Its kinda a pre release BETA platform. Email TunerCAT and they can give you the details.

 

I just fried my second PCM too with Tunercat for OBD2 96-97lt1. The read was successful but when I tried to program it gave me the message "unable to establish communications (c/2). New battery, New PCM all standard precautions taken. I'm contacting tunercat for my money back.

 

Have you tried disconnecting the battery for at least 10 minutes. I've had to do this on the two 96, 97 LT1 cars I've used TC on. After doing that, I could flash repeatedly on the cars with no problems. I'm just wanting to know if this is normal, as I've heard the OBD1 TC users have to do this. I do not have to do this on the Gen3 trucks I use TC on.

 

I unhooked the battery cable for ten minutes and it fixed my problem. I had pulled the pcm cb for ten minutes to no avail. The battery trick worked though. Thanks

 

Makes me wonder if TC actually tests this stuff before they sell it. You would think that if this is a normal procedure for using their OBD2 stuff on 96/97 LT1s, they would let you know it when you buy it. I just stumbled on to the procedure as a last ditch try the first time I used it. When the 2nd car I used it on did the same thing, I knew what to do. I emailed TC about what was happening and this was their reply.

It sounds like the VATS is getting set when you read the PCM for some reason
and that is why you need to disconnect the battery. Normally all you should
have to do is cycle the ignition after reading or programming before doing
anything else.

 

TC solved my problem with one e-mail.

After two burnt PCM's I decided to E-mail TC with my problems, and we settled on sending both blown PCM's, my laptop and all hardware back to him to investigate. The results were interesting... My prior tune was done by Ed Wright and he added to the PCM programing a sort of lock (for lack of a better term) to only allow him to make any other changes. When the TC program hit this lock during its attempt to reflash it got screwed and fried my PCM.

TC repaired and reflashed both PCM's added the patch to my Tuner Program and shipped everything back within a week. Very good customer service!!!

 

Ed Wright was another lammo who thought he could stop piracy of his stuff; all he does in the end is screw with his legit customers ala carputing and vin locking.

Gimps..

 

One interesting thing I have noticed about 96-7 LT1 cars is after reading, you need to pull the PCM bat fuse to reset. Otherwise, it will not reprogram and most of the time the car will not start. PUll the fuse, put it back after a few seconds, and make sure the car starts. aFter you have verified the car starts, go ahead and reflash.

Ryan