DFI and ECMDiscuss all aspects of DFI (Digital Fuel Injection), ECMs (Electronic Control Module), scanners, and diagnostic equipment. Fine tune your Third Gen computer system for top performance.
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I have been a LONG TIME reader of this forum and website, almost 2 years of it, so after (dare i say it) NOT finding the information I needed to fix my camaro that I was sucked into as my first car purchase, I decided to take the next step in this journey and post a thread (gasp).
Let me just tell you a little bit about me since I am gonna become a long term member. I am a big computer person and love them. But I know so much that I wanted to get into something a little different. So I bought this Camaro (1991 Camaro RS T5 305 TBI), and let me tell you...it was a piece of crap...I was so mad because i thought the car was honest about the sale....hey that was a good joke...and it always bogged when I stomped the gas. I searched this website for months and months and months to solve this problem and I changed EVERYTHING that was suggested to change, even if it was fine or not, including the throttle body....lots of money....now the only trouble code I get is 12 (which is normal and 15 - low CTS) so i changed the cts and then got code 51, which is the proms fault, now i ordered (what i thought was) the prom from a website called RockAuto and i just got it today, and found out thats its the Calpak. Now i did order it for my year make model and engine code. But i have no idea where the calpak is. When i open the ecm all i see is a memcal, and a prom. My SES always flashed liked crazy and after more reading on this site found outs that its a communication error with the ecm and prom. so i tried to take the prom out and put it back in to see if that will reset itself. it didn't, when i try to set the IAC valve using that whole "setting idle air" method will not work because the IAC doesn't move in diag. mode. Now this is a brand new Throttle Body that came with a brand new TPS, IAC Valve and injectors so it can't be the IAC. because my previous IAC didn't do it either. I guess the main question now is where is the calpak located at and will it fix or at least be a step to fixing my problem because i read on here that it is in the knock filter board...but i cannot even locate that. i have only learned about cars within year and a half, before that, i didn't even know what the difference was between a "motor" and an "engine"....of course i found out later.
thanks to all who can help me and i think im gonna like it here, this is like my second home.
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sorry i gotta make a little correction because of my first post failure. But after tickering with the car for a little more realized i was an idiot. Inside the ECM is a prom and some other looking chip that looks like its hard wired in the ECM, its not a memcal. sorry about double posting.
if you need anymore info let me know, i will be more then happy to respond.
Last edited by SailorMoonElite; 06-20-2009 at 07:20 PM.
My calpack ECM 8746 is a small devise about 1/3 the size of the eprom and sits in a socket. I recall it being to R of eprom with harness at top. In fact when I bought the remanufactured ECM there was no calpack and I needed to add one so that the ECM is functional. What did Rock charge you?
it was $53 after shipping. This is a newly remanufactured ECM as well. and when i open it, all i see is the PROM and something small next to it almost looks like a mod chip for a game console (but you get the idea). It looks like it is soldered into the PCB. I dont think my ECM is functioning properly, and i dont know how to add a calpak. i dont see it anywhere on the computer to add it. When i bought the new ECM (because i assumed that it was the ECM that was the problem) i had to take the prom out of the old ECM and put it in the new remanufactured ECM. How did you add the calpak, and where did you put it?
ADDED: i finally found a picture of what my ecm looks like, take a look. now in mine i have the prom of course, but i dont know what that other little bugger is, i dont see anywhere to put a calpak. To my knowledge this looks like the EXACT same ECM -- labels and all.
Last edited by SailorMoonElite; 06-23-2009 at 12:35 AM.
Reason: adding a picture
What is the ECM # ? Maybe your ECM calpack is soldered? Mine had a 10-14 pin socket. I just looked it up. Yours should be 8746 for TBI. I wonder when and if remanufactured it was soldered. Maybe someone will comment.
Quote: When i open the ecm all i see is a memcal
I believe you have a prom and a cal-pak seperate from one another.
Yes, on the '8746 ECMs the CALPAK is soldered in. These ECMs where only used on V8 engines (L03 & L05). So no need for a pluggable CALPAK. The CALPAK is the small 16 pin DIP chip.
The PROM, the larger 24 pin chip contains the calibration to run the engine.
The CALPAK contains the limp mode calibration. This is the mode that is used when the PROM goes bad or is missing.
RBob my 8746 (EBL) has a socket for calpack? Was that done by rebuilder? I bought rebuilt unit(ebay). You suggested I needed a 350 calpack rather than a 305 and I believe I have the 350 in currently.
The EBL board is socketed so that the CALPAK can be moved over to it. Recall that the EBL board replaces the ECM's little board. Which is where the CALPAK & PROM reside.
There is no difference between the 305 & 350 CALPAKs.
The EBL board is socketed so that the CALPAK can be moved over to it. Recall that the EBL board replaces the ECM's little board. Which is where the CALPAK & PROM reside.
