Removing arrow pcm

**Vibert** · 07-31-2016

I had the arrow PCM installed a couple weeks ago. Only has about 80 miles on it. Car has 5k on it. This forum has me freaked out. I know that I can swap it back myself.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's just a matter of disconnecting the battery, removing the arrow PCM, plugging in stock PCM, and reconnecting battery. Any important details to know?

Also, I checked moparownersconnect.com and it lists a service date with Tomball Dodge on the date I purchased the PCM. Strange, being the car has never been out of state.

**Dman** · 07-31-2016

Yep. That's it. Takes 5 mins tops.

Any reason in particular to pull it at this point? If you drive 1 mile with it then they can tell you had one in. Might as well enjoy it.

**swexlin** · 07-31-2016

Since you bought the PCM from Tomball, they input into the system as a "service".

**Voice of Reason** · 07-31-2016

If the Arrow PCM is now an official kiss of death for warranties yours is already gone, the service is visible in your VIN history and mileage will forever be different between the factory PCM and car.

**Vibert** · 07-31-2016

Well ding dang. It's a mere 80 miles out of 5000. Crap. Triple crap.

**FLATOUT** · 07-31-2016

Originally Posted by Vibert

I had the arrow PCM installed a couple weeks ago. Only has about 80 miles on it. Car has 5k on it. This forum has me freaked out. I know that I can swap it back myself.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it's just a matter of disconnecting the battery, removing the arrow PCM, plugging in stock PCM, and reconnecting battery. Any important details to know?

Also, I checked moparownersconnect.com and it lists a service date with Tomball Dodge on the date I purchased the PCM. Strange, being the car has never been out of state.

Yes the date you purchased the PCM is in our system as a parts sale only.

**7TH_SIGN** · 07-31-2016

Just leave it on. If your motor fails it will be due to the factories improper assembly and quality control, not the Arrow PCM. Chrysler already has record of it being on the car should the motor fail, even if you did have it on for 80 miles they will still attempt to not cover you and you will be forced to go through the same legal process for them to do so. Disc didn't have the Arrow PCM on his car when his motor failed and they still wouldn't cover it.

But its up to you. I still have mine on and won't be taking it off.

**Arizona Vipers** · 07-31-2016

Originally Posted by Dman

Yep. That's it. Takes 5 mins tops.

I thought the dealer had to do something. I think something to do with the throttle position sensor?

**FLATOUT** · 07-31-2016

Originally Posted by Arizona Vipers

I thought the dealer had to do something. I think something to do with the throttle position sensor?

Only when it's installed the first time.

**SRT BILL** · 07-31-2016

I also have purchased the Arrow PCM, however have not had it installed. Not sure what to do at this point. I guess I'll just wait a while until I get comfortable with the idea of going forward and having it installed.

**Arizona Vipers** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by FLATOUT

Only when it's installed the first time.

Ok, so once the dealer installs the Arrow PCM, we can switch back and forth between the factory and arrow PCM's without any issues?

Thanks.

**edc** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by Voice of Reason

and mileage will forever be different between the factory PCM and car.

So, if I install the Arrow PCM at 1000 miles...then at 8000 miles decide to return the car to stock and sell it, the car would only show 1000?

**Arizona Vipers** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by edc

So, if I install the Arrow PCM at 1000 miles...then at 8000 miles decide to return the car to stock and sell it, the car would only show 1000?

LOL. No.

**Vipes** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by edc

So, if I install the Arrow PCM at 1000 miles...then at 8000 miles decide to return the car to stock and sell it, the car would only show 1000?

Yes but not in the odometer, he's taking about milage logged in the pcm? That brings up another valid thought to those buying used cars. There will be a lot of these situations where the car will be put back to stock without the new buyer even knowing they just bought a car with a tanted warranty.

**Arizona Vipers** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by Vipes

That brings up another valid thought to those buying used cars. There will be a lot of these situations where the car will be put back to stock without the new buyer even knowing they just bought a car with a tanted warranty.

Wow. Yeah. Then what? Could you imagine buying the car of your dreams, a slightly used Gen 5 with super low miles, then the motor spins a bearing while you are on your way to the grocery store to get milk and eggs and then your local service rep at the Dodge dealer asks you to write a $28,000 check because the car at one time had an aftermarket part installed that you didn't know about? The ONLY good thing about all this for me is that there will be much less 2017 Viper's purchased making my 2016 ACR much rarer... Man that's sad.... If Chrysler was smart they'd pay Arrow money to make their computer free and we'd all install one and Chrysler wouldn't have to spend another dime on powertrain warranty claims. LOL

**swexlin** · 08-01-2016

My car is 100% stock, and staying that way. It is way more car than I can drive in its stock form. I've modded cars slightly in the past, but not this one.

**GTS Dean** · 08-01-2016

That's just the way the government and the manufacturer want it.

