in and it starts, that will prove your point.
 
it's also worth noting that you have a 96, so it will NOT run with a computer from any other year-that means he had to find a 96 ECM and it and your 'old' ECU can only have catch codes from a 96-the running ECU and your old one have to be produced, he couldn't just get one and claim it was your old one. This guy sounds like a buffoon, because it is not easy to find an ECU for a 96. Driller's right too, if this guy is for real he should provide proof that he bought a new one for a 96, plus what are the chances that he came up with a working 96 ecu, installed it and got it running, then LET IT SIT without contacting you to tell you he had it running-I call bull:q:q:q:q.
 
I do not know any mechanic that would change out the PCM and not start the car to see if it works!

It's a scam shop, plain and simple. They will make up a story, knowing all the while it is a simple fix, then charge you hundreds of dollars to "fix" your car! They would've fixed the battery terminal eventually, maybe charge the battery and then wrote a phony work order showing make-believe parts and labor. Then they might've even said "oh by the way, the battery terminals were cleaned but we didn't charge you for that." LOL

Many of these guys are pros at it and have been doing it for years. They likely have a complaint list a mile long at the local BBB.

Any reputable tech would know the code for the PCM, have the invoice and have the old part. AND the car would've started on the lot, right then and there.

If you can put the old part in and start the car - all the better. But chances are it will never get that far.
 
the guy is trying to scare you into paying him money, he didnt touch your car, dont go back, dont call him, dont have anything to do with him period, just go about your life, the guy is a scumbag by the sounds of it, i assume you are young, he thinks he can intimidate you. :q:q:q:q him.
 
Thanks guys, i am gonna go back there and sort it out. I appreciate everything. I'm just gonna grab the old one, pop it in, it will start, and say go F**K yourself.
 
i will put money on it that he doesnt have another computer, no way. he is saying he got you one to make you pay, but there is not two of the same computers on his property. ask to see the old one first, if he shows you another one, tell him you are going to plug the old one back in and if the car starts you are gone and he can shove the other one into his coin purse ( thats a vagina for anyone who cant figure it out )
but you'll never get this far anyway because he didnt do a thing to your car yet, he was too excited for his long holiday weekend, your car was on the back burner, now that you fixed it, he is pissed and trying to make you pay for stuff that wasnt done.
 
He did say he had the part to show proof he changed it, but i will take the old one and swap it myself, i aint paying a dime until i feel it is legit. And again thanks, im stuck at work now thinking of all this lol its driving me mad lol i need a beer.
 
did you even tell him that he could put in a new computer
in you first post you made it sound as you had to make this dissension
if you didnt tell him to put parts in then he did work without you consent
and you only owe him money for what you told him to do
like everyone else said he is trying to put it in your ass
 
if he was a good mechanic and did his job right he would have disconnected the battery right? well when you disconnected the battery didnt you say it fell apart on you? if he disconnected it and put it back on chances are it would have started then because it usually gives you a better connection again.
 
mark82nv said:
if he was a good mechanic and did his job right he would have disconnected the battery right? well when you disconnected the battery didnt you say it fell apart on you? if he disconnected it and put it back on chances are it would have started then because it usually gives you a better connection again.
Click to expand...


I never thought of that, but if he installed a new ecm, he 'should' have disconnected the battery and the crappy connection should have been repaired when he installed it (and fired it up, yea, sure).

I don't know if I'd even bother with hooking up the 'old' ECM since you won't know for certain if A) it has been tampered with so that it is now disfunctional or B) it is off another mark but NOT a 96, so it won't run anyway-that would only prove him right, don't even give him the opportunity.

Driller's advise is what I'd do-let him prove he BOUGHT a correct ECM for a 96, and can produce a defective 96 ECM that came out of your car. He can't, he's a liar too. You also need to do the BBB thing, and advertise what a lowlife he is so other members here know not to deal with him.
 
Yeah but i'm still gonna try and install the old one, reason being hell if it aint defective i aint paying lol.
 
guinnessman said:
Yeah but i'm still gonna try and install the old one, reason being hell if it aint defective i aint paying lol.
Click to expand...

if you really feel you have to, make sure it isnt an ECM from another ford, he may have a hundred ecm's laying around from all the other suckers who came in really only needing a battery terminal.
 
Yeah i probably will just follow MikeMark and Drillers advice, hell i don't even know if i can fit under there to fix it lol i'm a big dude. But i will make sure i have the old part and see the order for the part, thats good advice. If he gives me any flack it's gonna get ugly. Thanks again guys.
 
Wow didn't realize how easy it is to get to i just checked yeah im gonna get the old one tomorrow and swap it see what happens.

Question though lets say the old one works, and i give him the New one can he legally charge me for the part or anything? That would mean he misdiagnosed the issue. I have no problem paying for alittle labor like an hour nothing more, but i certainly will NOT pay for a part i dont need lol. I'll call the police to have it documented if he tries that crap. I have 0 knowledge on legalities etc on mechanic work.

