I Want to be an Automatic!

The call came in from a shop in Cincinnati. “I’m dealing with a 1999 Camaro Z28 with a 5.7 VIN G and a manual transmission,” Jim F. said. I replaced the powertrain control module and that’s when my trouble began.”

“Why did you replace the PCM? What was the original customer concern?”

“It kept tripping a code for the coolant sensor. I traced the problem to a defective PCM so I put a remanufactured PCM in that I got from Brand X warehouse (no names please).”

“They don’t make new ones for this older vehicle,” I said, just to make sure.

“Correct. Anyway, I put the VIN code in, did the idle learn procedure, the crankshaft position variation learn procedure; the engine oil life reset and the functional check. Now the PCM keeps tripping all kinds of automatic transmission codes and it’s a stick shift.”

“Maybe you programmed it incorrectly or put the wrong VIN in?” I offered.

“Look—I’ve been a GM line tech for thirty years. I’ve been programming computers since day one. I didn’t make any mistakes, Bob.”

“Okay,” I said. “Is there any more to the story?”

“I figured I had a defective Brand X PCM so I got another Brand X computer, put it in, and programmed it. I had the same problem.”

“Okay,” I said, “Is there any more to this story?”

“Yeah,” Jim said, “I got tired of Brand X so I got a PCM from the Brand Y warehouse, put it in, programmed it, and I still have the same problem. What do you think?”

“Are you using a factory tool to program it?”

“Yep.”

“I think you should double check the VIN code against what you’re putting in to it,” I said.

“Is that all you got?” Jim asked.

“That’s all for now,” I said.

He ended the call. Later that afternoon I got a call from a sales rep who told me he was on his way to Jim’s shop with another reman PCM he picked up from the Brand X warehouse. “Help me out, Bob,” Dave said, what should I be looking for? Jim is really upset with our Brand X parts and with you for not helping him.”

“Dave, check the VIN code very carefully of the Camaro.”

That evening, Dave called me back. “You’re not going to believe what I found, Bob, on that Camaro.”

“Try me.”

“The first-time Jim programmed the PCM, he was one digit off on the VIN code. The PCM thought the car had an automatic transmission. Every time he put another PCM in it, he pulled out the wrong VIN code and put it back in to the other PCMs.”

“I’m glad it’d fixed,” I said.

Jim never called me back to thank me or apologize for hanging up. All I can say is, entry-level technicians make mistakes and seasoned technicians make mistakes. We’re human and it happens to all of us. The key is, learn from your mistakes.

Until the next time.