For 1990-2009 cars

# NON-GM SAE J1978 OBDII SCAN TOOL DOES NOT COMMUNICATE

#### SUBJECT: NON-GM SAE J1978 OBD II SCAN TOOL DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE PCM (FLASH WITH NEW CALIBRATION)

#### MODELS: 1996 BUICK CENTURY, LE SABRE, PARK AVENUE, PARK AVENUE ULTRA, REGAL, RIVIERA, SKYLARK 1996 CHEVROLET BERETTA, CORSICA, LUMINA, LUMINA APV, MONTE CARLO 1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA, CUTLASS CIERA, CUTLASS SUPREME, EIGHTY EIGHT, LSS, NINETY EIGHT, SILHOUETTE 1996 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE, GRAND AM, GRAND PRIX, TRANS SPORT 1997 BUICK LE SABRE WITH 3.1L, 3.4L, 3.8L ENGINES (VINS 1, E, K, M, X -- RPOS L67, LA1, L36, L82, LQ1)

#### CONDITION:

SOME NON-GM SAE J1978 OBD II SCAN TOOLS MAY NOT COMMUNICATE WITH THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) WHEN IN CURRENT, FREEZE FRAME, OR TEST PARAMETERS + RESULTS MODE. OTHER SCAN TOOL MODES INCLUDING OBD II DTCS (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) ARE NOT AFFECTED.

#### CAUSE:

PCM SOFTWARE/CALIBRATION ANOMALY PREVENTS SOME NON-GM SCAN TOOLS FROM COMMUNICATING WITH THE PCM.

#### CORRECTION:

FLASH THE PCM WITH NEW SOFTWARE/CALIBRATION. THE NEW SOFTWARE/CALIBRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE BEGINNING WITH THE 1996 CD NUMBER 12 FROM GM SERVICE TECHNOLOGY GROUP.

#### IMPORTANT: THERE ARE THREE METHODS FOR PROGRAMMING A PCM:

1. DIRECT PROGRAMMING. THE VEHICLE IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED VIA THE DATA LINK CONNECTOR (DLC) TO THE DEALER'S TECHLINE EQUIPMENT. (T-20 PLUS, T-50 AND T-60 ONLY) VEHICLE MUST BE PRESENT.

2. REMOTE PROGRAMMING. THE NEW PROGRAM IS DOWNLOADED INTO THE DEALER'S SCAN TOOL AND THEN DOWNLOADED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE SCAN TOOL VIA THE DLC. (TECH 2 REQUIRED FOR 1997 MODEL YEAR) VEHICLE MUST BE PRESENT.

3. OFF-CAR PROGRAMMING. A PCM MAY BE PROGRAMMED WHILE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY USING THE OFF-BOARD PROGRAMMING ADAPTER (OBPA), P/N J-41207-B. THIS ADAPTER CAN BE CONNECTED TO EITHER THE TECHLINE TERMINAL FOR DIRECT PROGRAMMING OR TO THE SCAN TOOL FOR REMOTE PROGRAMMING. (DO NOT USE TECH 2 WITH OBPA AT THIS TIME.) NOT NECESSARY FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE PRESENT.

REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SERVICE MANUAL OR TECHLINE INFORMATION FOR MORE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.

**IMPORTANT**: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ORDER THE SOFTWARE/CALIBRATIONS FROM GMSPO. THEY ARE PROGRAMMED INTO THE VEHICLE'S PCM VIA A TECHLINE TOOL DEVICE.

PARTS INFORMATION

***1996 MODEL YEARS*** MAKE ENG AXLE EMISSIONS CALIBRATION MODEL VIN RATIO NUMBER BUICK/ CENTURY M 2.97 NATIONWIDE 16238624 CENTURY M 2.97 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238634

LE SABRE K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16241234 LE SABRE K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16234144

LE SABRE K 2.84 EXPORT 16238474 LE SABRE K 3.06 EXPORT 16238494 LE SABRE K 3.06 EXPORT - LEADED FUEL 16238484

PARK AVE K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16234094 PARK AVE K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16234104

PARK AVE K 2.84 EXPORT 16238434 PARK AVE K 3.06 EXPORT EUROPE 16238444 PARK AVE K 3.06 EXPORT JAPAN 16238454

REGAL K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16240644 REGAL K 3.06 EXPORT 16240654

