EPROM Programmers and eraser.. which one works?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 346
If you have a 94/95 LT1 car then EProm programmers and erasers are not necessary. In that case all you need is a cable available at:
www.akmcables.com
Software which would be either TunerCat or LT1 Edit at these sites:
www.carputing.com
www.tunercat.com
Either package will work well, one (LT1 Edit) is considerably more expensive while the other (TC) is about half the cost and is not locked to one PCM. Both require the same communications cable.
If you have a 92/93 LT1 car then you will need a EProm programmer and a eraser, unless you use a flash EE Prom in that case a eraser is not necessary. I use a Intronics Pocket Programmer 2 and it works fine for any EProms or EE Proms or flash memory chips I may care to program. You can check them out here:
www.xtronics.com
You should also download some scanning software. I use Datamaster and that is available at this site:
www.ttspowersystems.com
For the 92/93 cars you will have to use Tunercat for programming the proms. I think there is one other software package out there but I am not familiar with it. TC has great customer support and pricing is very reasonable.
There are other scanning software such as Freescan and just as its name it is free. I am not sure of the website but I am sure others can chime in with that one. Another software package is made by EASE its considerably more expensive than DM or Freescan and one other is Diacom developed by Rinda Technologies available here:
www.rinda.com
However Diacom is very picky about PCs that is loaded on and the version I have which is Diacom Plus won't work on any pentium based PC, not even a 90MHZ! So I have ceased to use it and rely solely on my TECH 2 or Datamaster. Unless Rinda has updated it, I don't suggest using it unless you have an old doorstop 486 based laptop handy that it will run on.
www.akmcables.com
Software which would be either TunerCat or LT1 Edit at these sites:
www.carputing.com
www.tunercat.com
Either package will work well, one (LT1 Edit) is considerably more expensive while the other (TC) is about half the cost and is not locked to one PCM. Both require the same communications cable.
If you have a 92/93 LT1 car then you will need a EProm programmer and a eraser, unless you use a flash EE Prom in that case a eraser is not necessary. I use a Intronics Pocket Programmer 2 and it works fine for any EProms or EE Proms or flash memory chips I may care to program. You can check them out here:
www.xtronics.com
You should also download some scanning software. I use Datamaster and that is available at this site:
www.ttspowersystems.com
For the 92/93 cars you will have to use Tunercat for programming the proms. I think there is one other software package out there but I am not familiar with it. TC has great customer support and pricing is very reasonable.
There are other scanning software such as Freescan and just as its name it is free. I am not sure of the website but I am sure others can chime in with that one. Another software package is made by EASE its considerably more expensive than DM or Freescan and one other is Diacom developed by Rinda Technologies available here:
www.rinda.com
However Diacom is very picky about PCs that is loaded on and the version I have which is Diacom Plus won't work on any pentium based PC, not even a 90MHZ! So I have ceased to use it and rely solely on my TECH 2 or Datamaster. Unless Rinda has updated it, I don't suggest using it unless you have an old doorstop 486 based laptop handy that it will run on.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,577
From: DeKalb, IL
What makes you think you need a programmer?
The flash chips or eeproms you can erase with the programmer. The regular EPROMS (found in the '92 and '93 LT1) have to be erased with an UV eraser though.
The flash chips or eeproms you can erase with the programmer. The regular EPROMS (found in the '92 and '93 LT1) have to be erased with an UV eraser though.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 346
I like my Intronics Pocket Programmer 2 its reasonable at $149. You can get a UV eraser from this website:
http://www.forchip.com/
I got a UV eraser from them for $49 cheap! I can erase a chip in 6 to 10 minutes and up to 5 at a time.
http://www.forchip.com/
I got a UV eraser from them for $49 cheap! I can erase a chip in 6 to 10 minutes and up to 5 at a time.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,106
From: Toledo, Ohio USA
Originally posted by madwolf
What makes you think you need a programmer?
The flash chips or eeproms you can erase with the programmer. The regular EPROMS (found in the '92 and '93 LT1) have to be erased with an UV eraser though.
What makes you think you need a programmer?
The flash chips or eeproms you can erase with the programmer. The regular EPROMS (found in the '92 and '93 LT1) have to be erased with an UV eraser though.
Obviously to erase the original EROMS you would have to buy a UV eraser, but is there other EPROMS that will take the place of the original EPROMS and be fully erasable/rewritable with a programmer instead of buying a UV eraser? Or will I need one for ALL EPROMS???
I hope you understand, from what I understand I need a UV eraser to erase the original chip. Plus the programmer to flash the EPROM with the .BIN file...