**Arizona Vipers** · 08-01-2016

For me, modding a car is the fun part. I think most people that buy Viper's (and all performance/specialty cars) enjoy researching parts and modifying their cars, either for performance, or looks or both.

**Coloviper** · 08-01-2016

But something to be said for longevity and reliability before you even monkey with modifying it. The previous GENs have been pretty damn rock solid. I owned a GEN III new and this used GEN 1.5 now and they both have been rock solid. The GEN Vs are frustratingly hit or miss it appears anyway. Despite putting my money aside to hopefully buy a future used GEN V, the various forum threads piling up have got me spooked pretty bad at the moment to where, despite loving the car in every way, I just don't want to chance it and I can not afford a new one before they end in 2017. Used market after warranty, so no warranty used ones, you still have to worry about this phantom engine reliability issue upfront, even if Dodge no longer warranties it. It is just scary stuff for used owners to deal with. I am not a chicken little kind of guy but it sure seems not worth the hassle for such an expensive car. Longevity and reliability were always the Viper's best selling points prior.

**The_Ruski_Driver** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by Coloviper

But something to be said for longevity and reliability before you even monkey with modifying it. The previous GENs have been pretty damn rock solid. I owned a GEN III new and this used GEN 1.5 now and they both have been rock solid. The GEN Vs are frustratingly hit or miss it appears anyway. Despite putting my money aside to hopefully buy a future used GEN V, the various forum threads piling up have got me spooked pretty bad at the moment to where, despite loving the car in every way, I just don't want to chance it and I can not afford a new one before they end in 2017. Used market after warranty, so no warranty used ones, you still have to worry about this phantom engine reliability issue upfront, even if Dodge no longer warranties it. It is just scary stuff for used owners to deal with. I am not a chicken little kind of guy but it sure seems not worth the hassle for such an expensive car. Longevity and reliability were always the Viper's best selling points prior.

I really don't think it's as big of a deal as this forum makes it out to be. Back in my C6Z06 days you'd think every single Z was going to drop a valve but guess what, I drove it hard for 2 years and hit the track with it without a hiccup. A few threads shouldn't steer you away from owning the greatest car America has ever built.

**Terminator02** · 08-01-2016

Originally Posted by Coloviper

But something to be said for longevity and reliability before you even monkey with modifying it. The previous GENs have been pretty damn rock solid. I owned a GEN III new and this used GEN 1.5 now and they both have been rock solid. The GEN Vs are frustratingly hit or miss it appears anyway. Despite putting my money aside to hopefully buy a future used GEN V, the various forum threads piling up have got me spooked pretty bad at the moment to where, despite loving the car in every way, I just don't want to chance it and I can not afford a new one before they end in 2017. Used market after warranty, so no warranty used ones, you still have to worry about this phantom engine reliability issue upfront, even if Dodge no longer warranties it. It is just scary stuff for used owners to deal with. I am not a chicken little kind of guy but it sure seems not worth the hassle for such an expensive car. Longevity and reliability were always the Viper's best selling points prior.

These issues aren't about reliability and longevity it's a manufacturing defect affecting some cars. I'd venture to say when it's all sorted out, the cars on the used market that are good motors will be stronger, more reliable and have just as much longevity as a gen ll. How many gen ll engines lost their harmonic balancers which affected the crank requiring either a rebuild or having the balancer pinned? Quite a few. It is a cheap fix but it affected a fair number of engines and some people just rebuilt the small block. I'm sure some viper historians can recall many more issues that were potentially very costly. It's sad that the gen V motor which really is a long evolution of changes from the gen l is having these problems but it's seeming to be a problem with the assembly and contamination of some sort and not some weak engine. There will be plenty of 100k mile motors on the gen V as it's more liveable than other generations.

I'd disagree longevity and reliability were ever vipers best selling points. Look at all the under 10k vipers that are 20 years old on the market at any given time. The majority of owners don't watch their car tick past 20k on the odometer and they average 2k miles a year. I'd venture to say most buyers are attracted to the awesome lines of the car, and excellent performance per dollar. The real enthusiasts appreciate a rich racing history and the reliability, relatively cheap cost of ownership and longevity of the engine though.

There are people running heads cam exhaust at 15k+ miles without even a hiccup right now and I really think this Is the best viper motor to be engineered by SRT. On the same token I do think it's one of the poorest oversights of QC when it came down to likely station contamination that affected a few motors as well.

**repiV** · 08-02-2016

If you're looking at a used GenV is there a way to tell if the PCM is stock or the Arrow one by looking at it? I've never seen one so I don't know if it's labeled or not.

**Special Ed** · 08-02-2016

Originally Posted by repiV

If you're looking at a used GenV is there a way to tell if the PCM is stock or the Arrow one by looking at it? I've never seen one so I don't know if it's labeled or not.

The arrow pcm is labeled. You can see the label just below the black box connector in the engine compartment on the driver side behind the left front tire well. I don't recall if it can be removed from the pcm.