BCM Help

[GordDavey]

All I’m looking for some advice. My 2015 Ram 1500 Tradesman that we are rebuilding and doing a whole bunch of DIY upgrades to with bits and pieces from a 2014 Laramie. Has a damaged BCM. No way to access The BCM at all.

I’m wondering if I can get a used BCM from a wrecker to replace it?

Could a replacement BCM come from let’s say a 2014 Laramie and then I can just change some of the settings with AlfaODB ? Like transmission properties?

Do I have to get the VIN and Mileage programmed into it? Even if it will never be resold?

How do I deal with the Fobiks now ? I imagine the ones I have for the truck would now be useless?

Any advice would be helpful. I did buy a 2015 remote start kit which includes a new rf hub and fobiks. But I’m would think I would need at least one fobik that matched the BCM to even stand a chance of getting AlfaOdB to add new keys to the truck.

I’ve got access to all kinds of used parts for different trucks from a couple of local wreckers and can get all manner of stuff from different years and models of rams. Harnesses, modules etc.

 

[Jimmy07]

I don’t see why not on the bcm swap. There’s also an option in the alfa to write your vin to the bcm. I have a 2017 tradesman, so I can help on some settings if you get stuck. There’s also a few express trucks in the shared bcm configurations folder in the first post of the alfa thread. The fobs don’t have anything to do with the bcm, so, you should be fine there. Installing the new remote start RF Hub with new fobs will be the issue with the alfa. Right now, only the keyless enter n go fobs and RF Hub (highline system) can be installed brand new and programmed with the alfa. There was an update today, so hopefully it addressed the RF Hub replacement of the baseline system (regular fobs you stick in the ignition).

 

[GordDavey]

Jimmy07

Thank you. Where are the fobiks stored if not in the BCM or the RFHub? I guess it would help for me to understand a bit more about them.
As I understand it the fobiks get coded to the truck and then RFHub gets put thru a step to have it pick up the fobiks that belong to the truck for use with remote start
. If that is right then the Fobik info is stored somewhere. Would that be the WIN module? If so then perhaps I can find a Win module with one key which I could use as a place to start? Which module controls the PIN code ?

 

[Jimmy07]

Jimmy07

Thank you. Where are the fobiks stored if not in the BCM or the RFHub? I guess it would help for me to understand a bit more about them.
As I understand it the fobiks get coded to the truck and then RFHub gets put thru a step to have it pick up the fobiks that belong to the truck for use with remote start
. If that is right then the Fobik info is stored somewhere. Would that be the WIN module? If so then perhaps I can find a Win module with one key which I could use as a place to start? Which module controls the PIN code ?

On 2013+ rams, the fobs are programmed to the RF Hub, and the hub can recognize up to 8 fobs. The RF Hub also controls the PIN. The ignition on a 13+ ram isn’t referred to as a WIN module anymore but just an ignition node module (because the RF Hub now handles the “wireless” part). The rfh recognizes the fob, then tells the ignition node and the pcm that it’s good to start the engine. So, I think that if you have a pcm, RF Hub, and fob that are programmed together, then you could install any ignition node from a 13+ ram, and it will automatically be told to recognize the programmed fob.

 

[GordDavey]

On 2013+ rams, the fobs are programmed to the RF Hub, and the hub can recognize up to 8 fobs. The RF Hub also controls the PIN. The ignition on a 13+ ram isn’t referred to as a WIN module anymore but just an ignition node module (because the RF Hub now handles the “wireless” part). The rfh recognizes the fob, then tells the ignition node and the pcm that it’s good to start the engine. So, I think that if you have a pcm, RF Hub, and fob that are programmed together, then you could install any ignition node from a 13+ ram, and it will automatically be told to recognize the programmed fob.

Jimmy07, Thank you. That gives me the info i need, We’ll work with that and see what happens and I’ll config the replacement BCM according to the express you told me about and see how it goes. I’ll drop you a PM if I need the tradesman config. Thank you for the help.

 

[ManualCummins]

I’ve got a BCM question
I’ve got a 2014 Cummins g56 truck
Could I installing 2018 bcm
It’s also a Cummins G56 truck

 

[firehawk618]

From what I have experienced so far you CANNOT over write a vin once a BCM has a vin in it.

In other words you can't change the vin once it's been programmed.

I'd love to know if there's something I have done wrong and it can be done.

 

[madtrucker2016]

Interesting to read but above my pay grade good luck to you all

 

[Jimmy07]

From what I have experienced so far you CANNOT over write a vin once a BCM has a vin in it.

In other words you can't change the vin once it's been programmed.

