Gotta stop you right here. I'd check for a blown fuse first, either under the hood or in the glove box. Next we have to figure out where to check for voltage to the PCM, and if one terminal is missing voltage and no fuses are blown, we need to look at the inside of the left front strut tower to check for burned fuse link wires. Those are dull orange, gray, black, green, or white wires and they're not taped up. Pull on those one at a time to test 'em. If they act like a wire, they're okay. If they act like a rubber band, they're burned open. I doubt that is the problem though since it was running okay earlier.
The reason I must stop you is you can run into a whole can of worms changing the computer. If your car has the factory-installed security system, you have nothing to worry about but the person you give back a test module does. If your car doesn't have that security system, you MUST install a used one from another car that didn't have that system and that can be almost impossible to know since most salvage yards don't check for that when they're parting out a car. Here's a copy and paste version of the whole story for an Intrepid but it's the same for your car:
If you DO have the anti-theft system, you can use any Engine or Body Computer from the salvage yard, but from then on, that computer will only work on another car that also has the anti-theft system. DO NOT borrow a friend's computer if his car doesn't have the anti-theft system.
Both computers have anti-theft programming that can not be undone. If your car does NOT have the anti-theft system, you must find a used computer from a donor car that also did not have anti-theft, and that can be impossible to find out from the salvage yard since there's no easy way to tell unless the car was running when it was brought in. Even then, they might not have bothered to find out.
When you install either the Body Computer or the Engine Computer with anti-theft programming into your car without anti-theft, the new computer will teach it to the other one. A Body Computer will teach it to the Engine Computer or a replacement Engine Computer will teach it to the Body Computer. At that point the car will not start because both computers are waiting for the disarm signal that's never coming. Both computers will have to be replaced at the same time. If you just replace one of them, it will immediately learn the anti-theft programming from the other one as soon as the ignition switch is turned on.
If you buy a remanufactured Body Computer from the dealer, it will come without the anti-theft programming. It will work in any car as soon as it is installed and will self-program itself for anti-theft only if the system is on the car, when it learns it from the Engine Computer.
Okay, I'm back. There is no way to run the engine without the PCM. It doesn't simply modify ignition timing like the early GM computers did. This one has the switching circuits built in that drive the injectors, ignition coils, alternator, and automatic shutdown relay / fuel pump relay.
Did you notice if you could hear the hum of the fuel pump for one second when you turn on the ignition switch? If you can't hear it you need to do the check I mentioned earlier to see if the ASD relay is turning on. Do that by testing for voltage on the dark green / orange wire at the coil pack or any injector. You can use a digital voltmeter but a test light is easier to see.
Sunday, September 30th, 2012 AT 1:58 AM