Specifically Module Programming.....
Most of the time it's a good, quick, clean revenue stream, But there are time's it really tests my patience.
Vehicle....2008 Saturn Astra, 1.8L Ecotec/Aisin 4 speed auto with 42,xxx miles
Complaint....ECM was replaced for a no crank condition, ECM needs programming.
Got the call late yesterday afternoon (Saturday) from the owner of a small car lot I've never dealt with before, But has good references from other car lot owners I do business with. Said he would really like the car for sale first thing Monday mourning.
Turns out this is a weird Opel Import which I'm not really setup to deal with, The initial programming via GM SPS & J-2534 went fine....But setting up the module was a nightmare.
My hand held Tech 2 doesn't cover the Astra & I don't have a subscription to Tech2Win (PC based Tech 2 Software) because my 2013 updated hand held has worked every GM legacy vehicle I've ran across in the past.
My Autel Elite also didn't cover the Saturn Astra, Luckily I Googled the issue & inputting it as a Opel Astra worked for setting up Vehicle Options & reprogramming the Key Fob.
GM has a TSB about setting up the vehicle options on 2008 & 2009 Astra's, To bad it was incorrect, It stated to set the Oil Level Switch to "Not Present"....This vehicle has a Oil Level Switch! It was setting a P0610-Vehicle Options Incorrect DTC until I finally got the combination correct. Alldata doesn't have this DTC listed for a 2008, 2009 Astra does have it listed but made no mention of changing the options via a scan tool, But had you check powers & ground....Then replace & program the ECM.
If I had access to the original ECM.....I could've recorded the vehicle options, It was supposedly thrown away???
Test drove the vehicle, Reset the Oil Life, No dash lights, Everything seemed fine. Stopped to get some Coffee at the local QT, Went to start the vehicle....No Crank, Check Engine Light blinking rapidly, Relays under the hood clicking rapidly.
Called the Wife to bring my truck, Had her pull me back to the shop.
If you guessed bad/corrupted Ground....You'd be correct, The ECM has to be Case Grounded which would be very unusual on a Domestic GM product! The ECM ground termination point is under the Battery & this vehicle has had a leaky battery at one time or another. Removing the ground nut broke the stud as it was corroded half way through. Good news is the cable wasn't corroded inside & was able to crimp & seal a new eyelet on & move it to an adjacent ground stud.
All this over a bad ground.