naylahknee

My 2006 Chevy malibu has been losing engine power. The power reduces and then disables. I took it to Chevy to run diagnostic and OF COURSE they say we have to REPLACE the ECM and the Catalytic converter. I dont trust this at all because if the ECM needed replacement the car wouldnt start at all right? the tech says that he cant communicate with the ECM to download software and he also says that you cant rebuild an ECM. Should I get a second opinion? They are talking big money here and I know I can find these parts cheaper. Would it be better to replace it or salvage an ECM or catalytic converter?

2000Impalaspeeder

Your car doesnt need the Ecm and the Catylitic Converter, they just want to rip you off thats what Dealers do best in, from my knowledge if your car loses power that doesnt mean a car is going to need a Catalytic Converter the only time when the Catalytic Converter fails is when it rattles the sound is like if you have a can and theres rocks in it, thats a noice that would come from the Catalytic Converter that has failed. The Ecm doesnt have anything to do with a car thats losing power, it could be a Ignition Coil thats bad it can be a bad fuel Injector, bad Spark Plugs or Spark Plug Cables, the only way to tell whats wrong with the car is to connect a Scan Tool to check for Codes.

2000Impalaspeeder

I did some research based on the code that your car has and the what the Dealer told you about the Ecm that has to be changed its true it does have too be changed your code P0601 says that the Control Module is Malfuntioning, you could get a Ecm from a Salavge yard or check or from Parts Planet.com they have parts maybe you acn get it cheaper or try looking in a Salvage Yard.

HotSauce6226

BCM not ECM

HotSauce6226

And your car does need a CC. For emissions

2000Impalaspeeder

Its ECM thats what the discription of the code gives ECM not BCM.