REGAL M 3.33 NATIONWIDE 16238714 REGAL M 3.33 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238704

RIVIERA K 3.05 NATIONWIDE 16234114 RIVIERA K 3.05 EXPORT 16238464

RIVIERA 1 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238554 RIVIERA 1 2.93 EXPORT 16238564

SKYLARK M 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238674 SKYLARK M 2.93 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238684

ULTRA 1 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238544 ULTRA 1 2.93 EXPORT JAPAN 16238534

CHEVROLET/ CORSICA/ M 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238654 BERETTA CORSICA/ M 2.93 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238664 BERETTA

LUMINA/ M 3.33 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238704 MONTE CARLO LUMINA/ M 3.33 NATIONWIDE 16238714 MONTE CARLO LUMINA/ M 3.33 NATIONWIDE POLICE PACKAGE 16238724 MONTE CARLO LUMINA/ M 3.33 CANADIAN - POLICE PACKAGE 16238734 MONTE CARLO

LUMINA/ X 3.43 NATIONWIDE 16240664 MONTE CARLO LUMINA/ X 3.43 UNLEADED EXPORT 16240634 MONTE CARLO

LUMINA APV E 3.29 NATIONWIDE 16238754 LUMINA APV E 3.29 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238764

OLDSMOBILE/ ACHIEVA M 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238674

CUTLASS M 2.97 NATIONWIDE 16238624 (CIERA) CUTLASS M 2.97 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238634 (CIERA)

CUTLASS M 3.33 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238704 (SUPREME) CUTLASS M 3.33 NATIONWIDE 16238714 (SUPREME)

CUTLASS X 3.43 NATIONWIDE 16240664 (SUPREME) CUTLASS X 3.43 UNLEADED EXPORT 16240634 (SUPREME)

ROYALE 88 K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16241234 ROYALE 88 K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16234154

ROYALE 88 K 2.84 EXPORT 16238474 ROYALE 88 K 3.06 EXPORT 16238504

LSS 88 1 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238544 LSS 88 1 2.93 EXPORT JAPAN 16238534

REGENCY 98 K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16234094 REGENCY 98 K 2.84 EXPORT 16238434

SILHOUETTE E 3.29 NATIONWIDE 16238754 SILHOUETTE E 3.29 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238764

PONTIAC/ BONNEVILLE K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16241234 BONNEVILLE K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16234154

BONNEVILLE K 2.84 EXPORT 16238474 BONNEVILLE K 3.06 EXPORT 16238504 BONNEVILLE K 3.06 EXPORT - LEADED FUEL 16238484

SE 1 2.93 NATIONWIDE QNX TIRES 16238574 SSEI 1 2.93 NATIONWIDE QVG TIRES 16238614

SE 1 2.93 EXPORT QNX TIRES 16238584 SSEI 1 2.93 EXPORT QVG TIRES 16238594 SSEI 1 2.93 EXPORT - LEADED 16238604

GRAND AM M 2.93 NATIONWIDE 16238674 GRAND AM M 2.93 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238684

GRAND PRIX M 3.33 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238704 GRAND PRIX M 3.33 NATIONWIDE 16238714 GRAND PRIX X 3.43 NATIONWIDE 16240664 GRAND PRIX X 3.43 UNLEADED EXPORT 16240634

TRANS SPORT E 3.29 NATIONWIDE 16238754 TRANS SPORT E 3.29 UNLEADED EXPORT 16238764

***1997 MODEL YEARS*** MAKE ENG AXLE EMISSIONS CALIBRATION MODEL VIN RATIO NUMBER BUICK/ LE SABRE K 2.84 NATIONWIDE 16242734 LE SABRE K 3.06 NATIONWIDE 16242754

LE SABRE K 2.84 EXPORT 16242744 LE SABRE K 3.06 EXPORT 16242764

WARRANTY INFORMATION FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME --------------- ----------- ---- J6355 ON-CAR PROM - REPROGRAMMING USE PUBLISHED LABOR FLASH E PROM OPERATION TIME

J6352 OFF-CAR PROM - REPROGRAMMING USE PUBLISHED LABOR FLASH E PROM OPERATION TIME

FIGURES: 0 ATTACHMENTS: 0

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.

COPYRIGHT 1996. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.