93-02 ECM Compatibility / Interchangeability

[FunkZ]

Had a friend look up a part number for my 94 3.4 Fbody computer.

Interestingly, the same part number also shows up for 94-95 3.1 Wbody (Lumina, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix) and 3.1 Lbody (Beretta, Corsica)

I'm looking for a cheap, second ECM to send off to Fastchip for flashing so I can still use my car. If the hardware is the same, and it's flashed for a Fbody 3.4 then it should work in my car, correct?

Just wondering if anyone has ever tried this with a W or L body computer. They're easier to find in the salvage yards.

[ November 05, 2004, 02:33 AM: Message edited by: FunkZ ]

[FunkZ]

Heh, okay here's a laugh.

I bought an ECM from a 94 Corsica 3.1 for $20. I thought it would at least need flashed before I could use it, but for ****s and giggles I hooked it up to my car's harness and fired it up. It runs! and I don't mean runs barely or poorly... it runs perfect! There is no hesitation, no SES, perfect idle, etc. straight out of a junkyard Corsica! :D

Here's the list I've compiled: (updated for ODB-II)

Service numbers are printed on the ECM housing.
Look for a white label with bar codes. Serv. No. is at the top.

93 Fbody
Service #
16172693
93 3.4 Firebird, Camaro
93 3.1 Grand Prix AT 4-speed
93 3.1 Cutlass AT 4-speed (California)
93 3.1 Lumina
93 3.1 Regal AT (California)

94-95 Fbody
MT 5-speed
Service #
16196397
94-95 3.4 Firebird, Camaro MT 5-speed
94-95 3.1 Grand Am, Grand Prix
94-95 3.1 Achieva, Cutlass
94-95 3.1 Beretta, Corsica
95 3.1 Lumina, Monte Carlo
94-95 3.1 Regal, Skylark


94-95 Fbody
AT 4-speed
Service #
16184737
94-95 3.4 Firebird, Camaro AT 4-speed


95-96 Fbody
Service #
16207326
95-96 3.8 Firebird, Camaro

97 Fbody
Service #
16227797
97 3.8 Firebird, Camaro
97 3.4 Monte Carlo
97 3.8 Park Ave, Regal, Riviera
97 3.8 Bonneville, Grand Prix w/SC

98 Fbody
Service #
16236757
98 3.8 Firebird, Camaro
98 3.1 Lumina, Malibu
98 3.8 Lumina, Monte Carlo
98 3.1 Century, Skylark
98 3.8 Electra, LeSabre, Park Ave
98 3.8 Regal, Riviera
98 3.1 Achieva, Cutlass
98 3.8 Intrigue
98 3.4 Silhouette
98 3.1 Grand Am, Grand Prix
98 3.8 Bonneville, Grand Prix
98 3.4 Transport

99 Fbody
Service #
9374997
99 3.8 Firebird, Camaro

There was some discrepency with some of the '99 PCM's being mislabled with an ETC service number. From information supplied by other '99 owners I'd say your safest bet is to stick with your original PCM rather than trying to find one that will work.

00-02 Fbody
Service #
9380717
00-02 3.8 Firebird, Camaro
00-01 3.8 Impala, Monte Carlo
00 3.1 Lumina, Century
00 3.8 Park Ave, Regal
00 3.4 Alero, Silhouette
00 3.8 Bonneville, Grand Prix
00-02 3.4 Grand Am, Montana
00 3.1 Grand Prix

01-02 Fbody
Service #
12209624
01-02 3.8 Firebird, Camaro
01-02 3.8 Impala, Monte Carlo
01 3.1 Lumina
01-02 3.8 LeSabre, Park Ave, Regal
01-02 3.8 Bonneville, Grand Prix
01 3.4 Grand Am

The service number indicates the hardware itself used in the vehicle. There is also a calibration number that refers to the actual programming in the computer. You can check the calibration history here.


Check your service code on the 93's as some of those 3.1 cars it lists two different codes, probably the computers were changed out mid-year.

Also, on the matter of 93 prom/flash debate too... there is no prom in a 93 3.4 Fbody computer, it's flash only. However the following cars show service code 16149396 which is a removable prom computer:
91-93 3.4 Grand Prix
93 3.1 Grand Prix AT 4-speed
91-93 3.4 Cutlass
93 3.1 Cutlass AT 4-speed
91-93 3.4 Lumina
93 3.1 Lumina
93 3.1 Regal AT (Non-California)

So it might be worth a shot to try one of the computers from any of those cars on a 93 3.4 Fbody and see if it runs, again as the non-Fbody cars had computers switched out mid-year.

[ December 24, 2004, 01:55 AM: Message edited by: FunkZ ]

[pontiac nino]

Originally posted by FunkZ:

So (going by the service code) the following car computers should be completely interchangable:
94-95 3.4 Firebird, Camaro MT 5-speed
94-95 3.1 Grand Am, Grand Prix
94-95 3.1 Achieva, Cutlass
94-95 3.1 Beretta, Corsica
95 3.1 Lumina, Monte Carlo
94-95 3.1 Regal, Skylark, Somerset

Are you talking about the PCM or the ECM(control module)? and what you are saying is for example a 94' computer would be interchangeable w/ a 95' pcm and the several other cars listed?