Ps i owe everyone lunch lol seriously!
 
Not to be accused of defending the shop at all here but here are my 2 cents.

You should call the shop tomorrow and tell the guy you did not authorize any repairs to be performed and tell him because of that you are NOT paying for anything he did without your approval. Then ask him what he has into diagnostic time only and offer him that amount only because you authorized that when you dropped the car off and asked them to check it out.

I am a shop owner and I hate guys like this but you are kind of in a sticky situation now with this. Do not offer him anything over the diagnostic fee. Do not go back to the shop for anything other than to pay that fee. And if you do go there do not drive your Mark. At this point its your word against his. He has to provide very little proof to the police to file charges for theft of service (or whatever the equivalent is in your state). I'm not defending him in anyway or trying to offend or insult you either but here's the deal.

You kind of messed up by taking the car off of the lot without telling him you were going to do so. If he or you call the cops he may be able to convince them that you at least intended to run out on the diag bill if not the whole "completed repair bill". The cop is probably not going to believe that you fixed your own car on his lot after having it towed in not knowing how to fix it in the first place. The cop can then arrest you for theft of services or order you to leave your car there until the bill is settled.

I have had many situation where customer stole their vehicles off my lot after they were repaired and I have only had to have a signed work order and the car info and owners info for the police to issue a warrant.

I just don't want to see you get messed up in this situation. It does sound like this guy is probably a crook. However if he has done this many times he probably knows exactly what to do to make your life miserable if he doesn't get his way.

Good luck man.
 
Yeah, it might not be a good idea to put the computer in that he has because it's very unlikely that he has one for a 96 and it will not start. Check yours to see if it's a reman. I just looked on rockauto.com and all they have are A-1 Cardone reman's for $136 with a $70 core. I wasn't even paying attention to you having a 96 when I suggested putting in the one he says he took out.

Honestly, I think with it being a holiday, you're car was never even messed with. Like Jamie said, it was most likely put on the back burner with him knowing that he would come back and clean your terminals and write up some high priced bill. I would find out what "catch codes" were used for 96 Marks and see if his matches. If his does match, then put it in and see if it starts. If it does not match, then you know he lied and what he has in his hand will never work anyway. What are the chances of him knowing that he has to have a specific year computer for your car?

I could be way off but I wouldn't think that no more than 2, maybe 3 catch codes were used for 96 and with it being year specific, the number may even be dropped to one, maybe 2. I would find out what these numbers are and if his do not match, do not bother pulling yours to put his in. It's going to fail if it don't match and he's going to say "SEE"

He also could know quite a bit about Mark VIII's and thinks that you don't. If that's the case, prove his ass wrong. The one main thing you have going for you here is that you have a 96 and I would use that to my advantage. He could be doing the same thing or he could be Mark VIII stupid and if you're loaded with info written down, you'll drive away, letting him know that the BBB will be called.
 
Just to give you guys an update.

I woke up today, had a missed call from the Mechanics cell. I called him back, and he said he is in PA because he went there to see his family on holiday weekend and he'll be back tomorrow. I said sure fine, i'll seeya tomorrow and make sure you have my old part etc he said ok no problem. He was telling me how he had to jump through alot of hoops to get the right pcm also cause of a code etc (catch code im guessing).

So about an hour ago i called the shop asking to speak to him, i pretended i was referred to his shop from a buddy. He really wasn't there lol i thought he might have lied to me over the phone to buy some time to get another lincoln pcm to show me saying that was mine etc.

After that i popped in the shop and did some snooping around, he wasn't there obviously so i spoke to his brother (so he said) and i told him i spoke to his bro etc and he knows i'm coming tomorrow but i wanted to see my old pcm because i wanted to swap it out right there on the lot. I even told the guy how easy it was and i'll be done in 5 minutes. He did some looking around the shop and asked his other mechanics where the part was, one mechanic said my mechanic had it with him?

Then one mechanic said he worked on my lincoln, and that the pcm was bad. I told him when i got there on sunday it didn't start and all i did was reattach the terminal wire into a new terminal connector and it started right up. This mechanic said he tried that already and it didn't start when he tried that, this is BULL:q:q:q:q cause i know no one adjusted that terminal assembly at all it looked identical as when i had the car towed, it didn't even have any tool marks on it when i showed up there on sunday.

Tomorrow i'm off again at least lol i'm gonna go there and simply get the part and swap it see what happens and demand the invoice from when he ordered part, the guys at the shop didn't have the invoice they didn't really know squat either.

PS another thing to point out the inside of my car had some greasy smudges on steering wheel and around the area under the dash etc yet there is not ONE smudge on the PCM housing lol i looked over it with a flashlight good. Can someone tell me what i should look for on a stock 96 LSC pcm so i know it's my old part if he did in fact take it out the car, i want to make sure i don't connect another models/cars pcm into mine and it doesn't fire up and he pulled a fast one on me etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 238 (members: 0, guests: 238)
Back
Top