Hey Guys,

On my 165 ECM's I noticed the PROM is just pushed into a socket, that then plugs into the ECM. Why do you guys buy replacement sockets? The prom comes right out and goes right back in.. Do they break over time??

I was under the impression that the stock chips were soldered, and thats why..??

-- Joe

 

The PROM itself is supposed to be soldered to the big plastic MEMCAL, which pushes into the IDC connector on the ECM's printed circuit board.

Every GM MEMCAL I've seen had the PROM soldered in.

I'd be worried about running the PROM on the MEMCAL unsoldered, as the MEMCAL's socket is not a good friction fit and the chip will likely come loose. Soldering a DIP or ZIF socket onto the MEMCAL gets you a good connection w/ the PROM that won't vibrate loose.

 

Hi,

Well I can assure you mine is NOT soldered in, which I think is scary then if your right, which I'm 100% you are since every post I've seen has led me to believe that. I'm glad I asked!

SO just solder a 28 pin ZIF socket in its place?

Sounds easy enough.

-- Joe

 

You probably unknowingly have a Jet, ADS, or Hyperjunk chip in your car that has the piggyback adapter. Does it look like this?



Tim

 

Hi Traxion,

Nope. It looks like a stock memcal, with two little chips and the PROM on the end. The prom simply does not appear soldered, I can lift it up with a chip puller without breaking anything..

And I know its a factory chip, sals delco right on it. weird I guess.

On a side note, the 1988 Memcal should work with the ARAP bin, and the Cold start injector/vats disabled right? Or was there a major memcal difference between 88 and 89?

-- Joe

 

I'd be concerned about an unsoldered PROM getting rattled off the MEMCAL. Especially the way I drive.

The ARAP software is no problem in my experience, I used my '88 MEMCAL for 2 years with various flavors of ARAP software. I tested running off the NETRES (resistor packs for limp-home service) just to be sure, engine ran fine.

 

Hey,

Fabulous! I soldered a 40 PIN IC socket that I modified for now, Until I can get an appropriate ZIF. I'll prolly give craig a call this week and get him to send me a few. I'd like a 28 pin cable (floppy maybe?) and adapter to run the chip external so I can mount the ECM, and have like a little trap door under the dash so I can swap chips at the track quickly in the staging lanes.

Thanks for the reply's.

-- Joe