Beginner Questions on Mopar TCM

**saleen8927** · 05-09-2009, 03:45 AM

I ordered a Mopar TCM today, it comes in next week, and I have some beginner questions I'm hoping some of you can answer....

1) how the heck do I install it? The dealer said it installs to the PCM, in the fuse box under the hood, but I don't see how to plug it in. Maybe it will become more obvious when I see the actual unit.

2) The description mentions that it makes Autostick more agressive, but does it also make D more aggressive? Specifically, will it downshift into a better gear? Truthfully the #1 biggest reason I'm buying it is because I can't stand that the car sometimes shifts into 3rd gear instead of 2nd at 60-70mph, and 2nd instead of 1st at around 40mph.... will this help, or is it really just stiffer shifts? Right now I do use Autostick, but I'd rather just mash the gas in D and have it pick the best gear for acceleration at any speed.

3) the dealer said they have to program it with my VIN and some other codes, etc....is this accurate? They said that would cost about $100.

4) On another thread, the adaptation process was explained, and there was a transmission temperature range that it had to be in - is tranny temp the same as coolant temp? If not, where do I find the tranny temp?

Thanks in advance, I know nothing about this thing, just that it sounds like something I want!

**Cam** · 05-09-2009, 03:54 AM

Damn, that dealer got's ya all mixed up dude.

First off, remove the lower kick panel below the steering wheel. The TCM is just left of center, you'll see the matching plugs facing you. Leave the stock unit in place, unplug and hook up your mopar TCm and shove it in the hole.

NOW, you do not need nor do you want to have the dealer flash any damn thing, stay away from them. If you do not own a Diablo Predator, you will need one no matter what.

With the Predator go into the "quick adjust" menu only. You need to do two things. One is to raise your shift points and two, change the final drive ratio to 3.06.

Do not for any reason EVER make any changes to you tune outside of the quick adjust menu with the mopar TCM plugged in.

IT WILL BLOW IT OUT.

Other than that, just go have fun.

**metgo** · 05-09-2009, 05:04 AM

This might help
Transmission Control Module (TCM) Location and Access *

**saleen8927** · 05-09-2009, 09:01 AM

Thanks, Cam - I figured it had to be easier than the dealer suggested...

metgo - that's a great thread, that'll make it cake to install.

**Adanac Charger** · 05-09-2009, 09:50 AM

Cam's advice is bang on. Install is much easier than all of the instructions make it out to be.

After install, I just drove easy until the car was at 'normal' operating temperature and went through the learning process on a local backroad. Per the instructions, coast down through the gears and upshift through the gears many times and then go for a long drive. For the next few days I Autosticked it all of the time and drove it hard so that it learned to be aggressive... The MTCM is a worthwhile upgrade.

Installation guide... http://www.moparsupercenter.com/pdfs/P5153332.pdf

**GasGunR** · 05-10-2009, 11:50 AM

Do I NEED to raise the shift points Cam?

Just plugged mine in...

Originally Posted by Cam

Damn, that dealer got's ya all mixed up dude.

First off, remove the lower kick panel below the steering wheel. The TCM is just left of center, you'll see the matching plugs facing you. Leave the stock unit in place, unplug and hook up your mopar TCm and shove it in the hole.

NOW, you do not need nor do you want to have the dealer flash any damn thing, stay away from them. If you do not own a Diablo Predator, you will need one no matter what.

With the Predator go into the "quick adjust" menu only. You need to do two things. One is to raise your shift points and two, change the final drive ratio to 3.06.

Do not for any reason EVER make any changes to you tune outside of the quick adjust menu with the mopar TCM plugged in.

IT WILL BLOW IT OUT.

Other than that, just go have fun.

**Trojan** · 05-10-2009, 11:56 AM

I would not raise shift points!!! There already raised in the MTCM, If you raise them you alter the MTCM, if you try and UNRAISE them, you flash the MTCM and then its a stock TCM, Un-doing raised shift points will flash the MTCM to stock settings, The MTCM flash will dissapear into thin air, You cant fix it!

**Maistro69** · 05-10-2009, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Trojan

I would not raise shift points!!! There already raised in the MTCM, If you raise them you alter the MTCM, if you try and UNRAISE them, you flash the MTCM and then its a stock TCM, Un-doing raised shift points will flash the MTCM to stock settings, The MTCM flash will dissapear into thin air, You cant fix it!

WTF so it just becomes a very expensive paper weight? I'm glad I never got one then. I have the original TCM from 06 that was never flashed so it will never upshift. It'll bang on the rev limiter all day with no limp mode and no upshift. From what I've read it's close to how the MTCM works anybody know if thats true or not?

**Trojan** · 05-10-2009, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Maistro69

WTF so it just becomes a very expensive paper weight? I'm glad I never got one then. I have the original TCM from 06 that was never flashed so it will never upshift. It'll bang on the rev limiter all day with no limp mode and no upshift. From what I've read it's close to how the MTCM works anybody know if thats true or not?

Not quite a peper weight, More like a carbon copy of a stock TCM! Anytime you try and un do a tranni setting from the predator is takes it back to a stock unit.

**InferAl** · 05-10-2009, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Maistro69

WTF so it just becomes a very expensive paper weight? I'm glad I never got one then. I have the original TCM from 06 that was never flashed so it will never upshift. It'll bang on the rev limiter all day with no limp mode and no upshift. From what I've read it's close to how the MTCM works anybody know if thats true or not?

Not shifting in autostick is the only thing your stock TCM has in common with the MTCM

The MTCM raises line pressure and locks the converter usually between the 1-2 shift

**Trojan** · 05-10-2009, 12:52 PM

The stock TCM shifts in auto-stick mode? it does not hold a gear. Otherwise stock cars ould be bangin off the rev limiter due to folks not knowing, My wifes 300C shifts at 6200 wether in D or auto stick.
I can change that with the predator to auto hold but the wifey would just freak out!

**Peter Parker** · 05-10-2009, 12:55 PM

06 Stock tcms did bang on the limiter if you didn't get the oem tcm tsb dealer flash. I had it done on mine since the tach couldn't keep up (still can't) and I didn't like it bouncing. Doesn't the other tranni modes on the diablo still allow you to keep that gear hold function though with the stock tcm?