Again, but is there a way to buy different EPROMs to fit into my 93LT1 so I won't have to buy a UV eraser...? OR once I burn a chip the info is on there permanently until I use a UV eraser?
You see why I confused? You said "The regular EPROMS (found in the '92 and '93 LT1) have to be erased with an UV eraser though" So does that mean I can buy other EPROM chips that won't require a UV eraser to erase???
Man I'm missing something here
Registered User
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 615
From: Pekin, IL, United States
I'm curious Highlander, why do you need an EPROM programmer, unless you fried a PCM and want to reflash it? And what do you need an UV eraser for, you can't erase a FLASH chip with a UV eraser. FLASH chps are EEPROM chips, or electronically eraseable programmable read-only memory. UV light won't do anything to an EEPROM or FLASH chip. Since you have a 94Z, you must be confusing something.
ZPaul2Fresh8, if you want to simply reuse the EPROM chips in your 93 PCM, you will need to have an UV eraser. However, there are FLASH chips you can buy that will take the place of the EPROM chips in your PCM, so you can simply reprogram them with an EPROM programmer like the Pocket Programmer 2 (the one I have, I definitely recommend it). Unforunately, I don't know the # of the FLASH chip that will replace the EPROM chip in your PCM. I'm sure someone, either madwolf or tjwong most likely, knows that part #. Hope this helps.
ZPaul2Fresh8, if you want to simply reuse the EPROM chips in your 93 PCM, you will need to have an UV eraser. However, there are FLASH chips you can buy that will take the place of the EPROM chips in your PCM, so you can simply reprogram them with an EPROM programmer like the Pocket Programmer 2 (the one I have, I definitely recommend it). Unforunately, I don't know the # of the FLASH chip that will replace the EPROM chip in your PCM. I'm sure someone, either madwolf or tjwong most likely, knows that part #. Hope this helps.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,106
From: Toledo, Ohio USA
Originally posted by The Highlander
I have a few eprom cars I want to reprogram.. a 2.8L v6 and a 93 lt1... If someone can point in the right direction as to which chips to buy it would be PERFect
I have a few eprom cars I want to reprogram.. a 2.8L v6 and a 93 lt1... If someone can point in the right direction as to which chips to buy it would be PERFect
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 346
Highlander,
Your 93 would take a 27C256 chip that is UV erasable or a ATMEL AT9C256 chip that is a flash EEPROM. However to use this chip or another non-flash chip you can do one of three things.
One: take the stock memcal apart and socket it for the EEPROM
Two: just erase the stock EPROM with a UV eraser and reprogram it
Three: Purchase a adapter board made by Craig Moates that allows you to use a EEPROM and also allows you to plug in your memcal as a piggyback unit. Your ECM needs the memcal pluggged into it in order to run the engine and to provide backup fuel in case of failure.
Plus that gives you the advantage that if your custom prom fails you can remove the adapter unit and just reinstall your old GM Prom.
As for your car with a 2.8 V6 my guess is it either takes a 27C128 or a 27C256 chip. If it takes a 128 chip you can use a 256 chip in its place you just have to either stack the bins or start the programming at a different memory allocation, thus making the ECM think it has a 128 chip in it.
Go here to see Craigs site for the G1 adapter:
www.moates.net
I have the ATMEL AT29C256 in stock and by next week I will have some 27C128 in stock as well. I also willl have the Moates adapters so you can get them from me or from Craigs site.
Your 93 would take a 27C256 chip that is UV erasable or a ATMEL AT9C256 chip that is a flash EEPROM. However to use this chip or another non-flash chip you can do one of three things.
One: take the stock memcal apart and socket it for the EEPROM
Two: just erase the stock EPROM with a UV eraser and reprogram it
Three: Purchase a adapter board made by Craig Moates that allows you to use a EEPROM and also allows you to plug in your memcal as a piggyback unit. Your ECM needs the memcal pluggged into it in order to run the engine and to provide backup fuel in case of failure.
Plus that gives you the advantage that if your custom prom fails you can remove the adapter unit and just reinstall your old GM Prom.
As for your car with a 2.8 V6 my guess is it either takes a 27C128 or a 27C256 chip. If it takes a 128 chip you can use a 256 chip in its place you just have to either stack the bins or start the programming at a different memory allocation, thus making the ECM think it has a 128 chip in it.
Go here to see Craigs site for the G1 adapter:
www.moates.net
I have the ATMEL AT29C256 in stock and by next week I will have some 27C128 in stock as well. I also willl have the Moates adapters so you can get them from me or from Craigs site.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 346
Price plus shipping. Usually priority mail in one of them standard rate envelopes. If it don't fit then I have to use one of them small boxes but normally I can get the chips in the document mailer and its protected well. $3.85 in the mailer.