for all you guys that think LT1edit is Vin locked, you and I were wrong. I recently purchased LT1Edit in order to tune my vehicle. The laptop that I was using did not have a Serial port on there to connect my AKM cable, so I was using a Belkin F5U103 Serial to USB adapter. Upon uploading a file, I lost connection (due to the adapter) and unfortunately the PCM was toast. Being that the car is my only car, I contacted Ion and MadZ28 to inquiry about fixing my PCM. Ion was very helpful and said that yes he could either flash the pcm or socket it (makes it easier if this were to happen again, and that he can even upload my file on a core PCM and just ship my PCM to him, when the Core PCM were to arrive at my home. I thought this was a great idea, because it would minimize the downtime of my vehicle. Ion also programmed the New PCM with my VIN and uploaded my file. I recieved the PCM, and everything was great! I went ahead and tried to download the new file, and make small changes, and LT1 EDIT states "NOT A LICENSED PCM" I thought how strange, maybe there was an error inputing my vehicles VIN number. Nope, it was correct. Turns out LT1 EDIT marrys the actual PCM! Not the cars VIN. I was totally unaware of this, and I bet many potential buyers are also! I contacted the folks at carputing, and we are trying to work this out now. If I would of known this info, I would of taken totally different steps in the process of repairing my PCM. I hear great things about the folks at Carputing, and Hope that the purchase of a new license is not the final decision. Thanks for reading, I will keep you folks updated on the resolution!

 

Convert the .LT1 file to a .BIN and use tunercats winflash, which you can get a free 30 trial version of at their website, to load it into the PCM.

 

I understand that, but then its like I paid for lt1edit for nothing!! Plus I am still working out little bugs, so I rather just do it all with lt1edit. Thanks For the info anyway!

 

I was just throwing that out there so you can get the car going, you can still make the tuning changes with your LT1 edit, you just cant connect to the PCM, right?

 

correct. But as of right now, I cant even download the file thats in the car with my lt1edit. I am forced to use PCMRead, instead of the PCMProg that carputing provides. That means, I have to download the file using PCMREAD, Open it in LT1edit, if it even opens it which I doubt, convert it, and then use WinFlash to upload it=BIG HASSLE!! I really appreciate the help and info though!

 

same thing happened to me after Ion got my PCM resocketed- my C.A.T.S stopped working . Luckily, I have two laptops, and C.A.T.S works on the second laptop

 

I have a PCM file that was "fixed" for my version of LT1 edit mening the vin was changed to match. The PCMProg, wont read the file or upload it, but i can still use my LT1 edit to make the changes i need to and use winflash that i got from the tuner cat website to upload it to the car.


The way you made your post sound is that you already had done the programming, and were uploading it into the PCM when you lost your connection and fried you PCM. If thats the case you already have the Program you need, all you need is the converter to go to a .bin and the winflash. Winflash can also read the PCM. It does not take much time at all to do this, and if its your only car you may not have a choice but to go through this hassle until carputing takes care of you. It also wont cost you any $$$.

 

ok, also how how do you convert the .lt1 file to a .bin? thanks!

 

try here

http://carprogrammer.com/Z28/PCM/Tools/TuneConv.exe


Hopefully you can get the car up and going.

 

One more reason to buy Tunercat instead, half the price and not married to the pcm.
I believe LT1 Edit reads the serial number of the pcm.
Anyone looking to load programs them selves should have a spare pcm just in case something like this happens, then it really sucks when you have loading troubles.
I bought a laptop with LT1 Edit contacted carputing about transfering the program to me and getting the second VIN and they said $100 and the old owner had to contact them. $90 later I am a Tunercat user instead and can help friends with their cars. I don't make changes for them but I do load files they get from Ion or Bryan.
The only good thing I will say about LT1 Edit is I found it simpler to navigate at first but once I learned where everything was in TC I am fine.

 

i wonder if there are dip switches inside the control box. They have a way to open it for all cars, I bet it is something simple.

 

We are talking OBD1 where it is a software thing, you are refering to the locked cable used with OBD2.

 

96capricemgr,
How familiar are you with tuner cat? is it pretty easy to use. I have LT1 edit, but i need to add a vin to it which will cost me $100, or i can get the tuner cat for like $90 and never have to worry about it being vin locked. I am not real big into tuning, dont know that much about it, but would often times like to make some small changes. I have heard Tuner cat is confusing and hard to use. And using the definition files is not real clear to me. They have a free evaluation version on their website, but i cant seem to get it to work. I downloaded a tune out of my pcm and when i tried to open it it said something about the source code something or other. Anyideas, will that evaluation software work on an f-body?

 

I had the same issue with my PCM and LT1edit. They took care of the issue quickly with no hassle whatsoever. Carputing is great to deal with.

 

i hope I have a similar experience!! Thanks!