I'd love to know if there's something I have done wrong and it can be done.

There’s no need to program/write the vin. You just use AlfaOBD to manually configure each setting on the new bcm to match the old one, and it will work.

 

[firehawk618]

I see.

The only issue I can see so far is if you wanted to flash a vin with an updated calibration you'll have issues if it's the wrong vin.

 

[GordDavey]

The issues that you run into. If the BCM/Cluster/ECM have different VIN's, then the anti-theft will kick in, and I had no luck trying to clear that with Alfa. However, if there are different VIN's in the various components, trailer the vehicle to the dealer. get them to flash the truck. Then all the VIN's will match, and you can go on to make any Alfa changes you wish at that point. This is what I ended up having to do with my 2015 as we rebuilt it. We had mixes of 2014 and 2015 components, as we were getting various components from a wreckers, and struggled with the trucks anti-theft, but a dealer flash of the truck sorted out the VIN's and reset the flag in the RfHub and all was fine from then on.

As to whether or not a 2018 BCM will fit in a 2014... let alone work... no idea. FCA changes the shapes of the connectors and the keying tabs inside the connectors quite often, you'd have to see if the 2014 connectors would even fit into the 2018 BCM connectors. They can (but seem to rarely) move around what wire does what on each pin. There are also differences in security protocols between years. Such as things like door modules from a 2013 not working in a 2015, because the security protocol being used is different, which for me meant the doors wouldn't lock/unlock with the buttons. So even though all the connectors fit properly, the computer protocol was slightly different between the 2013 and 2015 door modules.

You may get lucky... you may not. Impossible to know unless the combination of truck and BCM has been tried... or your on the team that designs those computer modules. Personally... a year gap like that, to me, is unlikely to work out... but hey I'm no expert.

 

[Jimmy07]

I see.

The only issue I can see so far is if you wanted to flash a vin with an updated calibration you'll have issues if it's the wrong vin.

Now you’re talking a dealer flash, not AlfaOBD changes. Like GordDavey said, the dealer will definitely be able to set up the new BCM (or one from a different vehicle), because they just restore your vehicle configuration to it through dealer connect.
ManualCummins did end up successfully doing the swap, but it didn’t solve the issue he was hoping it would.

 

[Booms]

To the OP.

I have a locked 2015 BCM that I took out of my truck if you need it.

 

[firehawk618]

Now you’re talking a dealer flash, not AlfaOBD changes. Like GordDavey said, the dealer will definitely be able to set up the new BCM (or one from a different vehicle), because they just restore your vehicle configuration to it through dealer connect.
ManualCummins did end up successfully doing the swap, but it didn’t solve the issue he was hoping it would.

When I was programming modules with a Passthru tool + subscription to Techauthority and using WItech 2.0 I couldn't change any vins in modules.

I am not saying the dealer can't do it but am saying that with conventional tools and without full dealer access I don't see any way to do it.

I am going to get ahold of a used bcm, take it apart and see if I can dump / flash it at a component level.

 

[firehawk618]

To the OP.

I have a locked 2015 BCM that I took out of my truck if you need it.

How much shipped to 98223?

I am looking for a CHEAP one to take apart and see about flashing eeproms on my bench.

 

[Booms]

How much shipped to 98223?

You are *literally* the farthest away from Me you could possibly get, lol...

Let me check shipping.

 

[GordDavey]

Too bad your so far from me as well. I have a 2014 BCM and it’s matching rfHub. It would be great if we had someone who could figure out to resolve the vin writing and be able to reset an rfHub so it could be reused.

 

[firehawk618]

That's one of the things I'm trying to figure out. I need to have my hands on one to sacrifice and see what's going on inside there.

 

[Mordechai]

I know this thread is a bit old. But while ****** around with updating different modules, testing how they communicate with each other.. I ended up with a different current vin on my BCM.
The PCM had the original VIN currently, as well as the RF-Hub. No SKIM error. Most modules seem to update pretty quick. RA4 radio does not.

Also, "Last Programmed Status:" changed to "Automatic Backup" sometime during this. Was set to "Manufacturing" previously.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk

 

[wayned87]

I would like anyone's input on my situation regarding this. I understand when you have a bunch of different VIN's it will throw the anti-theft into play but, my situation...

I have a 2015 SLT that I have added a lot of stuff using AlfaOBD.

I came across a wrecked 2015 Laramie, and was able to purchase every module, harness, key fob, bcm, etc within the truck. Does anyone see a problem with "swapping" everything out? This will be all items basically inside the cab of the truck.

I will not be swapping anything to do with the airbags: sensors, module, etc.