[FunkZ]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
Are you talking about the PCM or the ECM(control module)?

Yes. ;) ECM (Electronic Control Module) PCM (Powertrain Control Module) ECC (Engine Control Computer) or just "computer" are all terms that usually refer to the same thing. I'm talking about the metal-encased box that is stuffed under the cowl behind the passenger-side strut tower.

All of those year/make/models listed (for 94-95) share the same exact part number for the computer.

I thought that even if the hardware is identical, the flash programming (software) would differ between those models. But I nearly soiled my pants when I put that Corsica computer in my car and it fired right up and drove perfectly. My friend and I couldn't stop laughing about it tonight. [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

I assume that the 94-95 autos have a different part number because of the 4L60E and the computer controls the trans, whereas the 93 auto had the non-electric vacuum-controlled 4L60 so it shares the same computer as the 93 manual.

[pontiac nino]

woot! thats pretty damn sweet! :D
ok so on more question lol.......

94-95 3.1 Grand Am, Grand Prix
94-95 3.1 Achieva, Cutlass
94-95 3.1 Beretta, Corsica
95 3.1 Lumina, Monte Carlo
94-95 3.1 Regal, Skylark, Somerset
Does it matter whether these cars are auto or manual for them to work, I mean the corsica you removed it from, it was a auto was it not? and its compatable w/ a manual?

[FunkZ]

The only cars that made a difference whether it was manual or auto I noted with MT or AT on the list.

Yes, the Corsica was an auto but it makes no difference on any of those 94-95 except the Fbody has to be manual. The 94-95 auto Fbody has a different part number, probably due to the electronic trans.

<edit> Pull your computer out (2 10mm bolts) and look on the back at the large white sticker. At the top above the bar code should say, Serv. No. 16196397

[ November 02, 2004, 01:22 AM: Message edited by: FunkZ ]

[pontiac nino]

Cool, thanks for the info man! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[FunkZ]

NP, glad to share! I've been looking for a spare computer for my car for awhile now and a 94-95 Fbody 3.4 manual is nearly impossible to find. With all those computers being interchangable however I had several to choose from at the junkyard.

[Jerriko]

Originally posted by FunkZ:


93 3.4 are a different service code, 16172693, but are the same between manual and auto. These match up with a smaller number of cars:
93 3.4 Firebird, Camaro
93 3.1 Grand Prix AT 4-speed
93 3.1 Cutlass AT 4-speed (California)
93 3.1 Lumina
93 3.1 Regal AT (California)

Check your service code on the 93's as some of those 3.1 cars it lists two different codes, probably the computers were changed out mid-year.

Also, on the matter of 93 prom/flash debate too... there is no prom in a 93 3.4 Fbody computer, it's flash only. However the following cars show service code 16149396 which is a removable prom computer:
91-93 3.4 Grand Prix
93 3.1 Grand Prix AT 4-speed
91-93 3.4 Cutlass
93 3.1 Cutlass AT 4-speed
91-93 3.4 Lumina
93 3.1 Lumina
93 3.1 Regal AT (Non-California)

So it might be worth a shot to try one of the computers from any of those cars on a 93 3.4 Fbody and see if it runs, again as the non-Fbody cars had computers switched out mid-year.

That's not true. They may have the same service number but the code is different between the autos and manuals. There should be codes listed with the service numbers and these codes are different between manuals and autos. If these computers are swapped, the cars may run but they will not run right.

[FunkZ]

Originally posted by Jerriko:
That's not true. They may have the same service number but the code is different between the autos and manuals. There should be codes listed with the service numbers and these codes are different between manuals and autos. If these computers are swapped, the cars may run but they will not run right.

Hrm, well a 94 Corsica 3.1 Automatic PCM runs my 94 Firebird 3.4 Manual just fine.

Possibly going the other way (manual PCM in an auto car) with electronic shift transmissions would have a problem.

The reason I put this list together though is so that people out to find a spare, cheap PCM to have reprogrammed have a much wider range of cars to look for at a salvage yard. I'm not saying for people to use a PCM with Montana flash in the car just to see what happens. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ November 05, 2004, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: FunkZ ]

[v6droptop]

thanks for providing the list.
Ive run an A/T and M/T PCM in my 94 3.4 swap and both run just fine. The A/T PCM does set codes for some missing tranny sensors but still runs OK.
See my new topic 3.4 driveability prob for more details

[FuzzKill]

Re: 93-02 ECM Compatibility / Interchangeability

What's the issue with putting a 98 PCM into a 96/97 Camaro? The only difference I know of is the one o2 in the y-pipe no longer being used. Is the PCM pinout different because of this?

I know the MAF changed in 99+ but I have a 98 PCM here I'd like to use if possible.