Buying a pcm , what to do after

[LT_juan]

Looked into buying a pcm for my 1996 trans am. Everything says that vehicle specific tuning must be done in order to avoid starting and drivability issues, when I receive it. Any idea on what needs to be done to it? Can I just get a pcm from a junkyard and swap it out as long as its for my auto trans and a 1996 car?

[96lt1m6]

I have my pcm tuned by WWW.madtuner.com for bolt ons 6speed, OBD2 it has the spec sheet with it from madtuner I have it up for sale for 125.00 shipped

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[LT_juan]

I'm auto

[Ghettogmc23]

I think it would be fine as long as you get same trans and its 96 or 97. VATS shouldn't affect it as long as the car doesn't have a body control module, sorry don't know much about the obd2 camaros lol. I know blazers didnt get the bcm til 98+ so maybe only LS camaros have that issue. Also keep in mind that you have to match rear end gears or your speedo will be off. So year, trans, and gears. Everything else should be universal between them all.
Hope that helps a bit...

[LT_juan]

I think it would be fine as long as you get same trans and its 96 or 97. VATS shouldn't affect it as long as the car doesn't have a body control module, sorry don't know much about the obd2 camaros lol. I know blazers didnt get the bcm til 98+ so maybe only LS camaros have that issue. Also keep in mind that you have to match rear end gears or your speedo will be off. So year, trans, and gears. Everything else should be universal between them all.
Hope that helps a bit...

Yes. Thank you. Very helpful. Ill get the rpo code for the gears and head to the junk yard.

[LT_juan]

I think it would be fine as long as you get same trans and its 96 or 97. VATS shouldn't affect it as long as the car doesn't have a body control module, sorry don't know much about the obd2 camaros lol. I know blazers didnt get the bcm til 98+ so maybe only LS camaros have that issue. Also keep in mind that you have to match rear end gears or your speedo will be off. So year, trans, and gears. Everything else should be universal between them all.
Hope that helps a bit...

Yes. Thank you. Very helpful. Ill get the rpo code for the gears and head to the junk yard.

[Injuneer]

The PCM is looking for a frequency signal from the VATS system, in all years. 96/97 have a BCM to provide the signal. But I BELIEVE the frequency signal should be the same 96/97. The BCM has to read the key resistor, but as long as you don't change the BCM, I think you should be OK.

If you find a PCM that doesn't match your auto trans, you can have it flashed with an A4 program.

[LT_juan]

Hmm. Ok. Thanks for the info.

[Spartan7]

96 and 97 have different part numbers, but they're pretty much the same. I have a 96 PCM in my 97 with no issues, I did have it re-flashed with the proper VIN though.

[LT_juan]

What is the purpose of flashing it for the right vin?

[popo8]

Every time u change something....and load it into the cars computer... u are "flashing" it


Larry (Popo8) Co-owner
LTXtech.com

[Spartan7]

What is the purpose of flashing it for the right vin?

For smog. IIRC, they check that the PCM has the same VIN as the car. If you don't have to smog it, shouldn't be an issue.

[LT_juan]

That's strange because I'm in Cali and when I smogged it the guy didnt say anything about the vin not matching. I used my 97z28 pcm on it.

[Spartan7]

It's been a while since I looked into it, maybe I'm talking out of my ass here. I do feel for you on CA smog though, I'm glad to be out of that state.

[LT_juan]

I did read somewhere about smogers looking for matching vin though. He may have overlooked it ?? But he did find the o2 simulator (flashing red) and he's like, "uhhh what's that???"" I said in my head, crap I just failed ! I told him I just bought the car and had no idea. He asked me again about two more times even asked me to look under the car with him ! I played dumb and said I don't know man . So then he said hmmm maybe low jack and brushed it off. @_@