*skip to second paragraph for the actual question*
-> 2005 c6 corvette base LS2 engine
hey guys first off thanks for taking a moment to look at my post. the issue I am having is that the 2005 c6 corvette I recently bought had a few issues just to state a few; new transmission (got stuck in a neutral reverse), new diff( ring and pinion was going out * really loud whining inside the car), A/C compressor (lost its clutch), HUD broke 3 months after I bought it, and sometimes I get an error *service active handling*. so as you can see there are a few problems that I got with the car (most are fixed now). Currently the car is equipped with American racing headers, (cat less) X-pipes and Corsa mufflers (not happy with the sound) SLP intake, and what I now know is to be a locked out but tuned ECM. *Planning on changing the heads cam and intake manifold right after.*

In the process of trying to tune the cars' ECM I was told that there was some sort of programming lock preventing them from making any changes to the car. I headed over to the dealership and was told they could not flash it back to factory stock and that I needed a new ECM (~$425 bucks) I have done a little looking and I know that it's the e40 ECM but what I don't know is what is the part number or if there is an alternative that is better for performance tuning. Otherwise does anyone have any place or can offer for a good price for the stock ECM. Looking forward to your positive posts thanks again.

 

bueller ..... bueller......

 

Contact Chuck at Corvettes Of Westchester. He knows more about the C5 & C6 PCM/ECUs than anyone I know. He will tell you the correct info and what you need to do.

Corvettes of Westchester
37 Old Albany Post Road
Ossining, N.Y. 10562

http://www.corvettes-of-westchester.com/


914-332-0049

Bill Curlee

 

He was most likely the one that locked it

Call ECS.

 

There are two options. One you remove the ECU from the car and send it to a company that can try to unlock the ECU I knew a company at one point and time that did this. The second options is to purchase a new ECU and have it flashed to your correct vin number. I've been down this road before with my 05 Z51 C6 I bought HP tuners to try to start tuning hooked it up to my C6 this how i found out the ECU was locked and I ended up selling the HP software and left the car alone. Good luck

 

I've used Jesse Bubb at Wait4MePerformance and he is normally able to unlock the PCMs without issue. He uses EFILive vs. HPTuners, and EFILive does allow you to write the VIN back if I recall correctly, whereas HPTuners does not. You would need to confirm with him though. I don't know the guy personally, I've only done business with him and been happy with what I paid for and received.

http://www.wait4meperformance.com/

You would have to remove the ECM and ship it to him, but he turns around pretty quickly.

 

i will give some of these people a call to see what they can do thanks for the advice

 

Hahahaha

I aint saying a word

 

I would never have a car tuned where they lock the ECM's. Why would they lock their tunes? Are they hiding something? If something goes wrong your are screwed.

 

Locking a pcm doesn't change the VIN. It changes the security and hand shaking of the PCM. If the PCMs security seed is changed it won't allow programming unless the handshaking is complete, wrong security seed no handshaking means no programming. Some time ago, when LS2 edit was in its early stage, that POS program would auto lock the customers PCM. When it locks a PCM, it won't allow a read, but it allowed a TIS reflash, but then it would still not allow a read of the stock program nor a flash from HPT, EFI Live or its own program unless it had the proper securty code. Street and Performance was a big user of LS2 edit, but when the had so many complaints of locked PCMs that went to states all over the USA they dumped them like a hot potatoe.

 

Lets not forget the dreaded LS1/2 edit 'lost communication' code. The next few minutes as it attempted to recover the PCM were quite stressful followed by the dreaded 'failed to recover' message signifying that you were to soon be buying a new PCM. It happened to me 5 minutes from the mexican border on a saturday night with the customer asking...."what does that mean?"

We ate at whataburger afterward. It recovered.

 

I believe his concern was the ability to write his vette's VIN to a replacement PCM should they not be able to unlock his and recover it.

 

Don't you hate that when that happens!

It the three instances I ran across VIN numbers was never the issue. Personally I am surprised that the software even exists today. I feel for the guys that stuck thousands into it as they are stuck with it. I use HPT and have about 10k in that little box! A friend of mine has also developed GEN4 tuning software, his is a LOT cheaper than any of the big three (HPT, EFI Live, and LS2 edit) you buy one file definition for $75 and you can tune unlimited cars. Its a bit archaic to use because the GUI interface is dated, but it works, there isn't any 2 bar upgrades or things like that but if you don't need those things the software works as well as any of them. It also does not have any scanning software which for me is not an issue as I use the GM TECH2 and MDI systems for scanning.

 

what is this software you speak of? does it write vin numbers?

 

ols post I know - but I have a 2001 Vette with the locked PCM, anyone able to get theirs unlocked?