[ESP]

Just returned from my local Jeep dealer to get an oil change. While I was there they told me that Chrysler has issued a free PCM (power control module) update for the Manual JKs. They said that this fixed a problem where the engine was not given enough gas to produce the correct amount of power. What I can tell after driving it is that everything feels much smoother and the gears especially feel better. Its a bit hard to explain but there has been a lot of talk on the WF lately about how people have trouble shifting between 1st and 2nd smoothly. Enough people asked who were experiencing this too so I thought I would post this info up.

After I got the update, every gear shifts smoothly and evenly. There is no catching or weird resistance between 1st and 2nd and my 6th gear is much more responsive. Actually, all gears have more power it feels like. I think that some of this was happening from the gears not receiving the proper amount of gas you thought you were giving when applying it during shifting. Also, the ECO mode that most people find amusing on Jeeps was taken off mine. The service department said that the recent Manual JKs should not have this option. It is only a working option for auto trannys and if you have the ECO light on yours and you have a manual, it will be taken off when you get the update.

Not sure yet but MPG seems to even be a bit better now as well. This might be all in my head but I'm getting 20.2 in the city with my stocker which is unreal. I've calculated this from miles driven and gallons used not just the reading on the dashboard. Thought I'd share. If any one has a new manual tranny JK and wants more info on this update with your dealer, make sure to contact them soon.

 

[MTH]

Very interesting. I'm going to check this out, thanks.

 

[ESP]

Here is the info about fixing the ECO meter on Manual JKs. This is copied from the service bulletin I received after having the PCM flashed for the update and for the fix for the ECO.

From the dealer:

Service Bulletin

This bulletin applies to all JK veheicles equipped with a 3.8L engine (sales code EGT) and a 6 speed manual transmission (sales code DEH) built before April 16th, 2010 (MDH 0416XX).

Symptom/Condition

The customer may notice that the fuel saver indicator light (FSI) is turning on and off. This engine and transmission combination on the vehicle was not designed to operate the FSI light as intended.

Updating the PCM software will turn off the FSI light, which will correct the conditions listed above.

 

[MTH]

Bumping this to note that I believe this thread and this thread (http://www.wranglerforum.com/f33/2010-rapid-response-10-066-ideas-67071.html) may be talking about the same thing.

In discussing another issue with Pato earlier this week, he noticed that my VIN was showing due for RRT #10-066, which sounds similar to what ESP observed here. I'm due to get mine flashed/updated/whatever this Saturday. Curious to see the results.

And wait, ESP did you say you're getting 20 mpg in the city?? I just did the math this morning based on my last two fill ups and figured out that I got on average (highway commute and around town on the weekend) 16.3 mpg over the past few days.

 

[ESP]

Glad to hear that you get to take yours in. I'm interested to see if another notices similar results afterward? Last fill up for me was 276 miles driven and 14 gallons used or 19.74 MPG in city. I was still seeing another 20+ miles on the DTE read out but filled up anyway. I'm gonna miss those numbers I'm sure once I get the MT tires on but that's not in my immediate future unfortunately. I'm a pretty slow driver and I shift as smoothly as possible consistently for every gear. Its pretty much ingrained into my driving style so it just seems normal to me after all these years instead of feeling like I'm making a special effort to conserve MPG. Are you going out to Selma this weekend? I don't know details quite yet but think there are quite a few getting together to wheel out there.

 

[MTH]

I can hardly ever afford to take a day to go play . . . leaving the 8 month pregnant wife home alone with two toddlers while I go muddin' and cleanin' for hours and hours.

BUT, once she's in good shape I'm going to convince her to COME and leave the critters with the grandparents! Then it won't be such a big deal that I need a few hours to clean up afterwards.

I was bummed this morning when I did the numbers myself. The magic computer had been telling me I was averaging about 17.5 to 18 mpg.

 

[ESP]

I used to get worse when I was running the Goodyear Duratracs. I was lucky to get above 16.7 or so. I also had the hard top on and was using the steel (heavier) wheels. Once I ditched the hard top and got the alloy wheels with the wrangler SR-A, my MPG went up like crazy. I will be getting some MT tires in the future but its really nice getting such great mileage for right now. I wish I had your tires on my JK. I love the BFGs and think once I get those on, then I can move on to bumper mods and such. Nothing serious but I want to add a light bar mount to the stock bumper and found a really good looking one.

 

[Droelle]

Just returned from my local Jeep dealer to get an oil change. While I was there they told me that Chrysler has issued a free PCM (power control module) update for the Manual JKs. They said that this fixed a problem where the engine was not given enough gas to produce the correct amount of power. What I can tell after driving it is that everything feels much smoother and the gears especially feel better. Its a bit hard to explain but there has been a lot of talk on the WF lately about how people have trouble shifting between 1st and 2nd smoothly. Enough people asked who were experiencing this too so I thought I would post this info up.

After I got the update, every gear shifts smoothly and evenly. There is no catching or weird resistance between 1st and 2nd and my 6th gear is much more responsive. Actually, all gears have more power it feels like. I think that some of this was happening from the gears not receiving the proper amount of gas you thought you were giving when applying it during shifting. Also, the ECO mode that most people find amusing on Jeeps was taken off mine. The service department said that the recent Manual JKs should not have this option. It is only a working option for auto trannys and if you have the ECO light on yours and you have a manual, it will be taken off when you get the update.

