New computer...New problems?

[fifteenhundred]

Hi everyone,
I recently bought a refurbished/reprogrammed powertrain control module (PCM) online in response to a check engine light code of p0601. After installation, the check engine light went off. However, at random times now while driving, the engine will turn off. I can immediately crank the engine back up and start driving and make it home without it happening again. I've read previous forums on the pcm and I'm NOT having the "no bus" error reading on the odometer.

So, I'm wondering if

1)the PCM isn't programmed right and should be returned
OR
2)the now working PCM is gathering data, something else is not working, and the PCM is shutting the engine off....is this even a possible explanation?

Has anyone had this problem? Thanks for reading!

 

[quietpeen]

welcome to rf. Hopefully somebody that knows can chime on on this

 

[Johnn123]

Is there any symptoms before it quits out? Does it do it only under certain circumstances? It could be the pcm not programmed right as you said.

 

[fifteenhundred]

There would be no symptoms before the engine quit. I actually ended up putting the old PCM back in. The day before I sent the "new" one back, the frequency of the engine cut-outs increased dramatically. I was driving in my neighborhood and the engine cut off three times within in 10 minutes.

So I'd like the check engine light to go off, but I also need to drive the car. Luckily, I don't live in an emissions state so it's not a pressing issue. (That is, I don't think it's a pressing issue; I've been driving several years with this p0601 error.) I guess I'm not sure how important it is for the pcm to work. Is it for the sake of fuel efficiency or something more major?