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NO, it's not the same...somtimes a dealer will "FLASH" a PCM to update it. Like if the engine has bad spark knock or something, they will update the tune on it to retard timing and "FLASH" it into the PCM.
Or, if you were to get a used PCM from a pick and pull, you can take it to a dealer and they will "FLASH" it so that the odometer and VIN and stuff matches the truck.
If a PCM has been flashed, they will attach a decal on it, saying "FACTORY AUTORIZED UPDATE" if it was done by a dealer.
Not really...PCM flashing is what made the 360 and 318 dogs. Rather than actually fix the plenums that were bad, they flashed the PCM's with a tune that had ******** timing, to reduce the knock the bad plenum gasket was causing.
Plus, a dealer is only going to flash it to a dealer authorized tune, they wont change anything. Best thing for that is a programmer like a Superchips 3865. That's essentially what you are doing with the programmer anyway.
You can get refurbished ones online for a lot less than that. I'd google refurbished 2010 Ram PCM to find the sellers.