Fried PCM

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 27, 2007 | 09:15 AM

jaywalkersw

Thread Starter

On The Tree

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 177

Likes: 0

From: San Antonio, TX

Fried PCM

So I was doing some minor maintenance on my car yesterday specifically pulling my coolant level sensor and cleaning it. Then I decided I would change my shift points using my superchips handheld tuner. First flash went well but things were still not quite where I wanted them so I decided to flash it one more time. I plugged in the tuner and things were going well but then I got an error..not sure what happened I have done this many times so wasn't paying as much attention as I should have. At this point I get a littke worried but not to much and plug in the tuner and attempt to flash again but this time tuner says no response from PCM...crap. Now I am worried so I try a few more times and get same message. Then I disconnect my neg term on my battery and let it set about an hour, so I can go brake the news to my wife. Oh btw before I disconnected the battery I tried starting and nothing...start would just fire but no crank at all. So after an hour I reconnect my battery and try to start it again. The starter fires, car cranks, car starts, car runs for 5 seconds then dies with or without throttle.

So I am certain the PCM is bricked and am sending it to MadZ28 to get recovered today.

Has anyone else ever bricked their PCM while tuning, specifically using a handheld? Also should I risk trying to use my handheld programmer again since I am not sure at what point in the programming cycle things went awry? Or should I just wait till I get more upgrades and then get a real tune done later and run stock for now?

Thanks.

Sep 27, 2007 | 09:34 AM

01WS6/tamu

TECH Senior Member

iTrader: (37)

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 5,121

Likes: 74

From: somewhere in TX

Junk the superchips tuner and have him put a full tune in for you. There is the possibility it may be unsaveable.

Sep 27, 2007 | 11:07 AM

koolaid_kid

TECH Junkie

iTrader: (21)

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 3,023

Likes: 1

From: Indianapolis

I have seen one turned into a brick using a laptop (not a handheld). The laptop lost battery power during the programming of the PCM, and that was it.

Personally, I would sell the handheld and invest in real progamming software for your PC. It is far more versatile and useful, although the learning curve is a bit steep. JMHO.

Sep 27, 2007 | 04:00 PM

Doc

FormerVendor

iTrader: (9)

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 1,573

Likes: 0

From: Jacksonville, Fl

Did you check the pcm fuse?

Sep 27, 2007 | 04:29 PM

slow

TECH Senior Member

iTrader: (7)

Joined: Dec 2001

Posts: 6,150

Likes: 7

From: Orlando

I have killed a few, and fixed most of them, a chip programmer, and a soldering iron help

Sep 27, 2007 | 04:38 PM

Mike@ZMS

Banned

iTrader: (10)

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 491

Likes: 0

From: Torrance, CA

If it were the PCM, the car wouldnt even fire and run at all... it would just crank.

The PCM is fuxxord.

HPTuners FTMFW!

Sep 27, 2007 | 04:53 PM

98_Formula

TECH Fanatic

iTrader: (15)

Joined: Apr 2005

Posts: 1,058

Likes: 0

From: West Seneca, NY

superchips did the same thing to my car.. get rid of it. sell it or junk it who cares... get a dyno tune and be done.

i have a superchips tuner somone can have for free just pay for the shiping i don't even wanna look at the thing again.