E38 TIS Programming warning

[GMPX]

Hi all,

We just wanted to make people aware that EFILive support is now seeing a number of people who have had problems with E38's after reflashing them with TIS.

To narrow it down, the issue appears to be when the ECM is updated to a 2009 OS from a previous release.
The sort of issues that are being reported are -

• ECM becomes locked (can't read or flash) - Use key $E405 if this happens.
• ECM looses serial number (lost license data)
• VIN becomes scrambled

To make matters worse sometimes the ECM cannot be recovered from this state and a new ECM must be purchased, it really comes down to luck as to what level of corruption occurs.
It may have something to do with the ECM version, there appears to be two part numbers for the E38:
2006 - 2007 = 12597121
2008 - 2009 = 12612384
We think it is when a 12597121 ECM is updated to 2009 then problems occur, it's hard to say at this stage.
The final issue is that the vehicle may actually continue to operate normally even after the corruption which makes the decision of buying a new ECM difficult.

So far we have had no reports of similar problems when using EFILive for programming, but unfortunately people need to use TIS sometimes to put a stock tune back in to a vehicle if they weren't the original tuner or to update to the latest releases from GM.

Please keep in mind that this is not an EFILive issue, therefore EFILive will not issue free replacement licenses for corrupted / replacement ECM's.

At this stage there had been no reports of similar problems with the E67, but that doesn't mean there is no problem - EDIT: Apparently E67's are suffering the same problem too.

Cheers,
Ross

[Redline Motorsports]

Ross,

Interesting info. I assume that if we did a TIS flash, as long as we use the "current" update as provided by TIS then we should experience this issue. Is this just if you try stuffing the new OS in the earlier PCM?

Howard

[GMPX]

Is this just if you try stuffing the new OS in the earlier PCM?

Howard

I think so. If you had a 2008 vehicle with an old 2008 OS and you wanted to update it to the latest 2008 OS on TIS then things will probably be fine.
It is when you try to do the big jump it might fall over.

Cheers,
Ross

[Redline Motorsports]

Gotcha! Chuck needs to absorb this! He is the one that stuffs PCM's with crazy stuff! LOL!!

Howard

[GTPprix]

I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds here but if any of you are in a pickle I've got a few cases of NEW E38's with Serv #12612384 (along with 09 E67's E37's and T42s ect..) in stock on my website.

[GMPX]

Thanks Chris, good to know for people.

Cheers,
Ross

P.S - A few cases

[GTPprix]

Thanks Chris, good to know for people.

Cheers,
Ross

P.S - A few cases

Heheh yeah I've typically got anywhere from 10-20 cases of ECM's most of the time @12 units per case. Also I know alot of you are outside the us and the shipping cost VIA UPS is pretty extreme, email me and i'll get you a USPS quote which is normally very reasonable.

[gmh308]

Looks like GM has planted an exploding easter egg in the E38 .

To paraphrase 2001 A Space Odyssey....."you can do anything you like to a 2008 and earlier tune, just dont touch the 2009's".

[Chuck CoW]

Come now Ross, What are you trying to say???? That the TIS system has....FLAWS???

Why....... any REAL tuner should expect to spend at least a few grand in new controllers after unnecessary TIS flash failures per year.....ya think?

Ya gotta be in it to win it!
Chuck CoW

[GMPX]

From what I have seen this morning doing some experimentation, do not update any 2007/2008 E38's to a 2009 OS using TIS, you are going to end up with a messed up ECM.
I have performed multiple flashes of 2007 OS's without a hitch, as soon as TIS programmed in OS 12628982 I lost all the ECM info and it was locked.
FYI, the 2009 OS's are - 12617175, 12628982, 12628983, 12628990, 12630501.
As I mentioned in a previous post, there was a part number change for the 2008+ E38, this might have something to do with it.
Interestingly, they now have the warning below come up when programming 2009 ECM's..........it would be nice to know what the 'set-up' is (maybe it's crossed your fingers).

Chuck, TIS has of course never been 100% reliable with programming, early Duramax's are bad, still are, they have a similar issue to this one where all the ECM serial, VIN etc is wiped after TIS programmed them. Still, I am not criticising it, I feel their pain!

One more thing to note, the location of the VIN changed in 2008, so if you update a 2007 OS to 2008 you will find the VIN is missing the first 4 digits.

Cheers,
Ross