Updating E38/T42 Operating system

[HartRod]

I have a 2013 Camaro ECM/TCM and I want to update the operating system to a 2013 Corvette ECM/TCM operating system. I know this has to be done a the dealership, but would like to know what all is involved/required to make this happen. I asked the dealership but they were not very informative....Thanks in advance

[MikeOD]

It might be better to send everything to someone with GM TIS access. Without the hardware being in the original car, the dealer may not get things right.

Send me a PM if necessary, I've got a friend that could do it for you if you ship everything to him. I will give you his e-mail.

[DSteck]

Download a file off of the repository, and then flash it yourself.

By the way, you have a T43. It's inside the transmission. I don't see that coming out to get flashed on a bench.

[HartRod]

It might be better to send everything to someone with GM TIS access. Without the hardware being in the original car, the dealer may not get things right.

Send me a PM if necessary, I've got a friend that could do it for you if you ship everything to him. I will give you his e-mail.

I appreciate the offer Mike, but I really don't want to pull the TCM out of the transmission.

Download a file off of the repository, and then flash it yourself.

By the way, you have a T43. It's inside the transmission. I don't see that coming out to get flashed on a bench.

Dave it's my understanding that to install a new operating system into an ECM/TCM, that it has to be done at a dealership or by someone with a "tech II". Also, John at Speartech will reflash you TCM with a new OS, but you pull it out and send it to them. (Corrected to TCM to a T43)

EDIT: I looked at the segments on my 2013 Camaro Tune and the segments on a 2013 Corvette tune, and the ECM/TCM Segment 1 had the same numbers, but the other ECM/TCM segments were different. Not really sure what this means though...

[DSteck]

HP Tuners will rewrite the operating system with a write entire.

[HartRod]

HP Tuners will rewrite the operating system with a write entire.

So you are saying I can do a write entire with a 2013 Corvette tune into my original 2013 Camaro ECM/TCM, then it will have all the functionality of a Corvette tune, including matching up the segments? I'm assuming I can just use a factory tune from the repository including the VIN from that tune?

[caesar]

Segment 1 is the operating system. If segment 1 is the same on both the ECM and TCM, a calibration flash is sufficient. However, one of the extra segments that is not flashed by HPT is different between the Camaro and Corvette calibrations so I recommend that you TIS the ECM first to a Corvette VIN.

[HartRod]

Segment 1 is the operating system. If segment 1 is the same on both the ECM and TCM, a calibration flash is sufficient. However, one of the extra segments that is not flashed by HPT is different between the Camaro and Corvette calibrations so I recommend that you TIS the ECM first to a Corvette VIN.

Thanks Ceasar. Which segment is different? Can you explan what happens with a TIS? Do I just use a 2013 Corvette VIN?

Edit: The main reason for me wanting to do this is so that my paddle shifters will work in the "D" mode. They work perfect in the "M" mode, but they will not activate in the "D" mode. My aftermarket harness doesn't use a BCM and I've been told the the Corvette OS allows this activation without going through the BCM like the Camaro does.

[DSteck]

If it was me, I'd do the following:

Remove fuse for TCM
Read the ECM and save this file
Install TCM fuse
Write entire with Corvette operating system
Pull TCM fuse
Write the file you saved earlier
Install TCM fuse
Read file back out


This will produce a calibration that is fully compatible with your accelerator pedal and TAC module because it will still use the Camaro ECM calibration, but it will have the Corvette TCM. I don't understand why you think you need to update anything though considering the paddles still won't work in D mode. Enabling paddle shifting is a function of the shift lever position switch logic.

[HartRod]

If it was me, I'd do the following:

Remove fuse for TCM
Read the ECM and save this file
Install TCM fuse
Write entire with Corvette operating system
Pull TCM fuse
Write the file you saved earlier
Install TCM fuse
Read file back out


This will produce a calibration that is fully compatible with your accelerator pedal and TAC module because it will still use the Camaro ECM calibration, but it will have the Corvette TCM. I don't understand why you think you need to update anything though considering the paddles still won't work in D mode. Enabling paddle shifting is a function of the shift lever position switch logic.

I don't have a TAC module. Why do you not think it will work in "D" mode? Speartech says it works in "D" mode when they have done these retrofits using 2011+ Corvette ECM/TCM tunes/operating systems. Are you saying that my 2013 Camaro transmission doesn't have this shift lever position logic?

[DSteck]

I don't have a TAC module. Why do you not think it will work in "D" mode? Speartech says it works in "D" mode when they have done these retrofits using 2011+ Corvette ECM/TCM tunes/operating systems. Are you saying that my 2013 Camaro transmission doesn't have this shift lever position logic?

It absolutely does have a TAC module. It's a write only section of the ECM that HP Tuners cannot edit.

Camaros send the shift paddle logic through the CAN bus. Corvettes have it wired directly to the transmission. If you currently have working paddle shifters, then something is already set up to generate the CAN messages required to tap shift the transmission in manual mode OR you already have a Corvette operating system in the TCM and the paddles are directly wired to the transmission. Manual mode is only enabled when the shifter assembly is in M/S mode.

From GM Service:

MANUAL (M) SPORT MODE (S)
This position allows the driver to utilize the Driver Shift Control (DSC) system, or manual mode. When the shift selector lever is moved to the M/S position, the driver may select upshifts or downshifts by using the paddle switches located on the steering wheel. An upshift is requested by pushing either + button forward. A downshift is requested by pulling either + button rearward toward the driver.

[HartRod]

It absolutely does have a TAC module. It's a write only section of the ECM that HP Tuners cannot edit.

Camaros send the shift paddle logic through the CAN bus. Corvettes have it wired directly to the transmission. If you currently have working paddle shifters, then something is already set up to generate the CAN messages required to tap shift the transmission in manual mode OR you already have a Corvette operating system in the TCM and the paddles are directly wired to the transmission. Manual mode is only enabled when the shifter assembly is in M/S mode.

From GM Service:

MANUAL (M) SPORT MODE (S)
This position allows the driver to utilize the Driver Shift Control (DSC) system, or manual mode. When the shift selector lever is moved to the M/S position, the driver may select upshifts or downshifts by using the paddle switches located on the steering wheel. An upshift is requested by pushing either + button forward. A downshift is requested by pulling either + button rearward toward the driver.

I thought you were talking about the Gen III TAC module that was separate from PCM. My ECM/TCM still have the factory 2013 Camaro OS in them. Speartech modeled their wirng harness after the Corvette. After I got the engine/tranny running I did have to go into the transmission tune (general) and change the TUTD activation from serial to hardwired in order to get the paddle shifters to work. They work perfect in "M" mode. I can even hold the shift up paddle for 2 secs and it will go from the manual mode back to the sport mode. Only the temporary "passing mode" in "D" doesn't work. It seems like everything is wired and working correctly other than that, which is one reason I thought there may be something different between the camaro/corvette TCM operating systems. As far as I know the transmissions (as far as function) should be the same.

[HartRod]

Here'a log of my Camaro, that shows activating the Paddles in Drive.

[veee8]

Sombody recently mentioned that the 2014 Camaro will allow paddle in drive... Here is a stock tune you can check out from a 14 to see if its useful.

2014 Camaro A6 stock.hpt

[HartRod]

Sombody recently mentioned that the 2014 Camaro will allow paddle in drive... Here is a stock tune you can check out from a 14 to see if its useful.

2014 Camaro A6 stock.hpt

Thanks for the Post! I compared the 13' and 14' Camaro tunes and there's only one minor difference, so it must have something to do with how the camaro and corvette use the BCM differently as far as the paddle shifters work. What say you DSTECK?