Hey guys, I am a new guy on this site and I am running into a little problem I am hoping someone can help me with! I have a 96 ss impala w/ comeplete vette powertrain. I am trying to reprogram my PCM w/ vette programming ,for it is still programmed with the impalas pcm programming. The dealer told me they would help me but I need to supply them with a vin # from a 96 lt1 corvette! Can anyone help me with this. Anyone with a 96 vette willing to give me there Vin maybe? I mean its not something the average Joe can't read off your car in the street. I just don't know anyone with a 96 vette. I am not trying to steal anyones identity or anything here. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. I just want my car to have the right PCM programming. Thanks, BOB

 

Your dealership isn't too smart then. Anybody can make the VIN for a vehicle. The HELMs manual that any dealer uses has this info in the front. The only item that makes them unique is that last 7 or is it 8 digits that are that cars serial number. They can make one up just as easy.

 

Are you saying they can make up a vin that will change the pcm programming on my car or are you saying that the programming is the same? And if it does change it, what exactly do they need to do, in case they are idiots and they don't know what they are doing? Because I have talked to two dealers and neither one gave me that option.

 

Goody,
I just called both dealers and they concured on the fact that they can't do that and that if they enter a wrong digit any where it wouldn't alow them to program the PCM. Are you sure this is possible, and like I said on my last post if you are, will you be specific so I can tell these guys what they need to do, because they are willing to help, they just don't know what you are talking about! Also they said they have a 95 lt1 convertible vette in there right now and the mechanic swears its obdII and it will work. Is he right? I didn't even think they made a 95 with ObdII other than the ZR1.

 

I think you would be better off just having someone burn you a good chip in the first place...screw worrying about vin numbers.

 

Just a quick question.

Isn't the only thing VIN sensitive the CCM?
I didn't think the PCM could care less what car it's on other than the correct programming for the engine package.

Just wondering out loud.. ..

 

You are correct about the OBDII. 95 didn't have OBDII. 96 didn't have OBDII, but did have a OBDII connector. If he says the connector is a OBDII, then it must be a 96 vette. There has been way too many discussions here about this very thing.
You are also correct about the VIN only applying to the CCM because of the Odometer readings. Keeps us from buying new CCM's to install in our cars to reset the odometer back to zero or using a salvage car for the same purpose.
ECM/PCM doesn't need that info. Otherwise all of us custom burners would have the same issue when installing other than GM made chips.
The VIN is comprised of a set order of characters. One identifies the country, manufacturer, assembly site, one the car line, engine, the year, model, and serial number. Here is my VIN 1G1YY23P7PXXXXXXX. The x's are my serial number. Where is my HELM's manual when I need it? The 3 in the field tells my cars' year model. One of the P's tells it is the LT1. The ZR-1 would have a J in that same field because of the LT5. The YY tells it is a Corvette Coupe. That's why vettes are "Y" bodies. A convertible would have a different code for the vert option. The 1 means GM, G is Bowling Green assembly plant. That's all I remember now from straight memory. Others may help out here. But, by this you can see what I am typing about.
:seeya

 

This is the correct VIN breakdown I believe

1= USA
G= GM
1= Chevrolet Division
Y= Y Body
Y= Standard Vette (Z= for ZR1)
2= Coupe (3=Convertible)
3= Restraint system (89 is 1=Passive) (3= Supplemental Airbag/passive belts)
P= LT1 (J=LT5, 8=L98)
7= Check Digit (varies)
P= YEAR (P=93) (K=89) etc
5= Bowling Green Assembly Plant
x= Sequence digit
x= Sequence digit
x= Sequence digit
x= Sequence digit
x= Sequence digit
x= Sequence digit



[Modified by -=Jeff=-, 1:40 PM 4/4/2002]

 

Goody, Thanks for the info. I just got done e-mailing a guy who programs PCM's and from what he is saying, I was wasting my time anyway. Apparently the Impala cannot use the vette programming regardless of the fact that I have the vette long block and MAF. The car won't even run with it, and if I use F body programming it will work but my A/C wont work and my tach will be off. Some thing to do with the VATs set up. Anyone know what that means?

 

Goody, did you just make a typing error or did you just say 96 vettes don't have obd2? You can not be right. All 96 and up are obd2. I am possitive a96 vette is obd2. Now the 95 may not be, but maybe thats the one you are meaning to refer to that has an obd2 plug! If I am wrong I just learned something but I am 99.9 percent sure a 96 vette is obd2. There was some federal law about it mandating it for 96 and newer vehichles if I am remembering it right! Anyone else out there that will back me up on that?

 

Your are correct.. 96 vettes were OBD2.. But the OBD2 style connector was on earlier vettes that were OBD1.. My friends 94 has the OBD2 connector but is OBD1..