'98 LS1 PCM... A4 to M6
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'98 LS1 PCM... A4 to M6 I had a '98 Trans Am LS1/A4 car that was the donor car for my swap into my 3rd gen. I'm using a 6-speed instead of the auto. I thought you could just reprogram the '98 PCM for a M6 instead of an A4. Someone told me this might not be possible and I'll have to get a M6 PCM to start with? Any truth to this? If we can just tune my A4 PCM that would be best. Please let me know.
Thanks!
-Jeremy
Thanks!
-Jeremy
You can reprogram it for an a4 but you can just drive it for awhile with out tuneing it you will just have some lights and you need to leave plugin unhooked that contrl the shifting becuse it will lock you out of some gears.
Looks like it can't be done on 98's.
Here's the response from Chris @ hpt.
Hi all,
It is VERY important that you write your VCM with a binary file that is based on the file you initially read from the VCM.
It is also VERY important that if you use another tool to modify the VCM in any way that you re-read the VCM and begin using the new file as the basis of any further mods.
DO NOT:
- write a binary that came from another VCM
- write a binary file that has been created or modified using another software package
So what happens if you do this?
1. If you write an Operating System that is not the same as yours and VCM Flash doesn't catch it - VCM WILL BE FRIED (note: we have checks in place but there more chance of problems on 98 V8 VCMs due to less checks available)
2. There is a chance that the VCM checksum will become corrupted and the engine will not run (generally you will be able to recover the VCM by loading the last know good file back into the PCM using VCM Flash, although this is not guaranteed - we have 100% recovery rate in development testing).
Why is this important?
We have made VCM Flash as robust as possible for these non-segmented binaries by only writing non-critical flash segments, to allow VCM recovery in case of various write failure sceanrio's (such as PC loss of power, baterry low voltage etc.). Above all, we have designed it to work in harmony with VCM Editor such that VCM Recovery is possible in almost all cases.
Here's the response from Chris @ hpt.
Hi all,
It is VERY important that you write your VCM with a binary file that is based on the file you initially read from the VCM.
It is also VERY important that if you use another tool to modify the VCM in any way that you re-read the VCM and begin using the new file as the basis of any further mods.
DO NOT:
- write a binary that came from another VCM
- write a binary file that has been created or modified using another software package
So what happens if you do this?
1. If you write an Operating System that is not the same as yours and VCM Flash doesn't catch it - VCM WILL BE FRIED (note: we have checks in place but there more chance of problems on 98 V8 VCMs due to less checks available)
2. There is a chance that the VCM checksum will become corrupted and the engine will not run (generally you will be able to recover the VCM by loading the last know good file back into the PCM using VCM Flash, although this is not guaranteed - we have 100% recovery rate in development testing).
Why is this important?
We have made VCM Flash as robust as possible for these non-segmented binaries by only writing non-critical flash segments, to allow VCM recovery in case of various write failure sceanrio's (such as PC loss of power, baterry low voltage etc.). Above all, we have designed it to work in harmony with VCM Editor such that VCM Recovery is possible in almost all cases.
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From: St.Louis, Missouri
Well, I don't want to fry my damn PCM. I don't know what to do... this really sucks. Anyone else have any ideas?
C_B64- Did you do this yourself? If not, who did it and how much?
Thanks!
C_B64- Did you do this yourself? If not, who did it and how much?
Thanks!
It will work. I had a PCM that was fried by a Hypertech AND the wrong transmission. I just found what I believed to be the corresponding OS revision for the A4, and burned it to the box. It worked like a charm. I'd try to find the most similar OS revision you can for the best results, and do a full OS rewrite (if your software gives the option).
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You can drive it but you will be throwing codes, and dont plug in the skip shift in(that sucked). I had mine tuned by Texas Speed, talk to Jason, he is an awsome guy and will get you hooked up. Just make sure to tell him that you need the pcm flashed to a 6 speed, then you will be set.
Justin
Justin
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Originally Posted by SmokingWS6
Looks like it can't be done on 98's.
Here's the response from Chris @ hpt.
Hi all,
It is VERY important that you write your VCM with a binary file that is based on the file you initially read from the VCM.
It is also VERY important that if you use another tool to modify the VCM in any way that you re-read the VCM and begin using the new file as the basis of any further mods.
DO NOT:
- write a binary that came from another VCM
- write a binary file that has been created or modified using another software package
So what happens if you do this?
1. If you write an Operating System that is not the same as yours and VCM Flash doesn't catch it - VCM WILL BE FRIED (note: we have checks in place but there more chance of problems on 98 V8 VCMs due to less checks available)
2. There is a chance that the VCM checksum will become corrupted and the engine will not run (generally you will be able to recover the VCM by loading the last know good file back into the PCM using VCM Flash, although this is not guaranteed - we have 100% recovery rate in development testing).
Why is this important?
We have made VCM Flash as robust as possible for these non-segmented binaries by only writing non-critical flash segments, to allow VCM recovery in case of various write failure sceanrio's (such as PC loss of power, baterry low voltage etc.). Above all, we have designed it to work in harmony with VCM Editor such that VCM Recovery is possible in almost all cases.
Here's the response from Chris @ hpt.
Hi all,
It is VERY important that you write your VCM with a binary file that is based on the file you initially read from the VCM.
It is also VERY important that if you use another tool to modify the VCM in any way that you re-read the VCM and begin using the new file as the basis of any further mods.
DO NOT:
- write a binary that came from another VCM
- write a binary file that has been created or modified using another software package
So what happens if you do this?
1. If you write an Operating System that is not the same as yours and VCM Flash doesn't catch it - VCM WILL BE FRIED (note: we have checks in place but there more chance of problems on 98 V8 VCMs due to less checks available)
2. There is a chance that the VCM checksum will become corrupted and the engine will not run (generally you will be able to recover the VCM by loading the last know good file back into the PCM using VCM Flash, although this is not guaranteed - we have 100% recovery rate in development testing).
Why is this important?
We have made VCM Flash as robust as possible for these non-segmented binaries by only writing non-critical flash segments, to allow VCM recovery in case of various write failure sceanrio's (such as PC loss of power, baterry low voltage etc.). Above all, we have designed it to work in harmony with VCM Editor such that VCM Recovery is possible in almost all cases.
let me rephrase what hes saying.
lets pretend this grid (look at the attached pic) is the memory in your PCM.
some is empty... some is the program (red) and some is data (green)...
when you edit with HPtuners, you take that whole stock grid.. with its program and data, everything, and make a .bin file.
then the editer changes only the GREEN data parts.
then the flash tool NORMALLY only writes back out thoes green parts.
but what happens if you try to write the green parts of this other bin?(modified one on the pic)
you can see how its almost the same, but some areas, it would write data over the program!!
that could make ANYTHING happen..
so, if you're going to flash another bin onto the PCM, you need to flash ENTIRE PCM... its a option right there to choose... then the red and green areas are written, and it works. (assuming that BIN works for that PCM and pinout)
that make more sense?
I used HPTuners to turn off all the Aa4 references on our 1998 Z28 that was originally a 4L60e, but now is a TH400. Just turn off all the Transmission codes or do an entire Re-Write with a manual 1998 F-body.
