PCM or ECM

[mpick819]

I have been told that my ECM is bad and needs to be replaced. That is why the Prom ID changes when scanned. I am not sure if this is correct or not and don't know how to test the ECM myself. So in calling around for a price to replace the ECM I had a fellow tell me I would be better off upgrading to the PCM from a 94 or 95 LT-1. It seems the major difference in cost will be the 400 dollars easy connect harness that I would have to buy to make the conversion.
Has anyone else been confronted with this and what do you suggest. I found this much easier when there were no ECM's or PCM's.

 

[Ken]

... I found this much easier when there were no ECM's or PCM's.

I hear ya Mike!

I'll be interested in the responses here too.

 

[mpick819]

Ken
did you get my email about the parts you have for sale. I was interested in the ECM's you have and what the difference was between them

Don't know "nuttin" about these da__ things

 

[Ken]

You should have received an e-mail to your regular e-mail address, stating that there was a message for you here in your private mail.

_ken

 

[mpick819]

I must have something setup wrong because I didn't get the regular email and I don't have a private message. And it doesn't have me showing as online with yahoo either

 

[Ken]

I received the Yahoo Instant Messenger notification that you added me as a "friend" and returned a reply accepting. You didn't get it? :confused

And you got no messages here or at the home e-mail address? :confused

 

[vettenick]

If you can be with out the ecm for a week, I can get it checked for you at no charge. If you were happy with the car the way it was why spend all that money, I don't think you'll see any more performance.

 

[mpick819]

Thanks Nick
I have a place in Texas that said if I send it to them they will check it the same day for free and send me the report. www.fulllogic.com And if it needs rebuilt they will rebuild it. If they fall thru I'll let you know and take you up on the offer.
It really seems that the school is out whether it will give me anymore performance so I have to conclude that if it does give me any better performance it will be limited. So now I am doing my research to see if A PCM is easier to learn to program than an ECM chip. and which requires the most equipment.
I plan on making a lot of modifications over the next year or so and I don't want to have to send it out to be reprogrammed each time so I am going to learn to do it myself. Plus I have a lot of friends that will probably want me to do theirs once I learn how.

It has been a while since I got into rebuilding a car and now that I have a vette again I am really starting to enjoy it again but I have a lot to learn about the new electronics. Luckily my mechanic nows most of it but he has never reprogrammed a computer yet either.

 

[vettenick]

I'm here if you need me.

 

[mpick819]

Thanks Nick but I think I found a company in Texas (www.fulllogic.com ) that will check it for free the same day they get it if I ship it to them and they will rebuild it or exchange it it necessary. If they can't do what they say I may take you up on the offer.

I have to agree with you though, it doesn't seem like a PCM will give me much, if any, additional performance.

But I am trying to find out if it is easier to reprogram a PCM than a An ECM. And does it take less equipment. I believe from what I have found out so far you can hook a laptop directly to a PCM and reprogam it and you have to buy a chip burner to reprogram the chip in AN ECM. But I haven't found anyone to talk to yet that has done both other than the shops and they all want me to send it to them.

I have plans for too many modifications in the near future to tolerate the time delays and the expense to send it out each time so I have decided to learn to program it my self.

Originally I just wanted to have a vette to drive again but I forgot how much I enjoyed trying to make it better and faster all the time. And since I haven't done it for some 20 years I have a lot to learn about the electronics. But sooner or later I will figure it out and then I will be able to make up my mind easier.
For right now though I can't make my mind up any better the my boss and she keeps saying lets just buy one you don't have to work on. Now what fun would that be. But I am going to find one for her thart doesn't need to be worked on.