I am trying to get a kit together than will allow people to order all the parts in one kit to repair a "fried" PCM. I am wondering what everyone would rather have

1.) A brand new pre programmed (for your year) chip set with ZIF sockets to solder onto the PCM with detailed instructions on how to do it.

2. Just buying the bare Intel AN28F512 chips and the AN28F010 for you with the OBD II system. (The 93 chips are available and are still being produced) Intel discontinued the 94 and 95 chips in 9/18/1995

3.) Just a plain service that they swap their fried PCM in for a working one with a core charge.

This is not an ad, I just want to see what people want

 

Is there any demand for such a thing? Is there a common problem?

-Michael

 

For people that tune their own car it happens often. The statistic is, 1 in every 10 times you load a program it will fail and the PCM is dead. There isn't a "large" demand but there is a demand out there.

 

You might want to post this on Impalassforum.com also. We loose chips often.

So there will not be a repair kit for 94-95 OBD1s?

Mav

 

Yes, there will be a repair kit, I would probably charge a small core charge for your old chips though. I am still thinking of what to include but I think:

The two flash chips for both sides of the PCM pre programmed, the PLCC or also refered to as "ZIF" sockets, as well as instructions and .010" solder.

I would probably want the old chips as well to see if I could recover them, but a lot of people might be aggressive with them sense they know that they are sending them back and ruin more than the information on them, but the chip physically.

 

IMO option #1 is just nuts. Most guys here can barely crip two wires together much less desolder a IC and resolder a ZIF socket in its place.

Option #2 may be viable but not nessecary for us 93 guys. If an upload fails (which it never has for me) we can just erase the chip and try again. This problem is exclusive to the 94+ cars. Also consider most people dont have an EPROM programer so you'll need to flash them yourself before sending them out.

Option #3 is your best bet but also the most labor intensive on your part. You also need to know what you're doing which I somewhat question after reading option #1 & #2.

 

The chips would have the hex files pre programmed on them for your car, I think you missed that.

I mentioned the 93's chips are available anywhere and there would be no need for a "kit". Also it wouldn't be necessary for the 1993 cars because you don't go through an ALDL connector to program to begin with. If you mess up you can just erase it with the UV light and do it over. If your programming a 1993 car, you obviously have the EPROM programmer to do it anyways. I don't think you understood me here either. Maybe I should have been a little more clear.

 

Thats a tough job, I dont think most people here have even picked up a soldering iron before. If people would take the time and care, I believe it could be done, but without cooking other local components it would be tough. You'd also have to likely provide advice as to what wattage and tip to use when doing the job.

It is a nice idea though, because people do 'cook' them.

 

I guess I may have assumed that many people here are familiar with soldering. I grew up around computers so I didn't really realize that people might not know how. I think it's something everyone should learn if they don't know already.

 

I am cheap and like to do everything myself, and I toyed with electronics when I was younger (and am no soldering guru either), many folks here are nervous about even tuning thier car much less playing solder station Sam for a day.

I think at the local colleges that would be a second or third semester class (ZIF socket installs etc).

 

Thanks for the clarification. It threw me off when you said they don't make them anymore.

There is already someone who you can send the pcm off and have it repaired. You could do it too, but a kit would set you apart. I work electronics, so soldering is cake. Most of the folks over at the Impala forum are likewise educated and would probably like this option. Lots of home programmers over there!

Thanks,
Mav

 

Soldering a ZIF socket doesn't seem like it would take long at all to learn. I said ZIF socket originally because that's what everyone else is calling them but I don't think ANYONE sells a true ZIF socket for a 32 pin PLCC connector.

 

Right, not too much force but not a true ZIF

 

Its not that tough to swap chips. I was doing this when i was 10 years old just use desolder braid, or a solder sucker..and work carefully.

 

Yup, with the "kit" I would probably enclude solder braid, as well as .010" solder wire and a recommendation for a top size and wattage. I think it will work for anyone who is willing to try it.