Thread: *ERROR CODE INSIDE* Installed new PCM - Service engine light is on

I purchased a tuned pcm off of ebay. The seller claimed the tune was a DHP pcm. Anyway I installed it tonight, and when I started the car, the service engine light came on. It was NEVER on with the stock pcm.

I drove the car for about 3 miles to test it out. A couple of things make me raise an eyebrow.

The gas pedal is much lighter, meaning it doesnt take allot of force to push it down. The car does shift much faster though. It makes a new noise (clunk) and gets into gear. The RPM limit has been increased. Im a little worried about the serivce engine light though...

I have a feeling that im going to need a scanner to find the problem. Im probably going to take off the pcm until I can get it the error fixed..

Is any of this harmful to the car? I really feel like im beating on it now.

Thanks for the help!

The pedal pressure is in your head. It is driven by the spring on your throttle body and nothing more.

You'd probably want to get the code read. Until then we can't tell you anything. Was this PCM programmed to your VIN?

I'll bet money its for a CASE learn.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

The pedal pressure is in your head. It is driven by the spring on your throttle body and nothing more.

You'd probably want to get the code read. Until then we can't tell you anything. Was this PCM programmed to your VIN?

LOL you gotta be kidding me.

Yes I did give the guy my vin, but I have come to the conclusion that he is retarded. So if my vin is actually programmed in there I do not know.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

I'll bet money its for a CASE learn.

Doesnt sound good....

Well all that means is that the computer and the Crankshaft Position Sensor are not in sync. It can be done with a Tech II or a DHP Power Tuner. I would get the VIN programmed in there if you have access to a power tuner, but I dont know that it would cause a SES light. I guess it could, I cant say conclusively.

So what should I do? Pull it out? Can it cause damage?

Just take it to Auto Zone and find out what codes are thrown. Until then all we're doing is playing guessing games.

Autozone? They have scanners? Is it free?

Ive got a friend with a Snap-on scanner. Should I hook it up to the car?

Originally Posted by Freebeer187

Autozone? They have scanners? Is it free?

Yes, and yes it's free.

Originally Posted by Freebeer187

Ive got a friend with a Snap-on scanner. Should I hook it up to the car?

Sure. All it has to do is read codes. Bring us the exact code the car is throwing.

I sent a message to the seller of the pcm, and it looks like it is a case learn.

Im still going to go to voto zone and the car scanned. Then I will try to see what the pontiac dealer will charge.

Error code = P1336

Can this cause damage if I continue to drive it?

Fuggin dealer wanted $115 for it. And they would reflash the damn thing >:|

As I thought it may be, you need a CASE learn.

CKP Variation Learn

Unfortunately I do not know what the long term effects are of this issue as I have a Power Tuner and can do a CASE learn in about 5 minutes.

Thanks for the reply.

2 Questions

1. Should I remove it?

2. Can a snap-on scanner perform a case learn? (its an older one not the newer one with the nice lcd display)

1. The lack of information on the long term effects on my part would prompt me to do so until I could have a CASE learn done.

2. I cant answer that either, I am not familiar with their line of scan tools.

I got a hold of the guy with the snap on scanner. His does not program... Im worried the stealership will reflash the pcm and erase the tuned settings...

I think its a hit or miss proposition. When I put in my ZZP pcm, I got no code. When I got my Power Tuner and reflashed the PCM with the DHP 1.5, I got the code. I havent seen any rhyme or reason to it and I havent seen enough of them done to see if there is any kind of pattern to it.

From the look of it from here, it looks like it is a "false" misfire error.

I don't exactly know what that means, but it sounds like its really not misfiring, but the pcm thinks it is. Is this correct?

It's not that it thinks you're misfiring (otherwise you'd be getting misfire codes too). It knows something isn't right and that the variations it learned on the last car it was in do not match to the variations of your car. It's not enough that it think it's misfiring, but it believes it could learn it better. That's why it's throwing the code effectively requesting it be given the chance to learn.

A tech 2, some OBD2 scanners, Powrtuner, HPTuner, Aeroforce Interceptor scan gauge (of a particular version and later), and a few other items can do it. You could go into the dealer and tell them specifically you want a crank sensor variation learn done, and you don't want your PCM flashed.

That would make sense as the crankshaft position sensor is directly in control of sending signals to the ignition control module. So if the computer was not sync'd up withe CPS that could be. More commonly, however, its just that the computer is not in complete tune with the CPS and you just have to do a CASE learn and all will be good.