swaping 97 to 96 ecu

[matt rupke]

i found an old thread but it didnt answer my question completly, has anyone put a computer from a 97,98 into a 96? i would like to do this so i can use the hp tuner cause they dont have it for 96, does anybody know if there would be any problems with swaping them?

[daman]

I don't think there would be a problem if you used the '97
in the '96 i've done it before on other GM cars,just make shure
everything is the same like motor, trans, etc.

[voyager]

you can use DHP on a 96 can't you?

what you might run into is error codes from different/missing sensors.. or incorrect calibration making your car run rich/lean, maybe some gauges reading incorrectly. . assuming the engine and transaxle are the same. i don't know what changed in 96-98, but it must have been enough of a difference that HP tuners doesn't work on a 96, but does on a 97-98.

[VanishingImage]

The difference is most likely some diagnostic settings. Its obvisouly OBDII but it might be a tad different because late 95 GA's had the beginning of OBD II so 97 migh have been the year it was finally "perfect"

I don't see any problems with changing out the ECU's.

[MantaGreen97]

Just remember to keep it for the same engine and transmission though! I.e. Don't go trying to use a 96 PCM for a 3100 w/auto if you have a 2.4L 5-spd...

This is talking about stock PCM swapping though. In terms of stock differences between the cars, there isn't much. The later 1998 cars with the auto got the 4T45-E instead of the 4T65-E but that has nothing to do with 1996. Other than that there would have been updated "firmware" over the years (the revision your vehicle came with can be checked from it's VIN, unless your existing PCM was flash-updated after manufacture of course), but those updates are to fix things/make them better so going to a newer PCM would not cause any problems.

I'm wondering why HP Tuners does not specify for a 96 (because that makes little sense to me). There's either some reason, or they don't realise the 96 is the same as the 97 and 98. If you're talking specifically abot one of their PCMs, it would probably be best to ask them why they don't indicate 1996 as being compatible/possible.