Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown
Am zeroing in on all the maladies using Ease...showed me that my Cal Pak is missing (when in fact its installed). I called GM but its no longer available for my 85. :nonod: I have a spare from a 1985 Camaro; will this work? Also, where can I get a replacement Cal Pak in case I can't use the 85 Camaro? TIA
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (black85vette)
Ok, Mr.Nuke set me straight: GM screwed up the term in the factory GM '85 manual. In the manual, the term "CALPAC" refers to a small IC pac along side the ePROM (page 6E3-73). According to him, when a code is rendered "bad or missing cal pak" ...it means the ePROM is bad. Play on terms. So I guess either my ECM or ePROM are toast I guess because CODE 52 is being set (missing cal pak)
[Modified by GRX, 6:21 PM 12/4/2003]
[Modified by GRX, 6:31 PM 12/4/2003]
[Modified by GRX, 6:21 PM 12/4/2003]
[Modified by GRX, 6:31 PM 12/4/2003]
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 277
Likes: 3
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (GRX)
you may be getting a false signal on this, I believe a code 52? I think. My auto Xray scanner gives me this reading on my 84-85 ...... CAL PAC missing.
Regardless some of the scanners give a false read on this. What other codes do you have, I doubt you have the cal pac problem
[Modified by frank j. moran, 3:21 AM 12/5/2003]
Regardless some of the scanners give a false read on this. What other codes do you have, I doubt you have the cal pac problem
[Modified by frank j. moran, 3:21 AM 12/5/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 983
Likes: 152
From: Columbia MD
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (frank j. moran)
you may be getting a false signal on this, I believe a code 52? I think. My auto Xray scanner gives me this reading on my 84-85 ...... CAL PAC missing.
Regardless some of the scanners give a false read on this. What other codes do you have, I doubt you have the cal pac problem
[Modified by frank j. moran, 3:21 AM 12/5/2003]
Regardless some of the scanners give a false read on this. What other codes do you have, I doubt you have the cal pac problem
[Modified by frank j. moran, 3:21 AM 12/5/2003]
So far, it appears that the CAL PAK is some sort of secondary chip (not the actual EPROM) but beyond that I haven't a clue.
[Modified by LWesthaver, 9:42 AM 12/5/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: Norcross GA
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (LWesthaver)
Find your ECM,.... Gain access to it,.... Remove the 2 screws on the lil Alu cover plate,...... Behold the CalPak,.... Press the two tabs at both ends, outward,.... Out pops the CalPak,...... Pry off the pretty colored cover,..... Behold you PROM. (The big chip)
As far as GM is concerned,... it is a none servicable item. (Replace only)
CalPak contains the code that the ECM (car), runs on. Think of it as a storage device in a PC,.... holds code until it is needed.
If you don't have a SES light,... your Pak is more than likely OK. (Regardless of what the scanner say's)
More info,... search the Scan N Tune page.
[Modified by ZylaRace, 5:22 PM 12/5/2003]
As far as GM is concerned,... it is a none servicable item. (Replace only)
CalPak contains the code that the ECM (car), runs on. Think of it as a storage device in a PC,.... holds code until it is needed.
If you don't have a SES light,... your Pak is more than likely OK. (Regardless of what the scanner say's)
More info,... search the Scan N Tune page.
[Modified by ZylaRace, 5:22 PM 12/5/2003]
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 983
Likes: 152
From: Columbia MD
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (ZylaRace)
CAL PAK - EPROM - CAL PAK - EPROM .... I still don't get it I am very familiar with EPROM's (Erasable, Programable, Read Only Memory) and *that* is typically where the code and data is stored for a micro-processor. So what's the function of the CAL PAK?
Remember, I've never seen a CAL PAK. Is the CAL PAK GM's term for the entire package (carrier) that holds the EPROM or is it another chip???
Thanks,
[Modified by LWesthaver, 10:20 AM 12/5/2003]
Remember, I've never seen a CAL PAK. Is the CAL PAK GM's term for the entire package (carrier) that holds the EPROM or is it another chip???
Thanks,
[Modified by LWesthaver, 10:20 AM 12/5/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 983
Likes: 152
From: Columbia MD
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (GRX)
Ok, Mr.Nuke set me straight: GM screwed up the term in the factory GM '85 manual. In the manual, the term "CALPAC" refers to a small IC pac along side the ePROM (page 6E3-73).
OK, now I understand. I assumed the service manual to be the gospel. Now I know better. As you can see from the picture below, GM clearly labels another chip the CAL PAC:
So the CAL PAC is actually the combination of parts that GM labels the: PROM (ENGINE CALIBRATOR)/ PROM CARRIER?
[Modified by LWesthaver, 10:47 AM 12/5/2003]
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,252
Likes: 2
From: Silicon Valley Kalifornia
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (LWesthaver)
GM changed nomenclature after 85. It then refered to the CAL PAC as a MEM CAL; ..and eprom GM started terming CAL PAC (according to Mr. Nuke).
I have heard that the CAL PAC has the limp-home info.... I have another one, CAL PAC, that I pulled from a 85 Camaro ECM.... Might they be different?
When you get a replacement ECM, you need to swap both old EPROM and CAL PAC...
GM no longer has these
:nonod:
[Modified by GRX, 9:24 AM 12/5/2003]
I have heard that the CAL PAC has the limp-home info.... I have another one, CAL PAC, that I pulled from a 85 Camaro ECM.... Might they be different?
When you get a replacement ECM, you need to swap both old EPROM and CAL PAC...
GM no longer has these
:nonod:
[Modified by GRX, 9:24 AM 12/5/2003]
Drifting
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 1
From: Norcross GA
Re: Help! 1985 Cal Pak blown (GRX)
Sorry, thought the 85 used a 165 ECM. The 165 has the all in one MEM CAL. Still generally refered to as the CAL PAK. The 85 Vette/Camero uses a 870 ECM. That said, I'm not sure if the CAL PAK is the all in one module used in the 165 ECM's. It may be in pieces, like shown in the pic. MEM CAL holds the PROM, RES PAK-LimpHome piece. The RES PAK is used to identify the Engine/Car combo to the ECM. To be safe, you'll want to keep the EPROM and CAL PAK w/ the same car engine combo. They can be swapped around,.. but you need to know which ones will work w/ what. i.e. You could experiment. Sometimes there are wiring differences between Camero and Vette hardware. Cal info will be different between Camero and Vette engines,... but should still work. (Again,... may still be wirng harness differences.)
Ask the Scan N Tune board. You may find another 85 guy who know's your hardware.
[Modified by ZylaRace, 5:22 PM 12/5/2003]
Ask the Scan N Tune board. You may find another 85 guy who know's your hardware.
[Modified by ZylaRace, 5:22 PM 12/5/2003]
