Cruise programming issue

[Ramics]

Okay folks. I went to the junk yard and found a doner car that has the same DOHC and 5 speed transmission as well as the same year. BUT.. mine does not have the power windows and door locks that the doner has.

So.. i removed the cruise module and switch and installed them in my car and of course it didnt work..

Went to the dealership and Duh they couldnt get it to work either..

Question..

Wouldnt it just be easier to remove the computer brain from the doner and swap it out with the one in my Saturn.

Would it work and how can this be done?

[OldNuc]

Exactly what did the dealer try to do? If you start swapping PCMs you can end up having to do a complete crank relearn and if the dealer is incapable of enabling cruise or telling you what part is broke doing the crank relearn will not go any easier.

[Ramics]

They said to bring it in and seemed to know what i wanted when i made the appt on the phone.

But the tech worked on it for about 30 mins and then dropped off the key to the service writer. I thought it was all set..

But then. He came over and said it could not be done bc the doner had different options as i had told him.

Why doesnt anybody try?

Now what to do? Can i buy something and just do it myself?

[OldNuc]

What you want the dealer to do is a PCM Re-Learn with the options listed for your vehicle from the GM database PLUS enable Cruise Control. There is an option screen that they set the options on. If they know how to use the Tech-2 and have the Saturn cartridge they can just enable it with the Tech -2, is appears that it is not doable with a competitors scanner though.

This process causes no end of grief for customers and it should not. There are exactly 2 ways to do this: 1)reflash the PCM firmware and set the options, or 2) access the option from a Tech-2. If the dealer does not have the actual Saturn data cartridge for th Tech-2 it will not work. The PCM flash bin file is a direct download from GM. There is no firmware on a CD floating around and GM charges either a monthly fee to the dealer to access this data or a shop may purchase individual downloads. But it is not actually a download as the GM system is doing the install remotely.

If you run into a dealer that proves to be not able to do the job call the next closest dealer who does Saturns and see if they know how and have done it in the past. The PCM relearn does take about 30 minutes.

The other approach is to find the local community college auto shop and go talk to the instructor in person.

[Ramics]

Thanks OldNuc! I will print off what you have suggested and go back to the dealer.

You are so right. What a Pain!

[OldNuc]

Every so often someone runs into this "can't do it" issue and it goes away at another dealer.

[Ramics]

Im gonna go back to this dealer one more time with the instructins here.. give them another chance and hope for the best..

[dmueller6]

I went to the local pick and pull and tried 2 pcms, on from a 98 sc2, and on from a 99 sl2. Both had DOHC,air, auto, cruise, no abs or tc, but both had power windows and door locks. I also believe they both had RKE, and mine doensnt.
The good news, the cruise works, the bad, the wrench light is on.
The pcm out of the 99 sl2 had a hard 1-2 upshift, as compared to mine ot the 98 sc2 pcm. Needless to say, I will be selling it on flea-bay to recuop my 40 bucks I was charged. The other dealer option is still open but my search range is more as thay want a minimum of 120 to turn the cruise on.

My next question is for Nuc.... the pcm I got from the sl2 has the exact same numbers on as the one in my 99sc2, except for the long serial number under the barcode, any reason you can think of for the hard upshift from 1-2?

I may go back and get the rke module out of the sl2 and see if the wrench goes out, but the hard upshift worries me. Hope the wiring is there in mine. The upshift in my sc2 right now is just fine

[madpogue]

Both donors have RKE, since they have power locks. That's probably what's turning on the Wrench light.

[jgcox6]

I had to go to 3 different stealerships to get my programmed. The others told me that they all came already programmed and that I had something else wrong if it didn't work and of course they would look at it and fix it for me....Another one told me that there is no such of a thing as programming the cruise...so the last one said no problem..just will take about 30 min and $108.00. So mine is working now.....good luck to you sounds like a mess...

[OldNuc]

Originally Posted by dmueller6

I went to the local pick and pull and tried 2 pcms, on from a 98 sc2, and on from a 99 sl2. Both had DOHC,air, auto, cruise, no abs or tc, but both had power windows and door locks. I also believe they both had RKE, and mine doensnt.
The good news, the cruise works, the bad, the wrench light is on.
The pcm out of the 99 sl2 had a hard 1-2 upshift, as compared to mine ot the 98 sc2 pcm. Needless to say, I will be selling it on flea-bay to recuop my 40 bucks I was charged. The other dealer option is still open but my search range is more as thay want a minimum of 120 to turn the cruise on.

My next question is for Nuc.... the pcm I got from the sl2 has the exact same numbers on as the one in my 99sc2, except for the long serial number under the barcode, any reason you can think of for the hard upshift from 1-2?

I may go back and get the rke module out of the sl2 and see if the wrench goes out, but the hard upshift worries me. Hope the wiring is there in mine. The upshift in my sc2 right now is just fine

Each PCM is adapted to a specific engine and transmission. Even though you can swap them and it will work don't be surprised when you have odd behavior. Some of this learned behavior an only be erased and relearned by clearing the proper cells with a scanner such as the Tech-2 with the correct cartridge. As to your trans issue try gentle part throttle driving with both up-shifts and down-shifts for about an hour and if that does not fix the transmission shifting then it is back where you started.

[dmueller6]

Well, my dealership search continues. Stopped at one and called 2 others in the northern Ill area.The two I called didnt seem to sure of what I was talking about or asking them to do, but said it would cost about 120 to do it. The other dealer I stopped at the service writer asked the tech and he said sure, no problem, it would cost me an hour labor, 108.00 plus tax. So I guess I will expand my search into Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties for a better price.

[OldNuc]

You probably will not see a better price. These are the 2 jobs hat have to be done to re-program or relearn the PCM.

From the 98 Labor and Time Guide
EE Prom Re-programing J6355
Crankshaft Relearn J6365

[madpogue]

What about ON's suggestion of a nearby technical/community college, auto tech program? Esp. if you already know the J-codes.

[dmueller6]

I called Lake county college , left a massage and never got a call back. Maybe I should go there and ask.

[OldNuc]

Call backs never work. Personal appearance required.

[Ramics]

Face to Face most definetely worked! Went back to the dealership and talked to a different service writer. He went back to the original technician who could not do it and could not find him due to his lunch hour.

Found someone that was working there when it was still Saturn and he got it done in under 15 mins for $49.00.

Service Wrench light came on when i started her up and i summoned the service writer over and he immediately took it back to the "knowledageable" tech and cleared the light and ensuring it was programmed correctly.

Drove off the lot. No SES light and the cruise works perfectly.

Thanks again OldNuc!

[OldNuc]

Enabling cruise seems to be about the most difficult task for the dealer. Have fun!

[dmueller6]

Yeah, I guess its just ignorance on the service writer or tech or both. Obviously it can be done, I dont think everyone here that said they had it done would lie. Its not like they are making any money from it, the posters here that is. All the dealers seem to think a reflash is the only way to do it.

[OldNuc]

The dealer is limited to the OEM approved tasks in most cases. The flip the bit with the Tech-2 is not on the book. The labor guide gives you 1/2 hour for the 2 tasks that I listed and I suspect the tech who has done 1 or 2 can pull it off in about 15 minutes. Most dealers will only bill for 1 hour minimum. There are definite advantages to a reflash over the bit flip though as this will upgrade the PCM to the latest firmware. It is like loading a the latest BIOS code. It will also reset all your automatic adaptives which will require the tech to go drive around the block several times to reset them. This can solve some weird transmission behavior if you have swapped a transmission.