04 to 03 computer swap

03_100th · May 16th, 2010, 07:30 PM

I was wondering if there is any problem with using a 2004 ECM in a 2003 and vice versa. They are both manual trans and 4.6's. The reason I am asking this? I bought a Vortech SQ kit off of this guy I know. I had to swap my stock parts to his car because he did not have any of it. I have an SCT Livewire that I will be getting a custom tune for sometime this week. The problem is once I put his car back to stock it runs real bad, will hardly stay running. I am thinking that since the Blower was on it there is something done to the computer. I know that when you buy the kits you have to send your ECM to Vortech to have them modify it. Does anyone know what exactly they do to it? There is no module plugged into it at all. Does Vortech reflash them? Anyway, I was thinking that to get around this problem I could put my computer (2003) in his car (2004) and vice versa so I can get his car running correctly.

I know this is long....but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Bullitt5339 · May 16th, 2010, 07:34 PM

The only problem I see is with the PATS, it has to match up with the gauge cluster in the car. If you disable the PATS, it should be just fine.

03_100th · May 16th, 2010, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Bullitt5339

The only problem I see is with the PATS, it has to match up with the gauge cluster in the car. If you disable the PATS, it should be just fine.

Is it hard to disable it? Or would changing out the whole cluster work better?

Bullitt5339 · May 16th, 2010, 07:44 PM

Changing the cluster with the car that the ECU came out of is an option, but it's not hard to disable PATS with the LiveWire, I'm sure.

03_100th · May 16th, 2010, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by Bullitt5339

Changing the cluster with the car that the ECU came out of is an option, but it's not hard to disable PATS with the LiveWire, I'm sure.

yeah, only thing is I would need to disable it on his car also. How do I do that?

Bullitt5339 · May 16th, 2010, 07:49 PM

then I'd just swap gauge clusters. I thought the ECU was coming out of a parts car.

Bullitt5339 · May 16th, 2010, 07:52 PM

If the mileage is considerably different between the cars, you can just swap out the PATS boards on the back of the cluster also, forgot about that.

03_100th · May 16th, 2010, 07:56 PM

Originally Posted by Bullitt5339

If the mileage is considerably different between the cars, you can just swap out the PATS boards on the back of the cluster also, forgot about that.

Cool, that may be the best option. That is the only board that needs to be swapped? Is it separate from the actual board for the cluster?

Thanks for your help on this.....

dcook_14 · May 17th, 2010, 10:36 AM

If you're going to swap everything over you're going to have to swap ignitions too. The key is chipped with the PATS code too, so that needs to match the cluster and the PCM.

Or you could just tell the guy to spend some money and talk to a tuner like Joe at Trick Tuners and get him to write a tune for a stock GT.

May 16th, 2010, 07:30 PM	#1
03_100th Newbie 2011 Mustang GT 5.0 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 34 iTrader: 0 reviews	04 to 03 computer swap I was wondering if there is any problem with using a 2004 ECM in a 2003 and vice versa. They are both manual trans and 4.6's. The reason I am asking this? I bought a Vortech SQ kit off of this guy I know. I had to swap my stock parts to his car because he did not have any of it. I have an SCT Livewire that I will be getting a custom tune for sometime this week. The problem is once I put his car back to stock it runs real bad, will hardly stay running. I am thinking that since the Blower was on it there is something done to the computer. I know that when you buy the kits you have to send your ECM to Vortech to have them modify it. Does anyone know what exactly they do to it? There is no module plugged into it at all. Does Vortech reflash them? Anyway, I was thinking that to get around this problem I could put my computer (2003) in his car (2004) and vice versa so I can get his car running correctly. I know this is long....but any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

May 17th, 2010, 10:36 AM	#9
dcook_14 Banned 2004 Mustang GT 12.35@114.08 w/ 1.88 60' Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Waterloo, IA Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 2 iTrader: 7 reviews	If you're going to swap everything over you're going to have to swap ignitions too. The key is chipped with the PATS code too, so that needs to match the cluster and the PCM. Or you could just tell the guy to spend some money and talk to a tuner like Joe at Trick Tuners and get him to write a tune for a stock GT. __________________ Do the Right Thing, Cook. ~Zip.

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May 16th, 2010, 07:34 PM	#2
Bullitt5339 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Bullitt 12.25@110.4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,599 iTrader: 1 reviews	The only problem I see is with the PATS, it has to match up with the gauge cluster in the car. If you disable the PATS, it should be just fine.

May 16th, 2010, 07:44 PM	#4
Bullitt5339 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Bullitt 12.25@110.4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,599 iTrader: 1 reviews	Changing the cluster with the car that the ECU came out of is an option, but it's not hard to disable PATS with the LiveWire, I'm sure.

May 16th, 2010, 07:49 PM	#6
Bullitt5339 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Bullitt 12.25@110.4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,599 iTrader: 1 reviews	then I'd just swap gauge clusters. I thought the ECU was coming out of a parts car.

May 16th, 2010, 07:52 PM	#7
Bullitt5339 Hardcore Enthusiast 2001 Bullitt 12.25@110.4 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 2,599 iTrader: 1 reviews	If the mileage is considerably different between the cars, you can just swap out the PATS boards on the back of the cluster also, forgot about that.

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