Part #56040942

Part number 56040942 is the OEM engine computer for the 1996 Ram Truck 8.0L Magnum V10, Chrysler's first year of OBD-II compliance on this platform. The PCM handles real-time closed-loop fuel control, misfire detection across all ten cylinders, evaporative emission system monitoring, and adaptive transmission line pressure management.

Every calibration in this group shares Chrysler hardware platform 05014153AA(96MDL). The module mounts on the driver-side inner fender, behind the battery tray, secured with factory bolts to a stamped steel bracket. Two multi-pin weatherpack connectors carry all sensor inputs and actuator outputs.

Each replacement unit is completely remanufactured: the original board is ultrasonically cleaned, failed components are replaced with updated parts where applicable, and every circuit is tested on a dedicated bench simulator that replicates real-world V10 operating conditions. The module is then programmed to your specific 17-digit VIN before it ships.

Replacing Part Number 56040942

Swap time is roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Start by disconnecting the battery. The PCM sits on the driver-side inner fender, behind the battery tray. Squeeze the locking tabs on each harness connector and pull them straight off, then unbolt the bracket. Mount the new module, reconnect both plugs, and reattach the battery. Since we flash the VIN, immobilizer codes, and calibration data before shipping, the truck starts immediately — no programming appointment needed.

Symptoms That Point to Part 56040942

When part number 56040942 fails on a 1996 Ram 8.0L V10, the truck typically shows one or more of these symptoms:

• Intermittent Stalling at Operating Temperature: The engine runs normally when cold but begins cutting out after reaching full operating temperature, sometimes restarting after a cool-down period of 20 to 30 minutes.
• Crank / No-Start Condition: The starter motor cranks the engine at normal speed but the engine will not fire due to loss of fuel injector pulse or ignition coil trigger signal from the PCM.
• OBD-II Scanner No-Communication: A handheld scan tool or shop diagnostic computer reports no communication when connected to the 16-pin data link connector under the dash, indicating the PCM is not responding on the J1850 data bus.
• Automatic Transmission Limp Mode: The four-speed automatic defaults to second or third gear and will not shift through all forward gears, often accompanied by the check engine light and transmission-related fault codes.

When Calibration 56040942 Was Issued

The stamp 56040942 identifies when in the 1996 model year this PCM calibration was released. The 5604094x stamps are near-final calibrations for the 1996 model year. Only the 5604098x series was issued after this group. It is the first of 4 stamps in the 5604094 group. The other numbers are 56040943, 56040944, 56040945.

Alternate Part Number Formats for 56040942

The eight-digit stamp 56040942 is written by other sources as P56040942 (P prefix), 056040942 (leading zero), and P056040942 (both). None of those spellings is a different PCM.

Salvage Interchange Numbers for 56040942

The Hollander cross-reference for part 56040942 is 590-04172 and 590-04173. Recyclers use those two numbers to catalog this V10 powertrain module. Confirm the label reads 56040942 before treating a yard unit as this calibration.

OBD-II Codes When 56040942 Fails

56040942 is stamp 1 of 4 in the 5604094 group. Shops working on this 5604094 calibration most often find the following OBD-II codes already stored:

• P1391 — Intermittent Loss of CKP or CMP: Chrysler's code for an intermittent loss of the crankshaft or camshaft position signal. On these eight-digit calibrations it is commonly stored when the PCM stops processing those inputs consistently.
• P1698 — No CCD Message from TCM: The PCM reports that no CCD-bus message is arriving from the transmission control side. On these calibrations the code is commonly stored when the module's own bus communication fails.

Emissions Certification for 56040942

This calibration meets Federal (50-state) emission standards for the 1996 model year. Part 56040942, stamp 1 of 4 in the 5604094 group, was certified under that 1996 federal standard.

Manufacturing Date Suffixes after 56040942

Chrysler used letter suffixes (AA, AB, AC, etc.) after the base number to indicate manufacturing date. All suffixes for 56040942 are functionally identical and interchangeable. The letters record when that individual module was built. 56040942AA and 56040942AB both order as 56040942.