If you was to buy a used PCM, wouldnt it still have their VIN number stored in it?

 

Yep.

 

So does it do any good to buy the PCM if its used? You know how most of the time they need the VIN to scan the for codes...is there any way that the VIN could be changed to match the one that is on your car?

 

Are you talking about a dealership scanning for codes? The VIN number tells them information about the car, other than that it doesn't really matter. I believe a dealership can change the info, LT1 Edit or Tunercat cannot, there may be someone else able to help but he seems very busy these days and I hardly EVER see him around anymore.

Try a dealership if you really care/worry about it, if you use Tunercat it doesn't matter one bit, if you use LT1 Edit you will need to buy another license unless you can convince them of a dead PCM, I dont know thier policy.

 

So if I was to put a used PCM in there and the VIN doesnt match, wouldnt they ask questions?(I just dont want any s*** from the dealer) Im just looking for a OBD1 PCM with all the V8 specs but I would like the VIN to match whats on the car. Just trying to save time buy getting the car in the shop and getting it out of the shop with no problems.

 

There was a dealership years ago that used to fudge VIN stuff, because they were scamming GM for finance money, I can't remember the guys name but it was a huge case years ago.

Tell the dealership your PCM got nuked somehow and you replaced it with a junkyard part, not a big deal. You can actually buy a PCM from a Kragens or auto supply store and I believe they tell you to take it to the dealer to get a program put on it, I assume this means the VIN also.

PCMs can go bad, especially in a car with electrical problems or people doing sloppy welding (electrical), so its not unheard of. I wouldn't sweat it, but you can put in an anonymous call to the dealership and tell em you have such and such car and wanted to know if they offer that service for you since you got a replacement PCM for it. They can also flash it with the latest GM microcode for the car, since small udpates were made as time went on and such.

 

Would they need the car to program the PCM? I will look around and see if I can get my hands on a PCM and go from there.... Thanx Dr.

 

Definately ask them that, I'm not sure. I know there are benchtop setups, but I'm not sure what they are going to want.

If so though, you can drive the car down there on your new PCM and have them flash it for you...