BCM Programming... who and **?

[energizedtech]

This is probably a "noob" question but I'll ask

I have a 2006 Suburban 2500. Happy with this truck. I am looking into changing some settings to addin the better steering wheel (Phone/Radio/DIC controls) but I know that unless my BCM "Understands these features are on" it will be just a big pretty useless decoration.

My Dashboard does have the DIC but it of course only displays Odometer, Engineer runtime and a single trip meter.

So before I go ripping things apart
a) Can this be done WITHOUT going to GM (*my last trip the dealer wiped out and killed my BCM*)
b) To whom I go to?

Fortunately my Radio is at least aftermarket (The original AM/FM is good but was in Vin Lock because the BCM in the truck had a different VIN)

Failing that.... anybody know how to turn the Horn Chirp back on? The replacement BCM from ebay programmed to the VIN works great but that feature is off and since I don't have Custom DIC to turn the settings on/off.... no chirp

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please. If we can't see it, it is not real.

If you do any significant work on your truck, I highly recommend that you invest in a Tech 2 (~350.00 for the fully functional Chinese knockoff, which most of us have). The Tech 2 is an analyzer/programmer tool which was the GM service shop gold standard for your year truck. With the Tech 2, you can review and analyze trouble codes, collect and plot and analyze real time data of the truck's electronic components, turn on/turn off available features for your electronic control modules, and update and program modules for your truck.

I needed to replace my BCM, so I bought one from RockAuto.com, and I used my Tech 2 to program it to my truck.

There is a thread on this Forum that lists the current and growing list of Tech 2 owners in the various geographic areas, who have agreed to assist other local members of this Forum, who need the services of a Tech 2.

 

[energizedtech]

Pics are in my intro but I don't mind sharing again

If you look in the back there is the 3rd seat I got for free (Some grey leather thing) that a mouse might have gotten to. Internally it's clean an un-eaten but the original headrest was "snacked on" somewhat. So that will be my task in October, order in the proper covers to match my Greyish Velour seats

...and that little Orange White mixup is one of my two 2006 Smart cars. No I looked, I don't it will fit in the back of the Suburban

 

[Rocket Man]

Anybody that has access to a Tech2 can do it. There’s a list of members on the forum who have one, you might be able to do it that way.

 

[energizedtech]

So quick question more specific, if we have a "list" is there a particular group I should ping to find a list of "options" for the BCM? I think I've heard the term PCO or something option codes?

In my case I have 4 BCM's to mess with
1 - Original which was marked as failed due to it not starting the truck ....and after 1 year of unplugging came back to life
2 - Current production unit with the same VIN shipped from eBay with some options (Like the horn chirp) left disabled
3 - One from Kenny U Pull from a 2500 Silverado (Same Vortex engine) but never used
4 - One from another truck, Tahoe or Yukon series almost the same options or more as my Suburban minus the rear gate. That's the one the dealer wiped out. I'd love to find if there is a process to do an "NPR - Nuke Pave Reload" on the memory structure and breathe life back in. Make it the Guineau pig to mess with

 

[Rocket Man]

Here’s a link to the thread of owners. I’m on there, Mark in zip 97236 Oregon. Post #31 has a spreadsheet link to all of us.

Tech 2 Owners Map

Here is another link for those new users or anyone wanting to learn more about their devices. While I have experience using one and am a “new” owner of a Tech2 (a real one this time instead of a clone), this site is still one that I use to learn a thing or two...

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

As for options, you must be thinking RPO list. Anyway, to add steering wheel controls there is a procedure as far as programming to the BCM besides adding the controls and changing the clockspring but I’m not sure what it is. There was a thread here recently. Hopefully somebody with more knowledge will chime in, or else do a search.

 

[jwth]

I believe that the 2003 to 2006 trucks have to have the instrument cluster eprom altered to add the controls from the steering wheel, that is if the wiring for it is intact.
It would take entering an eprom bin from a vehicle with that equipment setup,,,I could be wrong and usually am,,,there is a youtube on addinf the wheel controls if I remember right and it indicates reflashing the ip eprom. The bcm then updates the ipc with the correct vin.

 

[energizedtech]

Thank you all in advance. This will give me some reading and research before I hit the yard tomorrow to make sure I pull the correct wheel. I know the dashes are different when you cross to the '07 on some models.

Steering Wheel, Clock Spring wiring the same you think ? I can grab a wheel and clock spring for $50 to mess with so I might anyhow. Some fun in a scrapyard with an excuse to pull out a battery powered impact gun

 

[energizedtech]

And yeah, that video I've seen @jwth. I did a quick test and of course my DIC doesn't respond this way since yep.... it needs a flash. I will definitely ping later on the codes once I get the Tech2 next month. My buddy (and former owner of the Suburban) is a certified mechanic no longer in the field and we can take good advantage of the Tech2 between the Suburban and his Vanlife. (He has a Chevy Express 3500 Cube Van converted to a mobile hotel room)

For him, that's why he stopped on the Suburban since the Vanlife became his main driver

 

[energizedtech]

So I'm not sure if this will help others but somebody posted on Amazon what appears to be the complete "RPO" code list. It's a PDF file so it can be saved locally.

https://rparts-sites.s3.amazonaws.com/dec399b0838336997484042ed2af1004/design/rpoCodes.pdf

 

[energizedtech]

If this would be useful to anybody in the forum, I translated the PDF file with all the RPO codes into an Excel sheet which allows you to drop in a list of RPO code on the "Source Car Sheet" and translate their options.

