BCM Programming... who and **?

[energizedtech]

I went and hit up the Boneyard and found a Doner ClockRing I can solder up with the other Clockring. Also to test, I scooped out the BCM of a Tahoe that has the same features as my Suburban if not more (it has the steering wheel controls). Ideally I can test things out with this BCM and be certain the wiring is good and THEN bring to GM and pay for the option to be added in properly. Just have to make sure I swap out my 2400 Pioneer with the Stock AM/FM radio first. I've heard sometimes the fail in the flash can be because the SiriusXM on the aftermarkets (which I have)

I'll make it as clean as can be

 

[energizedtech]

@imi4tth3w Thanks for the share! I'm splurging on Tech2 for $300. Knowing my luck I'll have to run a very old version of Windows to get it running

 

[jwth]

I do think that your quest is headed in a divergent direction..
having said that my reasoning is backed by some trial and error on my own vehicle.
The added controls from the steering wheel are to the instrument cluster and not thru the bcm.
I picked up several clusters from a local scrap yard and found that some had the inputs and some did not.
On inspection and compare it appears there are some components not on the units that would not work with the controls versus the units that did.
I did ask questions of people who repair clusters and came up with finding a used cluster from a vehicle that had controls on the steering wheel and using a 40 dollar chip programmer with a 8 soic clip to record my cluster eprom program into the new cluster and everything was happy after that.


just food for thought

 

[energizedtech]

I do think that your quest is headed in a divergent direction..
having said that my reasoning is backed by some trial and error on my own vehicle.
The added controls from the steering wheel are to the instrument cluster and not thru the bcm.
I picked up several clusters from a local scrap yard and found that some had the inputs and some did not.
On inspection and compare it appears there are some components not on the units that would not work with the controls versus the units that did.
I did ask questions of people who repair clusters and came up with finding a used cluster from a vehicle that had controls on the steering wheel and using a 40 dollar chip programmer with a 8 soic clip to record my cluster eprom program into the new cluster and everything was happy after that.


just food for thought

That is true. The example of how to trip the "Custom controls" by grounding off wires does not work on my Cluster. I have been told it's a matter or paying for the option at the Dealer and enabling it....

Does that make sense?

 

[Rocket Man]

I went and hit up the Boneyard and found a Doner ClockRing I can solder up with the other Clockring. Also to test, I scooped out the BCM of a Tahoe that has the same features as my Suburban if not more (it has the steering wheel controls). Ideally I can test things out with this BCM and be certain the wiring is good and THEN bring to GM and pay for the option to be added in properly. Just have to make sure I swap out my 2400 Pioneer with the Stock AM/FM radio first. I've heard sometimes the fail in the flash can be because the SiriusXM on the aftermarkets (which I have)

I'll make it as clean as can be

Just pull the fuse for the stereo. No need to swap it out. The first thing the Tech2 does when you begin the flash is to do a handshake with all modules and query them for their software version. If the module isn’t present it just goes to the next, it won’t hang. If will hang sometimes if there’s a powered up aftermarket unit because it keeps trying to wake it up and talk to it. I learned this when trying to program a HVAC control head and ended up talking to GM TDIS tech service.

 

[energizedtech]

Good idea.... nice and simple.

Any thoughts on the cluster? From the videos I've seen it seems that the cluster gets flashed by GM (Programmed / Software Updated)

Unless somebody can confirm there is a physical change in the hardware.

Of course a lot of this may in the land of theory I am imagining. GM won't want to tell you "We charged you $200 to send an update into your dashboard you could have done yourself" or the flip side is really they do, and most regular non techie consumers won't care on the "how" just they got the bells and whistles

Anyhow, I shall get down to some soldering this weekend ...

 

[Rocket Man]

Good idea.... nice and simple.

Any thoughts on the cluster? From the videos I've seen it seems that the cluster gets flashed by GM (Programmed / Software Updated)

Unless somebody can confirm there is a physical change in the hardware.

Of course a lot of this may in the land of theory I am imagining. GM won't want to tell you "We charged you $200 to send an update into your dashboard you could have done yourself" or the flip side is really they do, and most regular non techie consumers won't care on the "how" just they got the bells and whistles

Anyhow, I shall get down to some soldering this weekend ...

The cluster gets flashed just like any other module aka the BCM. Your Tech2 will do it.