Not sure yet but MPG seems to even be a bit better now as well. This might be all in my head but I'm getting 20.2 in the city with my stocker which is unreal. I've calculated this from miles driven and gallons used not just the reading on the dashboard. Thought I'd share. If any one has a new manual tranny JK and wants more info on this update with your dealer, make sure to contact them soon.

I might have to go check that out. Plus I have a E brake problem. It wont hold my Jeep anymore on a incline. I can't leave in gear because I get up early and start her up in the morning to warm up. Plus my driveways at a slope there for I can't leave it in gear. So this more of a reason to go check it out.

Thanks for the notice.

Sent from my Droid using WF Access

 

[MTH]

I want to add a light bar mount to the stock bumper and found a really good looking one.

Pics? Identity?

Not to highjack, but hey, it's your thread anyway.

 

[ESP]

Here it is: Off Camber Fabrications 130716 - Off Camber Fabrications Frame Mount Light Bar for 07-11 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK - Quadratec

 

[MTH]

Here it is: Off Camber Fabrications 130716 - Off Camber Fabrications Frame Mount Light Bar for 07-11 Jeep® Wrangler & Wrangler Unlimited JK - Quadratec

Ahh yes, I've seen that one. Good look!

 

[tmoca]

Just returned from my local Jeep dealer to get an oil change. While I was there they told me that Chrysler has issued a free PCM (power control module) update for the Manual JKs. They said that this fixed a problem where the engine was not given enough gas to produce the correct amount of power. What I can tell after driving it is that everything feels much smoother and the gears especially feel better. Its a bit hard to explain but there has been a lot of talk on the WF lately about how people have trouble shifting between 1st and 2nd smoothly. Enough people asked who were experiencing this too so I thought I would post this info up.

After I got the update, every gear shifts smoothly and evenly. There is no catching or weird resistance between 1st and 2nd and my 6th gear is much more responsive. Actually, all gears have more power it feels like. I think that some of this was happening from the gears not receiving the proper amount of gas you thought you were giving when applying it during shifting. Also, the ECO mode that most people find amusing on Jeeps was taken off mine. The service department said that the recent Manual JKs should not have this option. It is only a working option for auto trannys and if you have the ECO light on yours and you have a manual, it will be taken off when you get the update.

Not sure yet but MPG seems to even be a bit better now as well. This might be all in my head but I'm getting 20.2 in the city with my stocker which is unreal. I've calculated this from miles driven and gallons used not just the reading on the dashboard. Thought I'd share. If any one has a new manual tranny JK and wants more info on this update with your dealer, make sure to contact them soon.

I just had this done today for an automatic JK. I too was in for just an oil change and they said they would do it. It slipped my mind to ask what issues it was addressing...anyway.

On my drive home I immediately noticed the acceleration/take off difference, so I hopped online to see what the update was for. Seems good to me.

I will have to watch my mileage and see if it makes a difference there too.

 

[ESP]

Interesting..I didn't know they would apply this update for the auto trannys too? Its seemed to me that they said it was only for the manuals but maybe it's for both. Not sure how it would affect the auto other than more power but it also made each of the gears in the manuals feel much more responsive.

 

[SilverFun]

I just had my PCM flashed/updated today and the shifting does seem smoother and the pickup seems more responsive. Everyone should have this done. I also thought it was for 6 speed manuals also.

 

[ESP]

Did you get yours done yet MTH?

 

[kik]

I just had my PCM flashed/updated today and the shifting does seem smoother and the pickup seems more responsive. Everyone should have this done. I also thought it was for 6 speed manuals also.

For JK's with an auto. trans. it will make the shift points feel "crisper". You don't get any more power out of a 3.8 than it already has. Responsive shifts are a good thing. As for the 6spd., I don't see how that can work because you obviously make your own shift points and the power you have is the power you get. With that said, if fuel delivery is re-calculated via a computer update then you would have the power you are supposed to have. As far as a manual shifting better, than can't happen with a computer tweak because it's mechanical. The only thing that can make it "feel better" possibly is if the rpm's are slightly increased by the flash so when you're shifting you don't feel as if the engine is dogging it. Since my 10 Rubi. 6spd runs great as far as gas mileage, overall smooth shifting cold or hot, etc. I think I'll go with if it ain't broke don't fix it. Thanks for the info. on this.

 

[MTH]

Did you get yours done yet MTH?

Yes, but I've been out of state so someone else brought it in for me and I haven't yet driven. I'm really looking forward to it though.

Since my 10 Rubi. 6spd runs great as far as gas mileage, overall smooth shifting cold or hot, etc. I think I'll go with if it ain't broke don't fix it.

You might want to call your dealer to see if your VIN is included. It might not be, but if it is, it'd be hard to see how the update would be bad!

 

[kik]

Yes, but I've been out of state so someone else brought it in for me and I haven't yet driven. I'm really looking forward to it though.



You might want to call your dealer to see if your VIN is included. It might not be, but if it is, it'd be hard to see how the update would be bad!

Thanks for the tip. Checked the web site and it was negative for my vin.

 

[Weed Hopper]

kik, what website did you check your vin at?

 

[MTH]

kik, what website did you check your vin at?

Good question--remember it's not a recall, it's an RRT. It won't show on any Jeep website I know of, but you might know of one I don't. Pato is the one who told me I was due for the update when he was looking up something else for me.