RPOCodes.xlsx

Microsoft Excel Workbook

1drv.ms

I left my truck in their as an example. I thought it might be easier to "snap a picture" of the options from a Glove box to determine what had been enabled in one vehicle vs another to determine what you Might want to turn on

 

[Rocket Man]

If this would be useful to anybody in the forum, I translated the PDF file with all the RPO codes into an Excel sheet which allows you to drop in a list of RPO code on the "Source Car Sheet" and translate their options.

RPOCodes.xlsx

Microsoft Excel Workbook

1drv.ms

I left my truck in their as an example. I thought it might be easier to "snap a picture" of the options from a Glove box to determine what had been enabled in one vehicle vs another to determine what you Might want to turn on

You can’t just “turn on” RPO’s by programming them into the BCM. You need to use a VIN from a vehicle with the RPO’s you want. The Tech2 uses the list of RPO’s associated with that VIN to program the BCM in your vehicle.

 

[energizedtech]

Future upgrade for my 2006 Suburban 2500. Pulled from a 2003 Chevy Tahoe (and yep, I've used some of it's bits to put other woodgrain in the truck. I kinda like it

 

[energizedtech]

You can’t just “turn on” RPO’s by programming them into the BCM. You need to use a VIN from a vehicle with the RPO’s you want. The Tech2 uses the list of RPO’s associated with that VIN to program the BCM in your vehicle.

Ah so it's like my friend mentioned. I need to find a 2006 Suburban with all of my base options *and* the ones I want then... (or YukonXL,EscaladeXL) and "Borrow the vin" for the programming.

....and now the challenge. Anybody got a 2006 Suburban *with* the controls on the wheel?

I did grab the Vin from 2003 Tahoe which is probably a good "Start" but I am presuming that is too much of a jump and could mess up my Suburban unless that Tahoe has the same 2500, Transmission, 4WD etc

 

[Rocket Man]

Ah so it's like my friend mentioned. I need to find a 2006 Suburban with all of my base options *and* the ones I want then... (or YukonXL,EscaladeXL) and "Borrow the vin" for the programming.

....and now the challenge. Anybody got a 2006 Suburban *with* the controls on the wheel?

I did grab the Vin from 2003 Tahoe which is probably a good "Start" but I am presuming that is too much of a jump and could mess up my Suburban unless that Tahoe has the same 2500, Transmission, 4WD etc

The BCM has nothing to do with the trans engine etc just the body control functions. The other stuff is controlled by the TCM and ECM.

 

[energizedtech]

So finding a 2007 Suburban loaded with all the options I need (at least INCLUDING my set) would be a good start for the BCM then? But if the BCM is already programmed with a VIN will that cause an issue?

*or* is it that the Tech 2 connects up with the VIN, downloads the necessary binary code for that VIN and applies it to the BCM?

 

[Rocket Man]

I haven’t used a different VIN to program with but from what I understand, each VIN has RPO codes associated with it and those are programmed into the module. Hopefully somebody who has done this will chime in. I have programmed a used module that had a different VIN when I bought it, and used my VIN when programming it and the correct options for my truck were programmed.

 

[jwth]

I did try this in the past for my yukon and came up with an invalid vin match for the vehicle which did not allow for any updating. It dod rewrite the ecm with the new vin and I had to change the vin back with hptuners to get back to proper operation, caused some other modules to not work correctly and they head to be reprogrammed after as well.

 

[energizedtech]

I did try this in the past for my yukon and came up with an invalid vin match for the vehicle which did not allow for any updating. It dod rewrite the ecm with the new vin and I had to change the vin back with hptuners to get back to proper operation, caused some other modules to not work correctly and they head to be reprogrammed after as well.

Once I get to that level, I will look into writing up an FAQ on "Updating your BCM with new options" if one does not exist already.

for Potential VINS with options I did find AutoTrader.com on the US side is ripe with models and vin's pre-posted. Some ads are incredibly detailed.

I guess the OTHER option is to go to GM and pay to have the option ADDED to my BCM. Just after my last experience, not sure how I feel about that.

 

[imi4tth3w]

I’ve actually got an 06 suburban 2500 with those extra controls.



Feel free to try my vin

I also have a VCXnano that can do tech2 emulation. It’s a little tricky to set them up and you probably want to use it in a VM (slightly sketchy Chinese software lol) but can’t beat it for $120

VXDIAG VCX Nano Multiple GDS2 and TIS2WEB Diagnostic/Programming System for GM/Opel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NACTAY...abc_0JND8V05FWKT4W912E0H?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1