 

[energizedtech]

So the process (correct and safest would be)
Wire up Clock Spring
Get a Clean BCM
Use Tech2 to download configuration using a VIN
Flash BCM and Dash

Something like that?

 

[George B]

@imi4tth3w Thanks for the share! I'm splurging on Tech2 for $300. Knowing my luck I'll have to run a very old version of Windows to get it running

I use Virtualbox and run a version of XP with a serial adapter to connect to mine.

 

[Fless]

You should be able to flash calibrations with Win10 or even Linux if you're using TIS2web ($); that uses a browser. If you're trying to flash with TIS2000 (free with included CD) then you'll need to run it on WinXP, virtual or actual.

 

[energizedtech]

If you have a Tech2 alone you cannot flash I am guessing, needs the software on WinXP or the TIS2web ($$$) to connect up to GM to download the goodies then.

So the Tis2Web is a part of this?

 

[Rocket Man]

If you have a Tech2 alone you cannot flash I am guessing, needs the software on WinXP or the TIS2web ($$$) to connect up to GM to download the goodies then.

So the Tis2Web is a part of this?

View attachment 352113

Yes, either Tis2web which I believe is $20 per VIN for unlimited programming or TIS2000 but be aware TIS2000 was a PIA for me. The Tech2 is needed as a pass-thru device between the laptop and the vehicle. Tis2web needs Win10 afaik, i know Win7 is no longer supported. Not sure about Linux, I don’t use it.

 

[Fless]

Dr Shock has some informative Tech 2 videos. Hit this link and you should see some videos about SPS programming.

https://www.youtube.com/c/DrShock/search?query=tech%202

Main site: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrShock

 

[energizedtech]

Yes, either Tis2web which I believe is $20 per VIN for unlimited programming or TIS2000 but be aware TIS2000 was a PIA for me. The Tech2 is needed as a pass-thru device between the laptop and the vehicle. Tis2web needs Win10 afaik, i know Win7 is no longer supported. Not sure about Linux, I don’t use it.

I'll probably use the TIS2web. It's $50USD for a 2 year per vehicle. I am presuming when they say "Per Vehicle" they really mean "Per vin"

 

[energizedtech]

I might be in luck for some testing, I have a BCM from a 2003 Tahoe with equal or more body options than my 2006 Suburban which the Wheel came out of. In "Theory" this could just plug in and work with the exception of the Dashboard which I believe still needs a code flash to work with the new options. The BCM without the use of Tech2 or TIS2Web or other goodies to download the software wouldn't automatically "update the dash"

I am presuming of course ....

 

[Rocket Man]

I might be in luck for some testing, I have a BCM from a 2003 Tahoe with equal or more body options than my 2006 Suburban which the Wheel came out of. In "Theory" this could just plug in and work with the exception of the Dashboard which I believe still needs a code flash to work with the new options. The BCM without the use of Tech2 or TIS2Web or other goodies to download the software wouldn't automatically "update the dash"

I am presuming of course ....

Be aware you might need to relearn the Passlock or it might only be when you replace the engine control module, I’m not sure on the NBS. I know when I did the ecm on my 02 I had to relearn the Passlock but I never did the BCM on it.

Edit: I just looked it up on my alldatadiy and you do need to do the Passlock relearn procedure or it probably won’t start.

 

[energizedtech]

Yep very familiar with good old 30minute passlock learn.

So in theory, let's say I have a BCM already programmed with a different VIN from another truck with all the needed features
I have a dashboard shipped to me with all the goodies that the steering controls require turned on (Found a source for this)
Plug them in, relearn passlock
Should just work correct?

And yep this truck has already had a "mismatched BCM and Cluster" before so I think I'm ok on that part

 

[Rocket Man]

Yep very familiar with good old 30minute passlock learn.

So in theory, let's say I have a BCM already programmed with a different VIN from another truck with all the needed features
I have a dashboard shipped to me with all the goodies that the steering controls require turned on (Found a source for this)
Plug them in, relearn passlock
Should just work correct?

And yep this truck has already had a "mismatched BCM and Cluster" before so I think I'm ok on that part

It should but you’ll still need to program the cluster to get the steering wheel controls to work I think.

 

[energizedtech]

Ah but if the cluster is already programmed to accept said controls?

 

[Rocket Man]

Ah but if the cluster is already programmed to accept said controls?

Should be gtg but you’ll have to send it out to have your mileage programmed in. The Tech2 won’t do that.