There is no difference between the 305 & 350 CALPAKs.
RBob.
Im not sure what "EBL" is, but will i be able to use this calpak. or if i cannot use it, is it possible i can buy another ECM that uses a portable calpak? still a little confused here.
Why do you think the calpack that is soldered in is faulty? Something tells me calpacks seldon fail? The error code 51 you stated you recd is for "prom". code 52 is calpack. code 55 is ECM.
Possible the prom is in backward? I placed backward a few times. No damage but I recall the rapid blinky.
ps EBL is a GM puter that is changed upgraded, to put it mildly, along with a datalogging software program. dynamicefi.com
Why do you think the calpack that is soldered in is faulty? Something tells me calpacks seldon fail? The error code 51 you stated you recd is for "prom". code 52 is calpack. code 55 is ECM.
Possible the prom is in backward? I placed backward a few times. No damage but I recall the rapid blinky.
ps EBL is a GM puter that is changed upgraded, to put it mildly, along with a datalogging software program. dynamicefi.com
I had ordered what i had BELIEVED to be the PROM since that is what the section was under, but i ended up getting a calpak instead. I am not a huge person of returning online items because i like to make sure i know what i am getting so i dont ever have to return it. But instead of returning it....if i can....i would just replace the calpak while i have it.
Is it even possible to put the prom in backwards...it looks like it has tabs that would prevent anyone from putting it in back wards....do you possibly suspect that the actual prom chip that is housed in the carrier is backwards?
I have not dropped in a prom for some time since I have EBL and it is a flash type devise. No prom used. BUT I recall(this might be wrong) that with harness at top of ECU the notch in prom is to your right.
My carrier was removed when I was burning chips. I actually used an insertion devise for proms. I dont recall if the plastic carrier prevents you from a mistake on direction.
Hi Ronny
Im not sure if i am just not understanding this correctly or if we are talking about two different things.
With the prom chip sitting in the carrier, there is no way I can put it in backwards. The carrier has 4 long tabs on the bottom and about 5 or 6 smaller tabs on the top that would make it impossible for me to install it backwards. unless i was a complete and utter idiot and literally jammed it into the socket --- in all reality i dont think i would even have the strength to do that.
so now that i have realized that my car is just not going to run correctly until i get a properly functioning prom chip. Can anyone tell me where i can get the prom for my car. Can anyone suggest using a different one other then stock for future expansion purposes. the car is stock the only thing that it has is a high volume oil pump and a stage 2 clutch, but mostly stock. would a hypertech chip benefit me in any way? is it worth spending the extra to get it. I dont even know where to find the stock prom chip for my car. any suggestions?
thanks ronny for all your help. i just have one more thought and question for you, or anyone who is giving advice -- then i'll buy ya a six pack...seriously if i ever meet ya, i will.
since i dont want to start a whole new thread just to ask this, with my whole problem of the prom not working correctly, should i just get this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOT-C...hippingPayment
im not really concerned about the price tag for this, its not too bad ($110) if its for a problem that i spent close to over 1k in TRYING to fix. i just want my car to run the way it should and have a correctly functioning properly working prom and get rid of that stupid flashing SES light and the only DT code of 51. should i just get it and be done with the whole problem? my ecm number is 7-8746 would this be the same as the 1228746 that matches on the ebay site? i hope it is. So, should i get it? because trust me. if someone says to buy it, i will.
the ecm is a remanufactured one that i bought at autozone. the prom chip says 2254 on it. and there is a long bar code label next to the prom that starts with 078746----and then continues on for like 10 more numbers or so. you might be on to something. the car was kinda ghetto thinking that the old owner might have gotton some kind of uber performance. there was a dryer vent instead of a intake tube, i had to go junkyard hopping to find it. maybe he thought that buying a different chip would give him that "super cool xXxomghorsepoweromgxXx. i am honestly starting to think that, and that it might have the wrong prom. like i said when i bought this ECM (about a year ago) i had to take the old prom out and put mine in it and it never fixed the flashing SES. i think you know more then me at this point. i have a very good feeling that the prom is the main problem of this whole ordeal. unless its the wiring.
chip says 2254??? I believe it should be like ALNU or AXUL or whatever. Those 4 letters identify the chip to a specific car trans etc. Look again for letters. If none then maybe the chip was burned created by someone. When I bought remanufactured all I got was that. no chip no calpack. I needed to add both.
APTY - that is what is printed above the numbers on the PROM - can you do anything with these numbers. is there anyway i can look up these numbers to make sure this is car specific?
ok i from what i see, i have the right chip prom and its just not working, im not paying someone to program my chip because the chip itself might be defective. so i think i will buy that chip and install it and see if it works. and hey, if it doesn't the seller is willing to refund my purchase if it doesn't work.
