Write failed, unable to locate VCM

[Perforator]

Hi all, I tried doing a write entire, during the write it failed with a timeout. I tried writing again several times and it failed in the same manner (although it did say recovering). I unplugged the battery for about 15 minutes and now when I try it says cannot locate VCM. Is this PCM bricked? I know on the initial write it did an erase that was sucsessful. The car is a 2005 Grand Prix. I also tried hooking the battery up to a charger and the laptop to wall power, same thing.

[Bill@HPTuners]

99% chance the pcm is now bricked since it failed during a write entire.

[Perforator]

That's what I figured. Already working on getting a replacement. Thanks Bill.

[Perforator]

So, thinking ahead so I don't brick the replacement PCM. I haven't flashed my car, before yesterday, since 2009 and I haven't really been keeping up.

I'm not using a .hpt file, I'm using an older .bin file which used to work. Obviously it's a newer version of the software and I'm using a different laptop. I did do a test write that was successful. Any idea why it failed? It wrote the bootloader, erased the vcm, then the car seemed to reboot. The DIC flashed the normal startup messages and the write timed out. I saw this previously and the fix was to pull the fuse for the stereo (which I did before I bricked it). I have some PAC modules to retain OnStar, chimes and steering wheel control that caused issues.

Has anything changed that I don't know about?

[schpenxel]

Are you using the 2.25 beta by chance? I have had this happen twice when I try to do a write entire with the beta. 2005 Corvette, E40

Fortunately, I found that by switching back to a 2.24 version of VCM Editor I was able to do a full write. Then I wrote the calibration only with the 2.25 beta and all worked as expected.

Needless to say I was sweating bullets until I figured that out!

I hope this helps you.

If there is anything I can send to HPTuners to help with this issue, please let me know what you need.

[Perforator]

Thanks! I'm using 2.24 though. Just ordered a replacement. I removed all the PAC modules and the stereo since it hasn't worked for a couple year. Hope it doesn't happen with this one. Am I going to have to license this PCM to over write it?

[schpenxel]

Not a clue, but I would bet so.

[Bill@HPTuners]

Are you using the 2.25 beta by chance? I have had this happen twice when I try to do a write entire with the beta. 2005 Corvette, E40

Fortunately, I found that by switching back to a 2.24 version of VCM Editor I was able to do a full write. Then I wrote the calibration only with the 2.25 beta and all worked as expected.

Needless to say I was sweating bullets until I figured that out!

I hope this helps you.

If there is anything I can send to HPTuners to help with this issue, please let me know what you need.

Yes, always best to email support with whatever information you can when you run into an issue ie infolog, debug.dat, the file you were writing, etc. IMMEDIATELY after having an issue.

[Sparkey]

I have had issues with P11 ECM where it kicked back 'unable to locate VCM' repeatedly. This happened to me after upgrading my MPVI firmware. What I have been doing is doing all my writing with the 2.25 beta editor software and have had no issues since. Something to consider.

Noteworthy, this didn't happen to me with a Write Entire, it was a Write Calibration.

[schpenxel]

I get that all the damn time now. And there's another one that I get just as often but I can't remember exactly what it is at the moment. I get it to write maybe 1 out of 5 times now. I've tried 3 computers, 3 USB cables, beta and non-beta.

[Bill@HPTuners]

email support if you are having write issues.